, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
The instigation of this Bill, clearly, has come from the King's Speech. But, from the very beginning of that, we were in those discussions and made very clear, both at official and ministerial level, that the different nature and characteristics of our…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Do you want to add?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
That's slightly separate and outwith—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
I might turn to one of my colleagues here to show the extent to which we see both the regulations coming down the line and where they will appear on the Senedd. James, I don't know if you want to—.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
The speed of this Bill has meant that we have not been able to do the normal widespread consultation on it. However, what we are very seized with is the opportunity of this within a framework Bill. We have, by the way, done stakeholder engagements; we've…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Well, genuinely, we would very much welcome—you wouldn't expect anything less from me, formerly being on this committee and also the climate change committee—we'd welcome suggestions and ideas coming forward, and, if they aligned with our imperatives as Welsh…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Diolch yn fawr. I should have just listened in Welsh then. So, some of the significant ones we've already had include things such as making sure that the responsibilities of Welsh Ministers in this space are reflected within this Bill so that Welsh Ministers…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
I missed a little bit of that.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Okay, yes.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
No, it's a very good point. What we are doing within this Bill—if this Bill proceeds and passes; it's still a Bill at the moment, but I suspect, with the majority of the UK Labour Government, it will, with amendments being taken through as well, with proofing…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Indeed. And simply to respond to that point, I mentioned in my earlier remarks that that is why this coming through as a framework Bill is of assistance to us, because, recognising those very points, that the Senedd doesn't have a direct impact on the primary…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
I understand what you're saying; I would simply make it clear that our approach to this Bill does not determine the approach of future and successive Governments or Ministers in this space. So if, for example, it was the will of the Senedd to take the…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Okay.
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
The LCM recognises that there are significant areas of cross-border policy when it comes to the current regulatory structure, and also the way that we need to work together on water quality. I've said this repeatedly, from a policy perspective, on the floor…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Well, I happen to agree with you fully. We're not changing our policy and we're not changing our position; we're actually being agile—
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Thank you for that, and I was worried, as I laid that defence down to Alun, and I anticipated you might come in with exactly that point, and you did, and fair play. But, actually, we're playing with the deck as we currently have. There is a regulatory…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
This is not unique but it's slightly unusual, in that the statute book on water regulation is already, because of that cross-border nature of it and the regulatory structures and the regulatory bodies, and will continue to be, actually, a mixture of…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Can I give you an 'in defence'?
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Alun, you make a fair point, and it's probably a reflection as well of the priorities at any moment in time—as a former Minister, you'll know this—and the priorities of the Welsh Government in a legislative programme and what they can put in and what they…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
I think it is very much, to return to that opening point, the cross-border nature of not just our water, but water bodies—the organisations within that regulatory space. So, actually, a Bill introduced in the UK Parliament is an effective approach now to deal…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Thank you, Chair. I'm delighted to be in front of you here today. The reason we think it's appropriate is because there's clearly significant cross-over here in terms of waters—no boundaries—but also in terms of the regulatory approach within the UK. The…
, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Water (Special Measures) Bill: evidence session
Yes, indeed. Shall we go from the end?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Council-owned farms
Llywydd, as I noted at the outset, local authority farms are very important assets for the agricultural industry. They continue to be a point of access that is invaluable for several young people in Wales into the industry. There are other options too. The…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Council-owned farms
Well, let us think whether there is a will amongst local authorities, some of whom are significant landowners still, to see whether there's a will from them to come together, because we can do this on a voluntary basis. It certainly doesn't require me with my…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Council-owned farms
I'm ecumenical in my press.
