, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
First Minister, 20 years have now passed since the tragic murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié at the hands of her great aunt and partner in London. The case highlighted the failings of different Government agencies that failed to address the persistent…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
4. What action has the Welsh Government taken to improve child safeguarding in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire? OQ58036
, Plenary
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): The Holodomor
I'm grateful to the Member for Blaenau Gwent for tabling this timely and important debate, as it comes in a week when Russia has celebrated victory day on 9 May, the day that the united Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, achieved victory over Nazi…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Thank you, Chair. If these regulations are no more stringent than what's in play at the moment, why then are we having those substantiated agricultural pollution incidents, and what evidence shows that this new regulation will stop that?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Yes, just to come back on that point.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I appreciate the clarification. I just therefore don't understand why 1 September this year needs to be the end of that first period with regard to alternative measures.FootnoteLink Chair, I'll hand back to you.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Thank you. I would disagree that you would have to have a stop somewhere. If you're always looking to improve water quality in continuum, then the advancement of technologies and any alternative solution to provide that should surely be a never-ending…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
I appreciate that, Minister, but Luke's given an example of Gelli Aur with technology advancements. To lift the drawbridge when technologies continue to develop—. I received an e-mail yesterday from a company that is able to monitor phosphates and nitrates…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Yes, I can see some nodding heads. So, that means there are four months left to have a look at any alternative measures before the drawbridge is drawn up and we commence. Is that—?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Yes, thank you, Chair. Just quickly, you mentioned previously article 45 and alternative measures, and then, in response to Luke just now, you said 1 September.FootnoteLink Is that the deadline for any alternative measures, therefore anything on 2 September…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Yes, just a quick one on Luke's point around an all-Wales approach. In the co-operation agreement, it's noted that it will be targeted. Can I ask what the definition of 'targeted' is? Is that a targeted intervention in high-polluting areas…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Thank you, Chair.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Okay. I'll just come back on one final point there. You make the reference to, 'We have to do something.' Isn't it the case then that, given the evidence around this legislation—and you say that it's not an NVZ any more, but the vast majority of it is still…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Yes. So, Parts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 are exactly, word for word, NVZs. So, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I dare say this policy is still NVZ.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Can I quickly come back there, Minister?
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Okay, thank you. Moving on, evidence gathered from here within Wales has shown that nitrate vulnerable zone approaches have not been effective. The nitrates consultation of 2016, which Welsh Government issued, acknowledges that it was too early to assess…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
[Inaudible.]—but, if this is submitted to yourself or your department, wouldn't it deserve more than just an acknowledgement receipt, and wouldn't it deserve some sort of written correspondence to formulate why this is going, rather than—? I understand that…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
The Chairman's question leads me quite nicely on to my set of questions. You'll remember 9 June last year, where we debated this in the sixth Senedd, and just to quote you, literally verbatim of what you've just said this morning with regard to another…
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Review of the Agricultural Pollution Regulations
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Good morning, Minister.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
I declare an interest as chairman of Pembrokeshire young farmers clubs and a director of Wales YFC.
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest
Yes, please, thanks, Chair.
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
My favourite part. But, as someone who grew up with a farm that sees the Pembrokeshire coast path pass through its land, I fully appreciate the importance of developing a good relationship between the landowner and the walkers. And while the Wales coast path…
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
'And these are the thoughts that come to you / When you sit above Pwllderi.'
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
I have no hesitation in saying that my favourite part of the coast path is Pwllderi, where I grew up, where there is a carreg goffa to the poet Dewi Emrys, with the lines:
, Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee
Bovine TB panel—Farming Unions
Thank you, panel. Chair.
