Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:47 pm on 8 January 2020.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 1:47, 8 January 2020

I have had the opportunity to discuss this particular issue with the Minister for environment and rural affairs just this morning, because we are keen to be able to demonstrate the decisions that we make and the impact that they do have on our carbon reduction. However, it really is not that simple.

So, for example, investing in the infrastructure to support electric cars is only one part of the picture, because the actual carbon savings as a result of that will depend on uptake of electric vehicles, and that, in many ways, is dependent on various levers that the UK Government will be pulling in terms of tax. So, if you ask me how much we will save in terms of carbon because of our investment in electric charging points, as an example, we're unable to say. We are able to say how our investment, for example, in changing the refuse truck fleet across Wales will save, because we can demonstrate how much each truck emits.

So, you know, it is very difficult to demonstrate a full carbon impact assessment. Often, carbon savings are the primary reason why we do things, and often they are secondary benefits of the reasons why we do things. So, the picture is extremely complex. But, obviously, as we set out in our budget improvement plan, we will continue to strive to explain the decisions that we take in terms of carbon impact assessments. But, it really is not as simple as perhaps the Member suggested.