Mike Hedges: ..., whilst I would normally say reorganisation is not the answer, in the case of the ambulance service, could reorganisation make anything worse? NRW makes no sense at all. Whilst the merger of the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Agency had some logic behind it, adding the Forestry Commission had none whatsoever. Finally, looking for a regional model of services, no...
Huw Irranca-Davies: ...put it on a stable footing now and for the future and to enable NRW to do its job properly, albeit being lean and mean and very, very green. Just short of a decade after the merger in 2013 of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales—itself, of course, at the time courted some controversy—our report now picks up widespread current...
Andrew RT Davies: ...the keyword you said there—'core' to your policies. But yet many Members—I think all Members—might well have received this letter from retired former employees of Natural Resources Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and other bodies who have an interest in this particular area, which highlights what they believe is the lack of confidence in Natural Resources Wales's management...
David Melding: ...body's role is critical and its purpose is crucial for the effective management and sustainability of our natural environment here in Wales. Back in 2011, when details of the planned merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission were first announced, the environment Minister said that the move would ensure more sustainable and effective...
Motion NDM6989 as amended: To propose that the National Assembly for Wales: 1. Notes the Welsh Government’s decision to merge the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales, and the Forestry Commission Wales with the formation of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in 2013. 2. Recognises the hard work of frontline staff in the organisation but acknowledges their dissatisfaction and...
Caroline Jones: ...year. In the face of global ecological disaster, environmental protection and nature conservation are some of the most important tasks for government. The decision to merge the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission was not wrong, but to turn them into little more than an underfunded and under-resourced Government department was...
George Eustice: ...sediment from the Hinkley Point C project to the Cardiff Grounds disposal site. The disposal of sediment at this site is regulated by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). I can confirm however that the Countryside Council for Wales (NRW’s predecessor) and the Welsh Government were consulted on the original marine licence application(s) for Hinkley Point C in 2012.
David Melding: ...need this new start. As I said, this really does come back to how the Government sets priorities and enables the likes of NRW to implement their statutory duties effectively, and, previously the Countryside Council for Wales said they sought a greater lead from Welsh Government on MPA management. Let me just quote one person, Professor Warren, from Aberystwyth, and she said that the...
Mike Hedges: The Wales plan has been a long time in the making. It started initially with the Countryside Council for Wales back in 2009, advising the Welsh Government on its initial approach to maritime planning. I'm not going to criticise it for taking that length of time. It's always better to get a policy right than to get one quickly, so I make no criticism of the length of time; I think it's...
Darren Millar: ..., this is an organisation that has been formed for over three years now, but as I understand it, the review of the salary scales and the job evaluation schemes of the legacy organisations—the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission Wales—is still yet to be completed, and as a result, there are some individuals who are not being rewarded in the way...
David Melding: ...have to ask the Welsh Government, Presiding Officer, whether the organisational merger is on track and is to achieve its intended purpose. Back in 2011, when the details of the planned merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency, and Forestry Commission Wales was first announced, the environment Minister said that the move would ensure more sustainable and effective...
Mr Neil Hamilton: ...diverse seas, and there has been good progress made on designation. But, I’m not sure that the same progress has been made on improved management of marine protected areas. In 2012, the Countryside Council for Wales, which is now, of course, Natural Resources Wales, said that 47 per cent of species and 54 per cent of habitats in Natura 2000 sites were in an unfavourable condition and,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: ...don’t know, for example, what the state of some of our best sites for wildlife is. The last review of the status of these protected grounds was done in a quick survey of a sample observed by the Countryside Council for Wales over a decade ago, and the outcomes weren’t particularly encouraging. It’s crucially important, I think, that we invest in monitoring and assessing these sites...
Philip Davies: ...of outstanding natural beauty, to consult— (i) any conservation board that exists in respect of the area of outstanding natural beauty, or, if no conservation board exists, Natural England or the Countryside Council for Wales, as appropriate, (ii) each local planning authority in whose area the works are proposed to be executed, and (iii) such other persons as he considers...
Richard Benyon: ...Regulating Order (which is granted to the Environment Agency) and a Management Plan. The management of the Dee is also carried out in accordance with an annual Appropriate Assessment agreed with the Countryside Council for Wales and Natural England. The Environment Agency in Wales leads on the management of the Dee cockle fishery, working closely with English colleagues, including...
Richard Benyon: ...in the Severn Estuary was undertaken as part of the Government's Severn Tidal Feasibility Study, which was published in October 2010. Consultation with the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales and RSPB informed this exercise. A link to the summary report of the study can be found on the Department of Energy and Climate Change's website. Any future...
Richard Benyon: Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales are supporting the work of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and local amphibian and reptile groups to assess adder populations. Early results of a national reptile survey show that adders were recorded in only 7% of the sample plots studied. If the final report confirms a worrying decline in this species the...
Richard Benyon: I have visited that catchment area and know that there are serious issues to be tackled. We work closely not only with ministerial colleagues in Wales, but with the Environment Agency and the new Countryside Council for Wales. I assure my hon. Friend that cross-border issues will be dealt with to reflect the needs of catchments. We will work with all concerned to ensure that that is successful.
Earl Attlee: The meeting between the Highways Agency and Natural England, also attended by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government and Countryside Council for Wales took place on 10 November 2011. Constraint on public spending is, and will continue to be, a key consideration in decisions made on what mitigation is provided on agency projects.
Richard Benyon: ...in Pest Management Science early in 2012. The cost of the studies on immuno-contraception totalled £323,000 during the period 2002-07. They were funded by the Forestry Commission, DEFRA, the Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England. A total of £282,000 has been spent on studies using DiazaCon from 2007-11 by DEFRA and the Forestry Commission.
