, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog, and good afternoon. I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming the recent improvements that were adopted in the UK Environment Bill to improve inland water quality in England, in particular the legal duty that is placed on water companies…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Climate Change
1. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to improve inland water quality in Wales? OQ57333
, Plenary
Statement by the First Minister: Programme for Government—Update.
Prif Weinidog, I note that in the updated programme for government, the nitrate vulnerable zone regulations are included, having not been included in the original programme published in June. On Sunday’s episode of the BBC's Politics Wales, you said that…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Priorities for the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee - Environmental organisations
Excellent. Thank you very much, Rachel. I think there is evidence to suggest that the number of people outside of Wales accessing Glastir grants has increased over the last 12 months, so there is definitely a shift there. Chair, I'm happy to pass back to you…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Priorities for the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee - Environmental organisations
Excellent. Diolch, Rhys. And Rachel, you mentioned earlier as well around the carbon credit market. I think that's a valuable point that you've touched on, but if you could expand on that in your answer as well, I'd be grateful. Thank you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Priorities for the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee - Environmental organisations
Thank you. And Rhys.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Priorities for the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee - Environmental organisations
Diolch, Gadeirydd. I've found this session incredibly enjoyable, because I think there has been a misconception that agriculture and conservation, environmentalism, have been at opposite ends, but there is discussion now that they are both sides of the same…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
I've got some questions here, but I'm going to hand back to you, if that's okay.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
I disagree on that point, because you will have the case of—. If you look at it on an individual basis of one farmer spraying a limited amount of slurry in that certain period after the open period reopens, as you mentioned—but that's looking at it on a…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
I absolutely agree. And Creighton, I'll bring you in on this specific point. The evidence on NVZs implemented in Northern Ireland and those in south Pembrokeshire already have shown no material benefit to improving water quality. And the farming by calendar…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
Well, I would disagree, and I look forward to the transcript on this specifically. But is it the case that Wales Environment Link are happy for a policy to be implemented at any cost, as long as something's done, rather than the right thing is done? Because…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
Okay. But there's a distinguishable difference to be made with regard to growth hormones in cattle and the slurry that you've mentioned that enters our water courses, which has been banned in the UK since 1990, and the rest of the EU in 1989. I think there's…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
So, evidence at present is anecdotal, yes? And what we're looking at here is the continuous facts of the matter with regard to this specific policy around the NVZ and its implementation in Wales—correct?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Environmental organisations
Diolch, Gadeirydd. Rachel, can I just come back to a point you made regarding growth hormones? That's incorrect; growth hormones have been banned in the UK and the EU since 1989 and 1990. So, via your remit, Chair, I would like the witness to withdraw that…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Diolch yn fawr. Back to you, Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Diolch yn fawr. Gareth.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Okay, excellent. You raised a point there, Gareth, on what Gelli Aur are doing, but with regard to article 45 of the regulations where it mentions alternative measures, are you as unions or as an industry working on alternative measures? What's the time frame…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Diolch. Gareth.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Diolch, thank you both. Aled, on a point you raised earlier with regard to the correlation between incidents and weather patterns, obviously farming by calendar is within these regulations. Are there any alternatives you as a union see to farming by calendar?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Diolch. Gareth.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 - Farming Unions
Diolch yn fawr, Gadeirydd. Bore da, Aled, bore da, Gareth. Firstly, just for my own clarification, are you as unions objecting to policy, end of, or this policy and its implementation specifically? Aled, to you first.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
As a member and director of Wales Young Farmers Club, I declare an interest.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Regulation of animal rescue and rehoming centres
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion in the name of Darren Millar and it gives me great pleasure to do so, as Wales is a nation of animal lovers. Due to the pandemic, many of us have spent more time at home than usual. For me, I had man's best friend in…
, Plenary
Debate: The Welsh Language Commissioner’s Annual Report 2020-21 and the Commissioner’s second 5-year report
I welcome today's debate on the two reports from the Welsh Language Commissioner, and I'd like to declare an interest. This is the first opportunity that I have had to comment on the work of the commissioner, and I would like to pay tribute to the hard work…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: The Welsh Language Communities Housing Plan
Minister, in conclusion, ensuring that rural Wales has a sufficient number of homes and quality jobs for local people, and that there is support for the Welsh language and culture, is a challenge, and we need to tackle that challenge. I very much hope that…
