, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales
Jenny, thank you so much for that question. Do you know, I, like you, am something of a fanatic about soil health, and the way that delivers multiple benefits? And we see it when it goes wrong as well, when you don't have soil, when you just have mud, and you…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales
Diolch yn fawr, Llyr. You've raised again many issues there, but can I thank you just for welcoming the pragmatic and sensible approach, as you described it, of the way forward? Because we do have to design a scheme that, when it is ready to go, brings…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales
James, thank you very much, and thank you for your comments welcoming the announcement that was made on the way forward. And, just to say, it is a way forward. I used a rugby analogy earlier on in an interview. A lot of what we are doing now is the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales
The focus across our food-related policies is on join-up, partnership and well-being. I intend to publish 'Food Matters: Wales', which outlines our food-related policies and how they support producers, including farmers, and the supply chain to increase the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales
I have seen a draft of the analysis of over 1,200 consultation responses, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond. I expect to publish the analysis and the Government response in June, but it is already clear that some changes are needed. As…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The future of farming in Wales
Thank you, Llywydd. My vision is for a successful future for Welsh farming, producing food sustainably, looking after our environment and underpinning our rural communities. The sustainable farming scheme will provide support for farmers to deliver these…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Soaring high: Reintroducing the white-tailed eagle to Wales
The key is ensuring that there is suitable habitat that will allow them to thrive without disturbance or harm. However, Wales is a small country. There are many uses of our countryside by many people, and this may make it less attractive to eagles, and for…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Soaring high: Reintroducing the white-tailed eagle to Wales
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and it's a real pleasure to respond to this debate, and I thank the Senedd’s white-tailed eagle champion for his eloquent introduction of this important debate, and also, Peter, you too, for your comments on, when we look at the…
, Plenary
The Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2024
Just a very short response, thanking once again the LJC committee and welcoming the new Chair of the committee as well. But thanking them for their scrutiny, not just on the technical matters, but also that important issue over the operation, and the…
, Plenary
The Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2024
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion. The Plant Health etc. (Miscellaneous Fees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2024 amend the Plant Health etc. (Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2018 and the Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Wales) Regulations 2019, which apply…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Dirprwy Lywydd, there was always going to be one question in this session, four weeks into my role, that would floor me, that I wasn't prepared for, and that’s the one. But what I will say is I’ll go back and check with my officials and see where we are on…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
John, thank you very much for that. Can I just commend the work that you're doing, but also all those involved in the living levels partnership? Genuinely, it's inspirational. And what's also inspirational is seeing how you can actually restore areas that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Thank you very much, Mike. I think it's this week Alun Davies has a debate on the reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles, which I'm looking forward to responding to, but it is remarkable, some of the success stories that we've had. People look around now…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Heledd. When I come out to meet residents with you and Vikki, I'll make sure I come armed with as much information as I possibly can from NRW on how they can proceed at pace, because, as you say, it's not only the effect on their homes…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Paul, thank you very much for that question, and thank you as well for the conversations that we've had in passing here raising your concerns about this. This does need to be sorted, without a doubt. Residents' minds need to be put at rest that these odours…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Vikki, thank you very much for that question in relation to the statement. I think anybody who has watched on the media the pictures of the people in Ynysybwl being affected, time after time, not just during storm Dennis but regularly—and we can see the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Yes, entirely, I accept that. We have to actually not just bring farmers with us, because that suggests a slightly paternalist, 'If we can package things, then everybody is with us.' But it's actually doing this with farmers, genuinely producing the outcomes…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Janet, thank you for your welcome to my post. On that last point in particular, yes, entirely, and this is why the EU is now looking at carbon budgeting. We're slightly behind the curve in the UK, but we would support the UK Government in getting on with…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Carolyn, thank you very much for that question. Can I just commend you as well on hosting the biodiversity stalls and event that we had there, with what I described as an army of people there, working right across Wales on some of these important issues? It…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Delyth. I've enjoyed working with you already, and am looking forward to continuing to work with you and other colleagues around the Chamber as we go forward, because when I talk about partnership, I mean that genuinely right across…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
I will be very succinct. James, first of all, thank you very much for the welcome to this post. It's an exciting portfolio, a lot of challenges, but genuinely it makes me smile getting up in the morning. It's a great portfolio, covering everything we do here…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
I might have missed one or two, but I'm sure James will tell me. I wrote quite a few down there.
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
I wanted to acknowledge the important role animals play in Welsh life. Ensuring good animal welfare and animal health are win-wins and a priority for me. The risks from infectious diseases have possibly never been greater, so adopting a one-health approach…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
Farming is at the heart of rural communities in Wales. I want to see a successful future for Welsh farming: producing food sustainably, looking after our environment and underpinning our rural communities. Future generations will be farming in much more…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Priorities for climate change and rural affairs
I am grateful to everyone who responded to the consultation on the environmental governance and biodiversity targets White Paper. Ensuring environmental principles are embedded in Wales and that we have a clear framework for environmental governance and…
