, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Yes, absolutely, Peter. What we've tried to do is we've tried to express the costs as a range all the time, to make them understandable and to make you able to see the kinds of choices that would be made. Engagement costs for the development of the framework…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
We have a knowledge and advisory service in the Welsh Government as well, and they are very keen that the data we collect is useable and is as open source as possible, and so on. So, the head of—. I've forgotten his name now; digital something or other is…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
We do have those discussions right across the Government. The officials have a working group that works right across the Government on that. I mean, obviously it's in our interests, isn't it, to be able to say that the measures that we spend on air quality…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Yes. We may pass those on to local authorities, but we will be paying for that. Local authorities or the highway authority, for example, might actually run them for us, but we'll be paying for it. Just to say, Peter, there's an additional complication…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
That's Roger as well.
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
So, again, this is all about how we get the data in in the first place and then how we use the data to set the targets. So, the Bill requires us to put in place arrangements to collect that data, and that's really important because one of the problems we've…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
So, in this particular instance, for sure, it's an improvement tool. So, what we want to do is—. Well, we want to do a number of things. We want to be able to set a target that is stretching but achievable; I'm not a fan of targets where everybody goes…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
I never know which one either, Chair. [Laughter.]
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Yes. So, again, some of the complication of this is tied up with what data we have, and, I'm afraid, the impacts of COVID on that data. So, obviously, the most recent years that we would have data for are COVID years, and we all know that they are skewed. So…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
So, from our point of view, what we're trying to do is estimate what the cost will be to people who have to implement the regulations that come out of the Bill in terms of targets. So, hence the work with local authorities around things like the cost of a…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Diolch, Cadeirydd. This has been quite a complicated thing to do. We've engaged with a very wide range of stakeholders across the piece, local authorities in particular, but a wide range of other stakeholders, including the cross-party group and an enormous…
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
And Roger.
, Finance Committee
Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Diolch, Cadeirydd. It's really lovely to be here. I'm Julie James. I'm the Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for the air quality and soundscapes Bill. I'll let my officials introduce themselves. Olwen.
, Plenary
The Construction Contracts (Exclusion) (Wales) Order 2023
Diolch, Llywydd. Just to say that, as we pointed out to the committee, parties entering into DPC procurements will have full knowledge of the terms, including that payment will only commence after construction has been completed. So, the point, really, is…
, Plenary
The Construction Contracts (Exclusion) (Wales) Order 2023
Diolch, Llywydd. This Order is designed to remove the risk of water companies paying for unfinished stages of work and for water bill payers, who fund water companies, having to pay for this through their water bills. Its purpose is to allow direct…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
Yes. So, I'm really sorry to hear that people are being told such alarming things. I'm very happy—let's talk about it offline, because I really think we need to have a look at that. Communities at that level of risk really should be having individual…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
Yes, certainly. Thank you for that. There are a number of schemes in Carmarthen. I would suggest that you look on the website to see all of them. I've got a list here, but I'm trying to read them sideways, unfortunately. The way it works, basically, is that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
Yes, indeed, Mike. I completely agree with all of that, and you just heard me extolling the virtues of the Tawe, and I know you've heard me doing that a number of times. Actually, there is a prohibition on paving over your front garden; it's just very often…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
Diolch, Delyth. I think it is a programme that is something to be really proud of and it’s been great to work together to put that programme in place. We’ve also worked very closely with local authorities, risk management authorities across Wales, and with…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
Thank you, Janet. One of the things I've just announced is that we are very happy for grants to be used for staffing resources. I'm not too sure what you mean by 'no opportunity to come together', because, certainly, Rebecca Evans and myself meet with the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
In our programme for government, we set ourselves an ambitious target to provide increased flood protection to more than 45,000 homes in Wales. We reiterated this commitment in our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, where we promised to: 'Invest more in…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: The 2023-24 Flood Programme
Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to announce the publication of the flood and coastal erosion risk management programme for 2023-24. The new programme of works shows our commitment to reducing flooding and coastal erosion risk in Wales. We are continuing to…
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence from the Minister for Climate Change: part 2
Diolch, Cadeirydd.
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence from the Minister for Climate Change: part 2
No, I don't think we know the answer, Delyth. Good question—we'll write back to you. [Laughter.]
, Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence from the Minister for Climate Change: part 2
Thank you, Delyth. Just to clarify, because my officials are helpfully telling me information that I don't have in front of me, Chair, the TAN was consulted on up until January of this year, so the consultation is now closed. We're going to work on the Bill…
