5. What assessment has the Welsh Government made as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with the nitrates directive for individual businesses in the proposed designated areas? OAQ(5)0046(ERA)

I am currently consulting on the review of the designated areas and action programme to tackle nitrate pollution in Wales and, subject to the outcome of the consultation, I intend to introduce new legislation next year. A full regulatory impact assessment will be produced at that time.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that answer. I was going to suggest that this regulatory impact assessment perhaps ought to be produced sooner than when she currently expects, because Welsh Ministers are committed to considering the impact of subordinate legislation on business, according to their own code of conduct, and it would be much better if this formed part of the consultation exercise itself because then the responses to the consultation would be better informed and Ministers could take better decisions as a consequence.

I don’t agree with that.

Minister, in regard to the proposals for a nitrate-vulnerable zone along the sweep of the Cleddau and above Pendine, I’ve got great concerns because, both of those areas, you only have one direction of travel—back inland. Have you given any consideration, or what efforts have your officers done to ensure or to review the potential damage that could occur to land that is just outside of the nitrate-vulnerable zone, which would not only have to spread their own slurry, but in fact be the receivers for those who are trying to ship their slurry away from the zone?

I think part of that work was done, and one of the reasons why we’ve gone out to consultation is on the back of that. I really would urge the Member and all constituents who’ve got an interest in this to take part in the consultation, because I’m very interested to hear people’s views. If other Members or their constituents have views around different approaches they think we could take, I’m very happy to consider those also.