Contributions

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Dwi'n falch iawn o gael y cyfle i wneud y datganiad yma heddiw i esbonio fy mlaenoriaethau i ar gyfer fy mhortffolio. Mewn wythnos, wrth gwrs, lle'r ydym yn gweld rhybudd tywydd coch am wres am y tro cyntaf yma yng Nghymru, fe hoffwn i ddechrau gyda'n hymrwymiad ni i weithredu ar yr hinsawdd a natur, nid yn unig oherwydd ei bwysigrwydd amgylcheddol, sy'n amlwg i bawb, ond hefyd oherwydd ei bwysigrwydd canolog i ffyniant, iechyd a gwydnwch Cymru yn y dyfodol. Nid pethau ychwanegol, dewisol yw aer glân, dŵr glân, priddoedd iach ac ecosystemau ffyniannus. Maen nhw'n cynnal iechyd y cyhoedd, maen nhw'n diogelu cymunedau ac yn creu'r amodau i Gymru ddatblygu'n gynaliadwy. Mae'r agenda hon yn ymwneud â sicrhau'r cyfleoedd economaidd cadarnhaol a gynigir gan adnoddau naturiol Cymru a'n statws byd-eang fel cenedl ailgylchu. Mae'n ymwneud ag achub ar gyfleoedd economi di-garbon i gefnogi swyddi diogel, ynni cymunedol, cartrefi cynhesach, trafnidiaeth lanach, cynhyrchu bwyd cynaliadwy, a seilwaith gwydn. Dyna pam, yn ystod ein 100 diwrnod cyntaf, rŷn ni eisoes wedi dechrau gweithio ar gynllun gweithredu hinsawdd a natur uchelgeisiol, sy'n canolbwyntio ar lwybr ymarferol at sero net erbyn 2040 ac adferiad sylweddol i natur erbyn 2050, wedi'i siapio gan y realiti y mae pobl a chymunedau yn eu hwynebu ledled Cymru. Mae'r realiti hwnnw'n amlwg. Mae ffermwyr, er enghraifft, angen tir sy'n gynhyrchiol ac yn wydn, nid tir sydd o dan ddŵr llifogydd o hyd neu o dan bwysau oherwydd sychder dro ar ôl tro. Dylai plant a theuluoedd hefyd allu mwynhau traethau a moroedd glân. Mae angen mynediad at gadwyni cyflenwi gwydn ar fusnesau. Dylai cenedlaethau'r dyfodol etifeddu Cymru lle mae natur yn ymadfer, nid Cymru lle mae rhywogaethau'n diflannu yn ystod ein hoes ni. Mi fydd y cynllun yn gosod gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd a natur yn gyfrifoldeb ar holl Aelodau'r Cabinet ac ar draws pob portffolio, fel ei fod yn cael ei ymgorffori yn ein penderfyniadau ni ar dai, ar drafnidiaeth, ar ynni, ar iechyd, yr economi, a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.

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Thank you very much, Deputy Llywydd. I'm very pleased to make this statement today to explain my priorities for my portfolio. In a week, of course, where we are experiencing a red weather warning for heat for the first time here in Wales, I'd like to start with our commitment to take action on climate and nature, not only because of its environmental importance, which is clear to all, but also because of its central importance to the future prosperity, health and resilience of Wales in the future. Clean air, clean water, healthy soils and thriving ecosystems are not optional extras. They support public health, they protect communities and create the conditions for Wales to develop sustainably. This agenda is about delivering on the positive economic opportunities from Wales’s natural resources and our global status as a recycling nation. It's about taking the opportunities of a zero-carbon economy to support secure jobs, community energy, warmer homes, cleaner transport, sustainable food production, and resilient infrastructure. This is why, during our first 100 days, we have already started work on an ambitious climate and nature action plan, focused on a practical pathway to net zero by 2040 and substantive nature recovery by 2050, shaped by the realities people and communities are facing across Wales. Those realities are clear. Farmers, for example, need land that is productive and resilient, not land that is repeatedly under floodwater or under pressure because of drought time and time again. Children and families also should be able to enjoy clean beaches and seas. Businesses need access to resilient supply chains. Future generations should inherit a Wales where nature is recovering, not one where species are disappearing in our lifetimes. The plan will embed action on climate and nature as Cabinet-level responsibilities across all portfolios, so that it is built into decisions on housing, transport, energy, health, the economy, and public services.

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The plan is about delivery. We'll improve resilience to climate impacts while supporting opportunities for skilled well-paid jobs, community energy, warmer homes, better infrastructure and a fair transition for all. The plan will bring together the practical steps needed to reduce emissions, restore nature and strengthen resilience. This will include also action on tree planting and peatland restoration, recognising their vital role in restoring habitats, improving water quality, reducing flood risk, as well, of course, as tackling climate change. We will therefore deliver the national peatland action programme and prioritise native woodland creation, restoration and mixed woodlands, while protecting productive agricultural land and avoiding corporate plantations created solely for carbon offsetting. We'll support small-scale planting, whilst recognising the importance of commercial timber production. Using public procurement and working in partnership with industry, we will help develop Welsh supply chains and work together to deliver the timber industrial strategy. Our natural environment doesn't stop at the shoreline. Our seas support rich marine life, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, coastal communities and the responsible expansion of offshore wind and marine renewable energy. A healthy marine environment is central to climate resilience and nature recovery. By embedding action on climate and nature across Government, we will ensure that the need to decarbonise, improve resilience and restore nature is reflected consistently in policy, funding and in delivery. The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 gives us important tools to do this. Our focus is now on embedding environmental principles into policy making, setting clear outcomes for nature recovery and establishing the Office of Environmental Governance Wales to provide independent oversight. By moving to a circular economy that keeps resources in use and avoids waste, that will not only reduce emissions and protect nature by reducing pressure on global resources, it will also capitalise on the economic opportunities that flow from our world-class recycling. This, in turn, will strengthen our supply chains, and it'll also reduce exposure to volatile global markets, whilst attracting investment to support skilled jobs. We're also committed to driving forward water reform, including plans for a new Welsh economic water regulator with the powers needed to drive investment, to reduce pollution and to deliver long-term improvements. Taking a science-led approach to managing nitrate vulnerability, we will move beyond the outdated calendar-based rules and support farmers to adopt new technologies and practices that improve water quality. To deliver on our agenda, we will work collaboratively across sectors in partnership with local government and public bodies and drawing on the skills and experience of people working across Wales, including in not-for-profit organisations. Now, as part of our commitment to restoring biodiversity whilst creating jobs and strengthening the connections between communities and their natural environment, I’m pleased to announce that the Nature Networks fund will open on 9 July. That will see £10 million of investment delivered in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. However, public funding alone can't achieve our climate and nature objectives. We will, therefore, consult later this year on our approach to nature finance, to unlock responsible private funding to restore land and seascapes, to support the Welsh economy and to create employment opportunities. Within our first 100 days, we will also outline the terms of reference for a new flood resilience and preparedness forum for Wales, bringing together key stakeholders to coordinate a national approach to flooding. Flooding is already, as we know, affecting homes, businesses and communities as part of a wider pattern of climate pressures, from more intense rainfall and storms to drought, heat and pressures on water, land and infrastructure. We need a joined-up approach to preparedness and improved long-term resilience. This includes catchment-scale and nature-based solutions that reduce risk, that protect communities, support nature recovery and help Wales adapt to the climate impacts that we're already experiencing. We'll also continue to press the UK Government on environmental justice for coalfield communities, including the funding needed to restore coal tips and contaminated land. Communities living with the legacy of Wales’s industrial past should not be left to carry that risk alone. We will take a long-term, co-ordinated approach to secure these sites, safeguard communities and, of course, unlock their future potential.  I now want to turn to rural resilience. Dirprwy Lywydd, for me, this is about listening to rural— and coastal, by the way—communities, and recognising people, place and opportunity: the homes people live in, the services they rely on, the businesses they build, the food they produce, and the landscapes and seascapes that shape their lives. Within our first 100 days, we will, therefore, bring forward proposals for a new statutory duty on rural-proofing, ensuring Government programmes, funding models and services properly reflect the needs of rural communities. And this will sit alongside the development of a rural development strategy to start tackling poverty and to create new opportunities in rural Wales. I firmly believe that the agriculture sector is the beating heart of our rural communities and the backbone of the rural economy. Family farms sustain local businesses and services; they underpin our food system, as well as our culture and our language. Through the sustainable farming scheme, we're asking farmers to join us on a journey to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. Now, this year, as Members know, 50 per cent of farmers—that's over 8,000 businesses—have joined the universal layer of the scheme. Now, that's quite a positive start, in my view, but I will continue to listen and to work with the farming community to refine the scheme, so that more join next year and beyond. As I've said before, this is about evolution, not revolution. Farmers, of course, need certainty, and that's particularly the case when it comes to financial support, and that's why I'm currently in discussions about securing a multi-annual budget for the sustainable farming scheme. Bovine TB, as we all know, remains one of the most significant and persistent challenges facing agriculture in Wales. We will refresh the TB eradication programme, building on strong foundations, but recognising that a step change is needed to meet our ambition of a TB-free Wales by 2041. Building on Wales’s already strong record on animal welfare, we will also bring forward a new animal health and welfare plan, including new regulations for animal welfare establishments.

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Dwi hefyd, Ddirprwy Lywydd, eisiau lleihau'r baich biwrocrataidd sydd ar ffermydd teuluol, gan wneud gwahaniaeth go iawn i'r amser sy'n cael ei dreulio ar brosesau cymhleth a dyblyg—amser y gellid, wrth gwrs, ei dreulio, fel arall, yn rheoli stoc, yn gwella cynhyrchiant neu, wrth gwrs, yn cynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol. Dwi wedi gofyn i John Davies arwain adolygiad annibynnol i nodi meysydd o gymhlethdod diangen a chamau gweithredu i'w leihau. Dyw cefnogi ffermwyr yn unig, wrth gwrs, ddim yn ddigon. Mi fyddwn ni hefyd yn hyrwyddo pysgodfeydd Cymru, gan gefnogi'r diwydiant fel rhan hanfodol o system fwyd ac economi arfordirol Cymru. Rhaid i ni hefyd gryfhau'r system sy'n darparu bwyd i bobl ledled Cymru. Mi fyddwn ni'n gwneud hyn drwy strategaeth fwyd genedlaethol newydd i Gymru, gan ddiogelu cyflenwadau bwyd, gwella llythrennedd bwyd, cryfhau cadwyni cyflenwi a chefnogi ein diwydiant bwyd a diod i dyfu, gan adeiladu ar ein henw da am fwyd o ansawdd uchel sy'n cael ei gynhyrchu yn gynaliadwy. Mae gennym ni weledigaeth glir: Cymru lle mae gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd a natur yn cryfhau ein heconomi ni, yn gwella iechyd ein pobl ni ac yn diogelu ein cymunedau ni, lle mae gwneud ardaloedd gwledig ac arfordirol yn fwy gwydn yn greiddiol i bopeth y mae'r Llywodraeth yma yn ei wneud, lle mae ein ffermwyr a'n pysgotwyr ni yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi am y gwaith caled y maen nhw'n ei wneud i roi bwyd ar ein byrddau ni, lle mae ein system fwyd yn gweithio er lles pobl Cymru. Mae angen i ni i gyd weithio gyda'n gilydd er mwyn gweithredu a gwireddu'r weledigaeth hon. Mi fyddaf i, wrth gwrs, yn agored am yr heriau y byddwn ni'n siŵr o'u hwynebu ar y ffordd, ond mi fyddaf i hefyd yn canolbwyntio ar y cyfleoedd i ddatblygu Cymru fwy gwydn, mwy iach a mwy llewyrchus, gan weithio gyda chymunedau, gyda ffermwyr, busnesau a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i gyflawni newid ymarferol sydd wedi'i siapio, wrth gwrs, gan bobl sy'n adnabod eu cymunedau orau. Dyma'r daith sydd o'n blaenau ni: gwrando, cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd, cyflawni ymarferol a gwydnwch hirdymor i Gymru. Dwi'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd yr Aelodau yn y Siambr yma yn ymuno â ni ar y daith honno. Diolch.

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I also, Dirprwy Lywydd, want to decrease the bureaucratic burden on family farms, making a real difference to the time that is spent on complicated and duplicated processes—time that could otherwise be spent managing stock, improving productivity or, of course, planning for the future. I have asked John Davies to lead an independent review to identify areas of unnecessary complexity and actions to reduce that. Supporting farmers alone, of course, is not enough. We will also be championing Welsh fisheries, supporting the industry as a vital part of Wales’s food system and coastal economy. We must also strengthen the system that brings food to people across Wales. We will be doing this through a new national food strategy for Wales, safeguarding food supply chains, improving food literacy, strengthening supply chains and supporting our food and drink industry to grow, building on our reputation for high-quality, sustainably produced food. We have a clear vision: a Wales where action on climate and nature strengthens our economy, improves the health of our people and protects our communities, where strengthening rural and coastal areas and making them more resilient is at the heart of everything this Government does, where our farmers and our fishers are valued for the hard work that they do to put food on our tables, where our food system works for the benefit of the people of Wales. We all need to work together to realise and implement this vision. I, of course, will be open about the challenges we will of course face along the way, but I will also focus on the opportunities to build a more resilient, healthier and more prosperous Wales, working with communities, farmers, businesses and public services to deliver practical change that is shaped, of course, by the people who know their communities best. This is the journey that is ahead of us: listening, shared responsibility, practical delivery and long-term resilience for Wales. I very much hope that Members in this Chamber will join us on that journey. Thank you.

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Diolch yn fawr iawn am y rhestr hirfaith yna o bynciau imi ymateb iddyn nhw.

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Thank you very much for that lengthy list of issues for me to respond to.

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I'll take them in—. No, I might not take them in order, but I'll take them in order of preference, maybe. [Laughter.]  On the red tape review, look, I'm serious about quick wins. We've set nine months as a limit, if you like. It's going to be an iterative process. I've made it clear to John Davies, who's going to chair this process, that if he finds things in the meantime that we can deal with now, then we will do that. But I'm not coming to this job as a politician thinking I know best. I think it's only fair that the people out there with that lived experience—people like John and others that we all know, I'm sure—have the opportunity to bring forward their suggestions and their recommendations. Some of those may well be easily deliverable within weeks, or maybe months, I don't know—it depends what they are. Others may require regulatory changes, maybe even changes to legislation. We can't just do that at whim. So, please be assured that, whilst we've set that nine months as some sort of deadline, I'm hoping that there will be things happening in the meantime and we're not just all looking at each other waiting for nine months from now. Resilient supply chains—absolutely, we need resilient supply chains, and climate change is one of the biggest disruptors of resilient supply chains. And, of course, you mentioned in your question the importance of promoting Welsh food. I couldn't agree more. You mentioned the importance of promoting Welsh foods abroad. Well, do you know what? Scrapping the Welsh Government's presence abroad wouldn't help in that respect, would it? But there we are; I go off on a tangent. [Interruption.] No, it's true. It's true. You can't have it both ways. Either you have people out there working hard to promote and market Welsh produce, or you don't. It's an easy choice to make. On the sustainable farming scheme, you said that it's shocking that take-up is so low. More people joined the sustainable farming scheme than chose to stay within the basic payment scheme. Eight thousand businesses chose to go into the sustainable farming scheme. For a scheme that has absolutely no track record, that is brand spanking new, that doesn't currently have long-term funding assurance for farmers, actually, I don't think that's bad. I'm not saying it's perfect, far from it, but the way you want to frame it is the way that you frame most of life in Wales, isn't it? It's all doom and gloom. It's glass half empty all the time. And, of course, you started off with the usual line about 'crazy' net zero. Well, let's give you an example of how crazy net zero is: one of the projects or one of the schemes that this Government is hoping to pursue with vigour is to retrofit homes. Now, that will reduce carbon emissions. Crazy, isn't it? That will give people warmer homes to live in. That's crazy, isn't it, according to Reform. It'll give people lower bills to pay. Well, that's even more crazy, if you ask me. It'll give us better health outcomes in Wales. Well, how crazy is that? Fewer children with respiratory issues and fewer winter excess deaths—how crazy could that be? The only thing that's crazy about net zero is Reform's policy.

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Diolch yn fawr. Thank you for those questions. I look forward to the scrutiny, no doubt, that you will afford me in this Chamber and beyond. On coal tip safety, I certainly wish to continue the work of the previous Government and much of that does mean negotiating with the UK Government to make sure that a legacy of pre-devolution Wales is recognised by UK central Government. I have not yet had personal discussions, but we are looking for bilateral meetings. You'll appreciate that things are a bit turbulent at Westminster at the minute, but those discussions, hopefully, will happen soon, and it isn't just around the coal tip safety stuff, there's a long list of issues. We did have meetings with other Ministers, but obviously we need to be speaking to the right people as well. So, that's very much on my list of things to achieve, hopefully within the next few weeks. On opencast, yes, I recognise that I took a particular interest in that in my role as Chair of the climate change committee; I hope to continue in that vein in my role as Minister. It's absolutely imperative, I think, that the voice of local people is heard in this discussion, because I think we've got to where we are now by those voices not being heard sufficiently. So, certainly it's something I would advocate for. On flooding, it's important that we bring partners together. Of course, you will know that, because that's the best way that we can maximise investment is to make sure that the Welsh pound works as hard as possible, and that means, of course, local authorities, Natural Resources Wales, emergency services, community organisations, et cetera. We will certainly continue to invest. I'm not in a position currently to tell you exactly how much, because those discussions are still happening. But we're not deluded. We know that this is a serious blight on a number of communities, they need our help, they need our support. What that looks like can vary. It isn't all about mixing concrete; it can be nature-based solutions, as I touched on in my opening remarks. So, there's a menu, if you like, of options there, but what we need to make sure is that the support is there to achieve as much of that as we possibly can. Finally, on bovine TB, we are awaiting, of course, aren't we, the work of the technical advisory group who have been looking at the science, who have been looking at the evidence, particularly in the context of wildlife. You say that the current approach has been working. I would beg to differ. I've been a Member of this Senedd for 15 years, and the annual statement we got from Ministers as an update on TB was more or less the same one as we've been having for the last 15 years. Let's be honest, the programme board set up by the Government to lead on TB recently said that Wales needs a step change in its approach to tackling TB, because we're way off track from achieving the TB-free status we want by 2041. They actually said that, at the current trajectory, we'd be well into our 2050s, so that doesn't sound like a successful policy to me.

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On the last point, I didn't quite understand. I think you mean the Office of Environmental Governance Wales.

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Yes, okay, fine. Well, that, of course, is a consequence of Brexit. We are left without recourse if public authorities are not meeting their commitments or legal obligations in relation to the environment; where previously you could refer it to the EU, you can't do that now. England has created its office, Northern Ireland as well, Scotland, so that's what that is about in relation to that. It's a clear, distinct, separate organisation with different responsibilities to NRW. On meeting with the UK Government Ministers, I actually met with Stephen Morgan MP this morning, specifically to discuss the sanitary and phytosanitary arrangements and proposals for closer relations between the EU and the UK. It was a quadrilateral, with representatives from the devolved administrations as well as the UK Government. There will be an opportunity for us to pursue discussions around other areas of policy, and I'm particularly keen to do that. On livestock numbers, I agree with much of what you said. Retaining a level of throughput that ensures that the abattoirs—and the processing sector more widely—remain viable is critical; it is essential. Farmers have a key role to play in delivering that, but policy has to facilitate and allow that to happen. The kind of food economy we want to build here in Wales is all about local production, local processing and local procurement. If you lose one of the key links in that chain, then we all lose and we don't achieve the kind of sustainable economy that we want to realise. On TB, I suppose you're right: being in Government is about getting to grips with some of these issues. I hear what you said, and you said it last time I was on my feet in this Chamber, but we really have to wait for the advice of the technical advice group. They have been charged with bringing forward concrete proposals on the way ahead. If you think that we as politicians know better, that's fine. I think we wait for the experts to speak; we look at the evidence, we look at the science that they provide us, and then we get a grip and take action.

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Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae pwysigrwydd y sector fwyd a diod i Gymru yn ddiamheuol. Hynny yw, pan ŷch chi'n edrych ar rai o'r ffigurau, mae'n anhygoel a dweud y gwir. Mae'n cynrychioli gwerth o tua £27 biliwn bob blwyddyn i economi Cymru, ac mae'n gyfrifol am gyflogi dros 220,000 o bobl yn y gweithlu Cymreig. Felly, mae sicrhau bod gennym ni sector fwyd ffyniannus, gynaliadwy, sy'n ffit ar gyfer y dyfodol, yn flaenoriaeth bwysig i bob un ohonom ni, dwi'n siŵr, ac mae'r gwaith wedi cychwyn. Mi fyddwn ni cyn bo hir, gobeithio, mewn sefyllfa i gyhoeddi pwy fydd yn arwain y gwaith ar y strategaeth fwyd genedlaethol. Mi fydd honno, wrth gwrs, yn rhoi ffocws ar, efallai, rhai o'r materion rŷn ni eisoes wedi'u crybwyll fan hyn y prynhawn yma. Ond, yn sicr, mae diogelwch bwyd yn bwysig.   Mae gwella llythrennedd bwyd hefyd yn bwysig, dwi'n meddwl. Mae gormod o'r cyswllt yna wedi mynd ar goll rhwng pobl sy'n bwyta eu bwyd ac sy'n gwerthfawrogi o ble mae'r bwyd yna wedi dod a beth mae e wedi ei gymryd i'r bwyd yna gyrraedd eu platiau nhw. Mae hynny yn golygu cryfhau cadwyni cyflenwi, ac fel roeddwn i'n sôn yn gynharach, mae caffael cyhoeddus yn mynd i fod yn ganolog i hyn. Os ydym ni eisiau tyfu sector fwy gwydn ar gyfer y dyfodol, yna mae'n rhaid i ni gychwyn wrth ein traed. Yr arf cryfaf sydd gennym ni fel Llywodraeth ac fel sector gyhoeddus yw caffael cyhoeddus. Mae yna lawer i'w wneud, ond bydd gen i dipyn yn ychwanegol i'w ddweud, efallai, a rhagor o fanylder, o fewn yr wythnosau nesaf.

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Thank you for the question. The importance of the food and drink sector to Wales is undoubtable. That is, when you look at some of the figures, it's incredible, truth be told. It represents a value of around £27 billion a year to the economy of Wales, and is responsible for employing over 220,000 people in the Welsh workforce. So, ensuring that we do have a thriving and sustainable food sector that's fit for the future is an important priority for all of us, I'm sure, and the work has begun. We will soon hopefully be in a position to announce who will be leading the piece of work on the national food strategy. That, of course, will put a focus on perhaps some of the issues that we've already spoken about this afternoon. But, certainly, food security is important. Improving food literacy is also important, I think. Too much of that link has been lost between people eating their food and then appreciating where that food has come from and what it's taken for that food to reach their plates. That does mean strengthening supply chains, and as I mentioned earlier, public procurement is going to be central to this. If we want to grow a more resilient sector for the future, then we need to start now. The strongest tool we have as a Government and as a public sector is public procurement. There is a lot to do, but I will have quite a bit more to say on this, perhaps, and more detail, within the next few weeks.

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They probably feel less resilient and less sustainable because we've only been in Government for four or five weeks. You know, let's be serious. I've been here outlining actions that we're already taking. You mentioned they have to comply with more. We've announced a red tape review. I just told your colleague about how that, hopefully, will take some of the pressure off farms. The sustainable farming scheme is absolutely about creating sustainable farms in Wales. On TB, I've mentioned TB more than once here. On nitrate vulnerable zones, I've been pretty explicit about some of our aspirations in relation to that. So don't try and portray that we're not doing anything and that we're not interested. I appreciate that there's a lot to be done, and I appreciate that people are feeling under pressure. For me, the family farm, as I said in my statement, is the beating heart of rural Wales, it's the cornerstone of our rural economy. All of these pressures are driving down people. They're feeling that the world is against them, and I get it. I know people who've been there and I know people who live that every day. My job in Government is to support them to make things better. Hopefully, if we manage to do that, then we will see the younger generation keen to come into the industry, taking up those opportunities, albeit with schemes and programmes that we can provide to support them, absolutely. But at the minute, we need to be talking the industry up, not the glass half empty again, the doom and gloom and everything is wrong. There are challenges, of course there are challenges, but really, if everybody listens to that, nobody would choose to farm.

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Thank you for that question. My message to young people is that we hear you and we will act. We have proposals to be net zero by 2040, for nature recovery by 2050. Our work on our climate and nature action plan is already under way, and we'll publish our carbon budget 3 plan as well later this year. They can hold us to the level of ambition that, hopefully, we will be able to show in those. And it isn't just young people, of course. Anyone who is worried about flooding in their community, anyone who is struggling in the heat that we're all experiencing today, needs to be concerned, we appreciate that. But we need to tell them, as I said, that we hear them and that we will act.

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Thank you for those questions. I've already met with some representatives of the livestock and abattoir sector in Wales. Clearly, as I answered previously, I share your and other people's concerns at the loss of that capacity. We do not want to see that happen. We will look at ways that we can work with them, in appropriate ways, maybe complementarily in terms of some of the things that we might develop as part of the sustainable farming scheme in terms of the other tiers of support. So, there are things that we are considering. In relation to Hybu Cig Cymru, absolutely, they have a critical role to play. I've met with the chair and the chief exec. I made it clear that what I want is a fully functioning, firing-on-all-cylinders Hybu Cig Cymru. I honestly believe that they're on the right trajectory to achieving that now, but there's still work to do. Everybody has a part to play, from policy makers to those on the ground delivering. I'm happy to continue with this discussion, but certainly, Government has a part to play. And certainly, there's no agenda on my part in terms of driving down livestock numbers.

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Thank you for that. As I said earlier, I have met this morning with the new rural affairs Minister at Westminster. He's a matter of days into role. In fairness, I think both he and I are a bit wet behind the ears, but certainly there is a dialogue to be had there. In terms of net zero, it is a societal effort that we need to see. It isn't just one sector or two sectors. Everybody is being impacted by climate change, and farmers particularly. We regularly hear about the issues of flooding and productive land being underwater for part of the year, which has a big impact on the bottom line. Similarly, drought is impacting on the viability of those businesses. So, net zero is everybody's to achieve. But also, if we get it right and start mitigating some of these challenges, then we can guard against or ward off some of the worst impacts, which aren't just environmental, but economic and social as well. So, there's a lot to do, but it's our duty, I think, to achieve as best we can.

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Thank you. We will, as you would expect, work closely with the farming unions. I'm a big believer in the lived impact and the lived experience of Government policy. It's easy enough for politicians to rock up and say, ‘This is what's best’, but if it doesn't work on the ground, then it doesn't work for me as Minister. That will be one of my guiding principles. Innovation has a big role to play, I think, in where we want to go. Technology has a big role to play as well. We need to be embracing those opportunities. As you say, they drive down costs and they improve productivity, so what is there not to like about that? Getting to that point is a journey for many, and they may well need support in a practical sense, or encouragement as well, through working with others. I'm absolutely up for it, but I will always be guided by what works on the ground, and that means listening to what people have to say.

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Diolch yn fawr. Can I congratulate the Member for constantly bending my ear on some of these issues? He's clearly already a strong advocate of the rural communities that he represents. On some of the changes to the SFS, we have had a number of representations, not only from across the Chamber, but from a number of people who work in the industry as well. The hedge-cutting requirement is one of those that's been highlighted. There are others as well. But we do need to understand the barriers, and there will be lessons learned from this first year. We'll be taking feedback from the farming unions and others who've worked with their members, preparing their applications for the schemes, to understand why certain decisions were made not to come into the scheme, so that we can try and put our finger on some of those, to encourage as many as possible to join us in the future. So, it's listening to those voices, but then, when decisions are made, it is important that we convey that clearly. I see the stakeholders that we work with as important conduits in achieving that. I think Members in this Chamber as well have a role to play. I very much look forward to having those discussions, especially maybe over the summer in a number of the agricultural shows et cetera that will be happening. Yes, I know, you've already invited me to Usk; don't worry. I enjoyed it thoroughly last year, so you might have a chance on that one. But we'll see whether the diary allows that to happen. But anyway, it is about meeting with people and listening to people, responding to what they tell you, and then feeding back in terms of the outcomes. It comes back to a previous statement made this afternoon: we do need to focus on the outcomes. Diolch.

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We will build on the high standards that we already have here in Wales, and, in our manifesto, we said that we would develop a science-led animal health and welfare plan. I look forward to working with stakeholders, operational partners, industry and the third sector to develop our new approach here in Wales.

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Well, you will know, of course, that that is the subject of a UK Government consultation at the minute. The Hunting Act 2004 is not within our legislative competence. I think the least we can do is await the outcome of the public consultation, which concludes in a few weeks, before we come to any conclusions.

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Thank you for your question. Post-legislative scrutiny usually happens after legislation has been introduced, and I will make it clear to the Chamber today that, despite the view I had on that particular legislation, I will respect the democratic decision of the previous Senedd and implement the legislation as intended.

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Yes.

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The Welsh Government is committed to responding to the needs of rural communities throughout Wales. Within the first 100 days, we will bring forward proposals for a statutory rural-proofing duty to ensure that Welsh Government programmes and funding models are fully responsive to the needs of rural communities, people and businesses.

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I don't want to say 'no', but I have to say I'm sure you haven't seen my diary for the next few months. But I am absolutely keen to engage with the farming sector and other relevant sectors across all parts of Wales, and, when time allows, I will absolutely be doing that as best I can.

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Yn sicr, mi fyddwn i'n gobeithio gwneud hynny. Fel rydych chi'n gwybod, mae gennym ni fwriad i gyflwyno adolygiad o'r tâp coch sy'n wynebu'r diwydiant amaeth fel un ymrwymiad clir sydd gennym ni, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen at fedru gwneud cyhoeddiad ynglŷn â hynny yn fuan, gobeithio. Ond, yn bendant, mae yna sgwrs ehangach i'w chael gyda'r Gweinidog cynllunio ynglŷn â rhai o'r rhwystrau, efallai, a rhai o'r elfennau sy'n creu rhwystredigaeth i bobl sy'n ceisio gwireddu'r potensial sydd gennym ni o safbwynt tyfu'r economi wledig a chreu, wrth gwrs, y cymunedau gwledig mwy cydnerth yna rydyn ni i gyd eisiau eu cyflawni.

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Well, certainly, we will hope to do just that. As you'll know, we have an intention to introduce a review of the red tape facing the agricultural industry, and that is one clear commitment we've got, and I look forward to making a statement on that imminently, hopefully. But there is certainly a wider discussion to be had with the Minister for planning with regard to some of the barriers and some of the elements that cause frustration to people who are trying to achieve the potential that we have in terms of growing the rural economy and creating those more resilient rural communities that we want to see.

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You said we've only just published those figures. That's true, because, of course, the window for applications has only just closed, and up until midnight last night, we were still receiving applications being submitted. So, I think it's quite a positive that I was keen that we wanted to publish them before Members had the opportunity to question me today. On the paperwork, I've already mentioned the wider piece of work that we hope to be announcing soon in terms of reducing bureaucracy and red tape. I want farmers to get on with doing what they do best, which is putting food on our plates, and not being sat, where they don't have to be, in front of a computer, or filling in forms, et cetera. But I want that to come from a lived experience perspective as well—I think it's important. It's not for me as a politician to say what I think is best, although maybe we all do that sometimes. We need to be informed by those on the front line who are actually grappling with these issues on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis. That said, I'm committed to evolving this scheme, the sustainable farming scheme. I'm on the same page as the farming unions here. It's evolution, not revolution. I think it's quite positive that half the applicants have chosen to go into the sustainable farming scheme, a scheme where there is no track record, where there is, frankly, no long-term line of sight of funding security either, which is another thing I hope that our Government will be able to address. So, I'm more of a glass-half-full person than a glass-half-empty person, but I will be listening to views from across the Chamber on what you think needs to be amended and changed. I've already met with the farming unions. Many of their county officials, of course, have been working directly with their members, helping them with filling in their application forms. They will have picked up on some of the barriers and some of the concerns that the sector have, and I've asked them to feed those back to us as a Government, so that we can look at it all in the round, and, ultimately, hopefully, yes, get to a place where the scheme works for everybody.

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Well, you don't need to tell me how urgent an issue this is. I have friends and family who have been to hell and back because of TB. And I won't rest until we get to a position where we're on a much more positive trajectory in terms of achieving all our ambitions, I'm sure, in relation to the eradication of TB. It will, of course, be science based and evidence based. I've already met with the TB programme board. I've already met with the technical advisory group as well that was set up under the previous Government to advise on some of these issues. You'll be aware that a position paper was published by the programme board back in March, which made it clear that we really need to be tackling TB on three fronts: of course amongst the human population; yes, amongst livestock; but also amongst wildlife. I support that position. It's now a case of seeing what that looks like on the ground, and that work, obviously, is one that I will be guided on, again by the science and the evidence, but one, I hope, we can start to move on at pace.

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Yes, you're right, I was opposed to the regulations as were outlined previously from day one, actually. I was particularly keen to move to a more targeted and proportionate approach, as you say, not moving towards the farming-by-calendar approach. As an opposition party, Plaid Cymru helped ensure, actually, that that early review by Dr Susannah Bolton happened. Lo and behold, that came back with recommendations saying that we need to move to a more targeted and proportionate approach, and move away from farming by calendar, which absolutely vindicates the view that I've taken from day one. But you will also know that the Government has therefore set up a group to look at translating those recommendations into action on the ground. I will be meeting with that group soon, and I will be making sure that, obviously, they understand that we need to move as quickly as we can. But that is not to neglect our responsibilities in terms of water quality, and minimising, and eradicating if we can, agricultural pollution. There's a big job of work to be done in that space, but, frankly, farming by calendar doesn't work, because, at the end of the day, the weather doesn't follow the calendar. I've said it before, 'If you want to know if the weather is appropriate for slurry spreading, well don't look at the calendar, look out the window.' And I think there are technological opportunities for us to embrace on that front, and that's absolutely one avenue that I'm keen to pursue.

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Yes, I will.

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Well, that view, of course, contrasts starkly with the view of the experts that are advising this Government—the experts that were brought together by the previous Government. So, maybe we all need to reflect on that somewhat. I would say, on the question from the Member for Fflint Wrecsam to the First Minister yesterday, I'm not sure that that kind of emotive, melodramatic use of 'murder' and this, that and the other really helps the debate. This is a difficult issue and we need to approach it in an objective manner with a clear head, okay? So, if that's the way you want to play it, that's fine, that's up to you; I won't be playing that game. I will be basing any decisions that this Government makes on the science and on the evidence base and the expertise and the advice provided by your former Government's established technical advisory group, who are currently looking at providing advice within the context of dealing with TB and wildlife. Let's wait and see what they say, and let's go from there.

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Look, the Member is right: we're not on the right trajectory. The advice from the TB programme board was that, despite having a target of being TB free by 2041, at the current trajectory, it's going to be well into the 2050s until we get anywhere near where we need to be on this. And, you're right, a badger dying of TB will die a horrible, painful, long and agonising death. So, if we're serious about animal welfare, I think there's something we need to reflect on there. Similarly, we are murdering or slaughtering, or whatever you want to call it, 12,000 cattle every year. What about the welfare of those animals as well? I think we need a much more balanced consideration. It's not either/or and it will not be 'Kill all badgers' on my watch. Absolutely not. It's certainly something that has to be guided by the science, and I will reserve judgment on exactly what that looks like until I receive the evidence and the advice of the experts in the field—world-leading experts, by the way, in terms of the membership of this group. When they report, then I will reflect on that, and then we can have a conversation about the detail.

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I don't think we'll see a strategy within the next few weeks. I think there's a lot of work that needs to be done on that and, clearly, there's a lot of work to help people understand the nature of the problem that we're trying to tackle here. But it's absolutely very high up on my list, and I can give you my word that we will see movement on this front as soon as we can. But, as I say, until I receive that advice from the programme board, and the technical advisory group particularly, then I think it would be a bit premature of me to make any grand announcements at the minute.

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Rŷn ni'n ymwybodol o'r digwyddiad llygredd sydd wedi effeithio ar Afon Cynffig ac rŷn ni'n rhannu pryder yr Aelod a'r cyhoedd ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa yn fanna. Dwi wedi  gofyn i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, i Ofwat a Dŵr Cymru i fy niweddaru i ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa am atal y gollyngiad, a hefyd atgyweirio'r difrod amgylcheddol a sicrhau bod camau cyflym yn cael eu cymryd i wella'r afon ac i rwystro, wrth gwrs, unrhyw ddigwyddiadau pellach.

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We are aware of the ongoing pollution incident affecting the River Kenfig and we share the Member's concern and that of the public regarding the situation there. I have asked Natural Resources Wales, Ofwat and Dŵr Cymru for updates on stopping the discharge, repairing the environmental damage and on ensuring that swift action is taken to improve the river and to prevent, of course, any further incidents.

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Dwi'n rhannu, fel roeddwn i'n dweud, ac yn cydnabod y consỳrn gan bobl leol ynglyn â hyn. Dyw sefyllfaoedd o'r fath ddim yn dderbyniol. Yn anffodus, mae pethau fel hyn yn digwydd oherwydd, wrth gwrs, natur yr isadeiledd, oed yr isadeiledd, a'r ffaith bod yr isadeiledd sydd gennym ni yn perthyn i oes arall a ddim i'r oes fodern. Ond dwi wedi gofyn am gyfarfod gyda phrif weithredwr Dŵr Cymru, ac mi fyddaf i'n tanlinellu'r angen i gymryd camau cadarn i ddelio nid yn unig â'r achos yma, wrth gwrs, ond â pherfformiad ehangach y cwmni.

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I share, as I said, and acknowledge the concern felt locally about this. Such a situation is not acceptable. Unfortunately, of course, such things do happen because, of course, of the nature of the infrastructure, the age of the infrastructure and the fact that the infrastructure that we have belongs to another age and not the modern age. But I have asked for a meeting with the chief executive of Dŵr Cymru, and I'll be underlining the need to take robust steps to deal not just with this case, but with the wider performance of the company.

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Thank you for the question. One of the biggest tasks, I think, that this Government will face over the coming years is to recast the whole regulatory landscape here in Wales. You will know that changes are afoot, because of changes in England, and, of course, they will then have consequences for us here in Wales, but it does give us an opportunity to develop a Welsh water regulatory system, and hopefully one that has clout and teeth. And I'm committed to clear, enforceable targets to reduce pollution and to developing or leaning more heavily on the polluter-pays principle, by the way. We do need strong action when these offences, very often, happen, and that is something that I'm absolutely keen to work on with other colleagues across the Chamber to achieve over the coming years.

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The Welsh Government is strengthening nature protection through a climate and nature action plan, establishing an independent environmental governance body as well, and, of course, setting ambitious targets for nature recovery. We're restoring ecosystems, supporting sustainable farming, expanding green infrastructure, including tree planting, and improving community access to high-quality green spaces across Wales.

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Well, I'm determined to build on some of those programmes, absolutely, because access to nature and the creation and protection of our green spaces is an absolute priority for this Government. Our manifesto, for example, advocated social prescribing and nature-based interventions to improve people's health and well-being. It particularly focused on improving access in deprived communities, as well. So, there are health benefits. Obviously there are benefits in terms of nature and biodiversity. We can get people to grow their own food. Back in the day, I was told the best way to get my kids to eat their greens was to make them grow them, and then they'd absolutely be enthralled when they were eating them. So, there's much that we can do, and, of course, that is an example of maybe small investments to unlock some of these green spaces, bringing huge benefits, a multitude of benefits, making the Welsh pound work harder, but also at the same time achieving so many cross-Government priorities.

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Thanks for that question. I can't comment on any individual cases, of course, because the planning regulations mean that maybe Welsh Ministers will be involved in some of those considerations. What I can say, of course, is that 'Planning Policy Wales' requires developers to enhance biodiversity, to protect green infrastructure and to strengthen ecological networks. So, the planning system should play an important role in securing green infrastructure. Now, as I say, I can't comment on the specific circumstances there. I've already outlined the benefits of access to nature for people and, in all circumstances, I would hope that that factor is at least taken into account as part of any planning decisions that are made.

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We'll work with partners and communities across Wales to change attitudes and behaviours in how we dispose of our waste. That, of course, includes funding Fly-tipping Action Wales, which raises awareness, co-ordinates partner and community action, and works collaboratively with local authority enforcement teams, and this work results, of course, in increased prosecutions, in community engagement and preventative measures across Wales.

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Well, look, fly-tipping is a crime, and it needs to be treated as such, and that means strong enforcement and strong penalties. I referenced in an earlier answer the polluter pays as a principle. There's a clear parallel there in relation to fly-tipping as well, and I will give you my word that we as a Government will crack down as best we can on that, and I'm happy to have a discussion with the Member about how she thinks the best way of doing or achieving that is.

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Well, look, I want those responsible for damaging our communities to pay the cost, not local authorities and our communities, because, ultimately, it's the taxpayer who ends up paying the bill. Now, Fly-tipping Action Wales is a programme delivered within Natural Resources Wales, by the way, that has dedicated enforcement officers who lead on fly-tipping investigations, and they work with local authorities collaboratively to tackle this waste crime. I want to see that work strengthened. I want to see us delivering more effectively on tackling fly-tipping, and I hear the examples quoted. And, no doubt, there'll be other supplementary questions, I'd imagine, or certainly correspondence now—I'm inviting it, aren't I; maybe I shouldn't do this—from Members to point out local issues on their part. But the Government is already doing a lot in this space in partnership with others, but I'm happy to listen to the view of Members, and I'll certainly sit down with the relevant people within the Government to see what more we can do.

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Diolch yn fawr. We certainly will continue to work closely with partners—and I mentioned Fly-tipping Action Wales—to clamp down on this issue. I know, for example, in Caerphilly, that the Fly-tipping Action Wales south-east enforcement officer has worked closely with the local authority to provide enforcement support to assist in searching fly-tips and undertaking waste carrier stop checks as well. So, there is a lot happening. But, again, in the spirit of listening to Members raising this regularly, we are, more broadly, also looking at how best to strengthen the suite of enforcement tools that are available to help local authorities to bring offenders to justice because, as I say, ultimately, if they end up picking the tab, then we all end up picking up the tab.

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I think that's a really important point about the cost to public bodies. I did see media reports about what I think you could describe as an extreme litter pick. It was quite an effort from the mountain rescue team, the local authority, as you say, landowners and the wider community as well, hauling in, I think, well in excess of a tonne of fly-tipped waste. We will use all the powers available to us to hold those accountable for their action, and yes, we will strengthen the polluter-pays principle, so that we can properly hold perpetrators to account.

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Diolch yn fawr. Mae'r cais cynllunio ar gyfer y cynllun adfer diwygiedig yn Ffos-y-frân a'r ceisiadau cysylltiedig am ddefnydd parhaus o bwynt gwaredu Cwmbargoed wedi eu galw i mewn ym mis Ebrill. Mi fydd arolygydd cynllunio annibynnol yn rhoi cyngor i Weinidogion Cymru ar y ceisiadau hyn maes o law.

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Thank you very much. The planning application for the revised restoration scheme at Ffos-y-fran and linked applications for continued use of the Cwmbargoed disposal point were called in in April. An independent planning inspector will provide advice to Welsh Ministers on these applications in due course.

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Doeddwn i ddim yn ymwybodol o hynny. Dwi yn teimlo bod lleisiau lleol yn bwysig mewn trafodaethau fel hyn. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gwnaf i fynd bant gyda fi a thrafod ymhellach gyda swyddogion. Diolch am godi'r pwynt.

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I wasn't aware of that. I do think that local voices are important in such discussions. That is something that I will take away and discuss further with officials. Thank you for raising the issue.

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Rŷn ni wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu approach holistaidd i gael gwared ar TB yng Nghymru, un sy'n seiliedig ar y wyddoniaeth ac ar y dystiolaeth sydd o'n blaenau ni, yn tynnu ar arbenigrwydd a chyngor gan y grŵp cynghori technegol a'r bwrdd rhaglen TB yma yng Nghymru.

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We are committed to taking a holistic approach to TB eradication in Wales, one that is based on science and is evidence led, drawing on expertise and advice from the technical advisory group and the TB programme board here in Wales.

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Mi wnes i ymweld, gyda'r Gweinidog cyllid, digwydd bod, rai misoedd yn ôl, â phroject sir Benfro, ac mi ges i fy ysbrydoli, a dweud y gwir, gan y gwaith sydd yn digwydd yn fanna. Fel rŷch chi'n dweud, mae'n cael ei arwain gan y diwydiant. Mae'r ffermwyr a'r sector milfeddygol yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd. Maen nhw'n datblygu dulliau sydd yn berthnasol i'r ardal benodol maen nhw'n gweithredu oddi fewn iddi. Mae yna ddarn o waith, dwi'n meddwl, o ran cymryd y dysgu o fanna a gweld i ba raddau y gallwn ni ehangu ar y dysgu yna. Mae cynllun tebyg nawr yn cael ei ddatblygu yng ngogledd Cymru, sydd ychydig yn wahanol oherwydd mae'n cymryd yr amgylchiadau penodol yn fanna i ystyriaeth, ond yn cael ei ddatblygu ar yr un sail. Mi fydd yr ystyriaethau a'r hyn sy'n cael ei amlygu yn y gwaith yna yn sicr yn rhan o fy meddwl i wrth i ni edrych ar ddiwygio'r ffordd rŷn ni'n mynd i'r afael â'r clefyd yma. Yr un peth arall roeddwn i'n teimlo oedd yn hynod o bositif ynglyn â'r cynllun yn sir Benfro oedd y modd roedd y ffermwyr oedd yn rhan o'r cynllun yn teimlo, o'r diwedd, bod gyda nhw ryw fath o reolaeth a rhyw fath o afael ar yr amgylchiadau a'r sefyllfa oedd o'u cwmpas nhw. Does dim byd gwaeth nag aros am brawf TB a jest aros i glywed eich tynged, heb wybod, 'Ydy e'n rhywbeth dwi wedi ei wneud sydd wedi achosi hyn, neu rywbeth dwi ddim wedi ei wneud?' O leiaf drwy ddatblygu system lle mae yna risk rating ar anifeiliaid ac yn y blaen, lle rŷch chi'n gallu rheoli rhai anifeiliaid allan o'r fuches, rŷch chi'n rhoi rhyw fath o gyfle i'r ffermwr ar y fferm i fod â rhyw fath o ddylanwad ar eu sefyllfa nhw. Dwi'n meddwl bod hynny'n bwysig iawn o safbwynt iechyd meddwl a thaclo'r teimlad yna o anobaith, o ddiymadferthedd, lle dŷch chi jest ddim yn gallu rhoi eich bys ar pam bod pethau fel hyn yn digwydd. Felly, mae e'n waith pwysig, nid yn unig o safbwynt yr elfen ymarferol o daclo lledaeniad TB, ond hefyd ar lefelau eraill, er enghraifft iechyd meddwl.

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I visited, along with the finance Minister, as it happens, the Pembrokeshire project some months ago, and I was inspired by the work that's being done there. As you said, it is led by the industry. The farmers and the veterinarian sector work together. They are developing approaches that are pertinent to that particular area that they are working within. I think there's a piece of work in taking the learning from there, and to see how we can roll that out. A similar scheme is being developed in north Wales, which is a little different because it takes local circumstances into account there, but it's being developed on the same basis. These considerations and what is highlighted in that work will certainly be part of my thinking as I look at reforming the way that we tackle this particular disease. The one other thing that I felt was extremely positive about the Pembrokeshire project was the way in which the farmers who were part of the project at last felt that they had some sort of control, and some sort of grip on the situation surrounding them. There is nothing worse than waiting for the result of a TB test and just waiting to hear your fate, without knowing, 'Is it something that I have done or something that I haven't done that has caused this?' At least by developing a system where there is a risk rating on livestock, where you can control some cattle out of the herd, you give the farmer on the farm some opportunity to have some influence on their own situation. I think that that is hugely important in terms of mental health and tackling that feeling of hopelessness, where you simply can't put your finger on why these things are happening. So, it's important work, not only from the practical point of view of tackling the spread of TB, but also on other levels, such as mental health.

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As somebody who has spoken openly about my personal experience of mental health challenges, I am passionate about the work that the DPJ Foundation, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Tir Dewi and all the others do in that space. It's an invaluable service, but it's so sad that we're leaning so heavily on them. I recognise that the previous Government used to announce certain funding support for those charities, specifically in the context of TB sometimes, but that angered me as well because it was a little bit like passing the buck—'We're not addressing the fundamental problem here but these organisations can pick up the pieces'. I want to move away from that space. Yes, I will support those charities and organisations as best I can, but fundamentally my focus is on addressing the root cause here, and that's what I will be getting on with.

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I recognise the importance of protecting and improving access to green spaces for community well-being, health and the resilience of our urban environments. We are reviewing existing support for urban green infrastructure and community delivery, working with planning and local partners to safeguard existing spaces and to expand access across Wales.

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As I mentioned earlier, I think, the planning system should take account of these issues. Clearly there will be examples where that doesn't happen, and there may or may not be valid reasons for that. That's a subjective view, maybe. But I am committed to sitting down and working with the planning Minister to see how we can improve and strengthen that area. I'm passionate about pocket parks and those kinds of approaches in terms of green spaces and realising green spaces and green potential, particularly in urban situations. I know that there's some positive work that's been happening of late in Cardiff around that as well, and that's more of the kind of thing that we want to encourage. I'll happily engage with the Member as well if he has any particular ideas or suggestions that we may want to pursue.

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Rhun ap Iorwerth.

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