, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: HS2 consequential funding
I'd like to make progress now.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: HS2 consequential funding
Okay, thank you. Thank you—
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: HS2 consequential funding
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'd like to thank Plaid Cymru for tabling the debate and the chance for us to debate in this Senedd the latest twist and turns of a shambolic UK rail policy. Can I just say to begin with to the Conservatives: is there nothing that…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: HS2 consequential funding
Formally.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 13: Regulations (Amendment 11)
Thank you. The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee noted in its report that the inclusion of retained direct EU legislation in the Bill's definition of primary legislation could cause confusion, and it recommended I should address this as part of…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 12: Soundscapes (Amendments 53, 54, 55, 56, 10, 58)
It does seem we oscillate between reasonable Janet and reading Janet, who is less reasonable. I'm afraid the definition that you used in your amendment, Janet, does not match the standard definition in current international and British policy documents and…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 11: Office for Air Quality Protection (Amendment 52)
The environmental governance and biodiversity targets Bill is scheduled for introduction in this Senedd term. It's expected to formally establish a new environmental governance body for Wales, and we think that is the best vehicle for achieving this. We'd…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 10: Trunk road charging schemes (Amendments 49, 79, 62, 61, 82, 83, 84)
Well, I must say, I think, hearing Janet Finch-Saunders's contribution, I'm very glad I took my blood pressure tablets this morning, Chair. I don't wish to get too distracted by them, but it's complete poppycock what she said, and it's a shame because we've…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 9: Smoke control areas (Amendments 77, 6, 7, 8, 9, 48, 78, 59, 14, 15, 16, 60, 17)
Thank you.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 9: Smoke control areas (Amendments 77, 6, 7, 8, 9, 48, 78, 59, 14, 15, 16, 60, 17)
Yes.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 9: Smoke control areas (Amendments 77, 6, 7, 8, 9, 48, 78, 59, 14, 15, 16, 60, 17)
There are a range of options that local authorities can use to work with households and I'd be happy to write to the Member or to the committee to set them out. The Warm Homes scheme is the most obvious, but I'll follow that up.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 9: Smoke control areas (Amendments 77, 6, 7, 8, 9, 48, 78, 59, 14, 15, 16, 60, 17)
Well, you're not accurate in implying that this would affect people living in rural areas, unless that rural area would be declared a smoke control area by the local authority, which seems to me unlikely in the present circumstances. So, I think it's…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 9: Smoke control areas (Amendments 77, 6, 7, 8, 9, 48, 78, 59, 14, 15, 16, 60, 17)
Just on that, I think Huw Irranca-Davies is absolutely right to point to internal air quality. I think I attended the cross-party group where one of the leading experts talked in quite alarming terms of how potent that is and the impact it has and that it has…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 8: Local authority air management: Reviews and action plans (Amendments 44, 76, 45, 46, 47)
Well, we already have guidance and we already have funding, and we have the flexibility, through the process we've set out, to amend that in consultation with local authorities, based on what we think will work best in practice.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 8: Local authority air management: Reviews and action plans (Amendments 44, 76, 45, 46, 47)
There is funding available through the local air quality management support fund, which invites bids annually and enables discussion between local authorities and the Welsh Government on what's appropriate.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 8: Local authority air management: Reviews and action plans (Amendments 44, 76, 45, 46, 47)
The national levers to help local authorities—that's a very good question. Bear with me a second, I just need to refresh my memory. As I said at the beginning, actually, Janet, there's the local—. Let me find the page in my notes—apologies.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 8: Local authority air management: Reviews and action plans (Amendments 44, 76, 45, 46, 47)
If you'll forgive me, for a second—
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 8: Local authority air management: Reviews and action plans (Amendments 44, 76, 45, 46, 47)
Secondly, the Bill introduces a requirement for Welsh Ministers to approve air quality action plans. In the explanatory memorandum, we set out that our intention behind this is for quality assurance, alongside ensuring Welsh Government considers whether there…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 8: Local authority air management: Reviews and action plans (Amendments 44, 76, 45, 46, 47)
Thank you. So, on amendment 44, proposed by Janet Finch-Saunders, we appreciate the intention behind this amendment, but we resist it for two reasons. Firstly, local authorities are funded to review local air quality through their core funding. Additional…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 7: National air quality strategy: Further requirements (Amendments 5, 42, 74, 75, 43)
So, they've been heavily involved, and continue to be heavily involved, in both the shaping and the executing of the policies. The legal advice I've had is that making a non-statutory body a statutory consultee wouldn't be appropriate.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 7: National air quality strategy: Further requirements (Amendments 5, 42, 74, 75, 43)
Thank you. Yes, so in terms of amendment 75, Delyth, we're already committed to publishing an update report on progress towards actions within the national air quality strategy, and we will update the explanatory memorandum to reflect this commitment. Janet…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 7: National air quality strategy: Further requirements (Amendments 5, 42, 74, 75, 43)
Well, in the interest of trying to be brief, Chair, given the amount of amendments we still have to go through, I'll just say, in summary, that our amendment 5 gives effect to your own recommendation 18, which we were happy to work with. We can't support…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 6: Stationary idling (Amendments 72, 50, 51, 80, 57, 81)
Yes, please. No, I don't.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 6: Stationary idling (Amendments 72, 50, 51, 80, 57, 81)
Well, thank you. Again, I think we support the spirit of what is trying to be achieved by some of these amendments. Let's begin with amendments 50 and 51, tabled by Janet Finch-Saunders. Amendment 50 would remove the provisions allowing for the settling of a…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Group 5: Active travel (Amendments 40, 73, 18, 41, 63, 64, 65)
Okay. Thank you, Janet. Does any Member object to the withdrawal of amendment 40? No. There we are. Okay, the amendment is therefore withdrawn.
