3. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the assessments taken by Natural Resources Wales in relation to the proposal for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon? OAQ(5)0161(ERA)

Thank you. Natural Resources Wales is working closely with the developer on the proposed application and the organisation has made significant progress on the marine licensing application. I understand the principal outstanding issue is the potential impacts on migratory fish and how to model these impacts, on which I’m unable to comment further due to my potential role in the licensing process.

I thank you for that answer, Cabinet Secretary. In your answer to Simon Thomas earlier, you highlighted the delays that the UK Government have been experiencing, but, with the general election now gone, perhaps we can see those delays and excuses for those delays disappear. But marine licensing is an important issue, because those delays could disappear and we could have a decision by the UK Government, but we still have a marine licence issue. I spoke to Natural Resources Wales last week and, as you say, the discrepancies between the two ends are narrowing, but we need a timescale, I think, for this solution. Are you prepared now to meet Natural Resources Wales and give them a timescale to work to so we can have a marine licence in place, either ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and we know a decision quickly?

I do meet Natural Resources Wales at least once a month and have those discussions. There are no statutory deadlines set for marine licensing. I think the most important thing is that the company and NRW work very closely together, and they are doing that. I’ve been reassured on that point. But, as I say, I do have an appellant role, so it will come to me if there is an appeal.

Tidal lagoons, of course, are also an important feature that could be of benefit to the north Wales coastline, in terms of economic development and in terms of coastal protection. But one of the things that potential developers are saying to me is that they could do with some seed funding in order to fund the research that might be necessary, on an open-source basis, available for anybody to access, in order that they can take their projects forward. I wonder what discussions you have had with your colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for the economy, on the possibility of the Welsh Government investing in that research in order to make some progress on the possibility of such a development off the coast of north Wales.

I am aware, obviously, of the plans for a further tidal lagoon in the Colwyn bay area. I haven’t had any specific discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure around this. What I think we really do need is that response from the UK Government. We need it so that we—you know, we’re incredibly supportive of the principles of a tidal lagoon. I think it’s really important that the UK Government also recognise that we have a big part to play in this. So, once we’ve had the response from the UK Government, if there is then, we think, a need for that further research, we can certainly look at that.

Following the Conservative-DUP deal this week—I don’t know if you’ve heard about that, Cabinet Secretary; and I note your earlier comments to Simon Thomas, but the tidal lagoon is vitally important to Swansea and Wales—will you be specifically making representations to the Secretary of State for Wales on this matter as well, as one of eight Welsh Conservative MPs who must now stand up for Wales? We have seen what 10 DUP MPs can do—what price Welsh Conservative MPs standing up for Wales?

Well, the Member raises a very important point, and certainly, when I next meet with Alun Cairns, I think that’s a discussion we’d have. But you will have heard the First Minister say yesterday he spoke to the Secretary of State for Wales on Monday, I think it was, when we will have raised that.