10. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on measures to tackle river pollution in Wales? OAQ(5)0153(ERA)

Thank you. The river basin management plans, published in 2015, include detailed assessments of all Welsh rivers and measures that we are taking to improve their quality. Currently 37 per cent of our rivers achieve good status under the water framework directive and we aim to increase this to 42 per cent by 2021.

Thank you for the reply, Cabinet Secretary. One of the duties of Natural Resources Wales is to monitor the health of Welsh rivers and take action against those who pollute them. Figures show that Natural Resources Wales received nearly 6,900 reports of river pollution between 2013 and 2016. About 60 per cent of these reports were investigated but resulted in only 41 prosecutions and 10 civil sanctions. Does the Cabinet Secretary believe that Natural Resources Wales is fit for purpose and what action will she take to improve protection of Welsh waters and Welsh rivers from pollution? Thank you.

Certainly, in the year I’ve been in this portfolio, we’ve seen an increase in the number, particularly, of significant pollution incidents in our watercourses, most notably in the Teifi in west Wales and also the Honddu in Monmouthshire. I do think NRW are fit for purpose. I expect them to fully use their legal powers in dealing with these cases. I know they are sometimes frustrated that so few come to prosecution. I think there’s a really big piece of work to be done around pollution of farms. You’ll be aware agricultural pollution is often a cause and that’s the discussion that I have with farmers. I’ve just gone out to consultation in relation nitrate vulnerable zones and will be coming forward with a statement in the autumn. I think, as I say, there is a big piece of work to be done and it’s a piece of work that we are undertaking.

The Cabinet Secretary will recall the incident in my constituency with Valero and the leak of oil into Nant Pibwr. At the time, NRW had carried out a number of tests in terms of the soil and the water, and they said that they weren’t able to publish the results in case they needed to use those in any legal proceedings. Can the Cabinet Secretary give us an update as to whether those data are now available for publication, and has NRW decided what legal steps they are to take in this case?

The last time I discussed this with NRW—which is probably about five weeks ago, I would say—certainly, they weren’t, still, in a position to publish it. I’d be very happy to put it on the agenda for my next meeting with NRW and update Adam Price via a letter.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.