, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Thank you. The Minister for Social Justice does continue to have discussions with her counterpart in the UK Government. As you know, the price cap announcement will have no impact at all on energy prices for the period from April to June, because the actual…
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Business Statement and Announcement
No, that will not be happening. The policy is as set out by the previous Minister with responsibility for tourism.
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Business Statement and Announcement
Diolch, Llywydd. There are four changes to this week's business. Later today, the Minister for Health and Social Services will make a statement on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. To accommodate this, the oral statement on dental reform has been…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
We know that any dog in the wrong hands has the potential to be dangerous, and what we do is promote responsible ownership. I think that has to be a key priority. You will have heard me say in an earlier answer to Mabon ap Gwynfor about the kept animals Bill…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh Government's code of practice for the welfare of dogs informs owners of their obligations relating to controlling their dogs and the governing pieces of legislation. We are working with the UK Government on introducing further safeguards through the…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. Well, as I said, we've already committed to considering licensing of greyhound racing as part of our animal welfare plan. The next step is now to have the petition. What I have said to the Petitions Committee and to Members in the Chamber is that…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, in answer to your last point—and I appreciate you haven't seen my response as yet—recommendation 5, which was that we should also look at other sports where animals compete, is the recommendation I have rejected, because, obviously, this is a focus on…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you, and I was very pleased to be able to accept, or accept in principle, all the recommendations bar one, and I very much look forward to the debate that will be held in this Chamber on 6 March, and I suppose that's the next step. And then we will have…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I sent my response to the Petitions Committee, which the Member chairs, to the report that came forward on this issue yesterday, and, as detailed in the response, any proposed changes to legislation will be subject to full public consultation.
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
So, obviously, NRW sits within the portfolio of the Minister for Climate Change, and I know she will be having advice from NRW around the rise in the regulatory licences that you referred to. I have done some research into this following being told there were…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, as I said in my opening answer, my officials have been working very closely with third sector organisations to see what more can be done to help our pet owners who are struggling to feed and look after their pets in the way that they and we would want…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
As the economic situation worsens, pressures on household budgets to maintain good welfare conditions for pets is becoming ever more challenging. My officials have worked closely with the third sector to monitor the situation and are pleased to see animal…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Well, as the Member is aware, the sustainable farming scheme is currently being designed. We've gone through a significant amount of co-design with our stakeholders, so I can't give you that assurance as you required, but, obviously, we're really keen that…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Agriculture (Wales) Bill is the result of several years of policy development across ministerial portfolios, which includes discussions with the Minister for Climate Change. Officials have also been in regular discussions with colleagues to understand the…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. So, I did raise it at our inter-ministerial group in December and then subsequently wrote to the Minister for farming, fisheries and food. As I say, unfortunately, I haven't had a response to that letter. We have a further inter-ministerial group…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. This is obviously a very challenging time for all our farmers, and I know poultry and egg farmers are particularly reliant on feed and energy, two areas where we have seen significant rises in the costs because of agri-inflation. The egg…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh Government provides support to the egg industry in south-east Wales. Funding is available through our capital grant schemes, with direct advice and support made available to farm and food businesses via our Farming Connect and Business Wales teams.
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I've always taken a specific interest in new entrants, working with people to see what the barriers are to them going into agriculture. I have to say, education and skills hasn't been one of the barriers that's ever, I don't think, been raised with me. I've…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The Welsh Government continues to support and encourage young people to enter the agriculture industry through programmes such as Farming Connect and Venture. The proposed sustainable farming scheme will be available to all types of farms in all parts of…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I have had discussions with the fisheries sector. I'm very aware of the reported decline. I do recognise they've had some unprecedented pressures due to leaving the European Union, the COVID pandemic, more recently the hyperinflation of fuel that has been…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you. You raise a very important point, and it's an issue that we take very seriously. We really would encourage livestock keepers to continue to report all incidents to the police. I think I should say that at the outset. I think it's really important…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I'm not quite sure how you expect me to make a farm be part of a pilot project. Please believe me when I say that APHA tried very, very hard to—[Interruption.] APHA tried very, very hard to get farms to be part of the first phase of the pilot project, and…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Nothing has gone wrong. As the Member states, my officials are currently holding significant internal discussions to agree the parameters of the project to allow for a full procurement exercise. You'd be the first to complain if I didn't follow the…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
You clearly outlined a very distressing situation, and I'm very sorry to hear that you and the farmer felt there was no compassion. This was actually a piece of work that we undertook, probably four years ago, where I asked the then chief veterinary officer…
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Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Thank you very much. I can assure the Member that, obviously, lessons were learned. Lessons always have to be learned when you have the reports that we did. You'll agree that there is a significant amount of monitoring that does go on into our rural…
