8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on floods on agricultural land? (OAQ51031)[W]

Thank you. My recently published natural resources policy outlines the opportunities to manage flooding by using natural flood risk management techniques in both our upland and lowland areas. In the uplands, this means taking measures to increase water storage by reducing run-off and soil sealing, and in the lowlands, slowing flow through more natural floodplains.

Thank you for that response. I did raise this with one of your predecessors three years ago: the need to do more to empower landowners, farmers, environmental groups and so on to be responsible, within specific parameters, of course, for clearing river banks themselves, for example—that they should have the powers to do that within specific circumstances. I referred at that point to a pilot scheme that the Environment Agency in England was running, and the Minister at the time agreed that he would be happy to introduce a similar pilot scheme in Wales. Can you tell us whether that pilot scheme has been put in place, and can you also explain why we are still seeing increasing examples of complaints about agricultural land finding itself under water for large parts of the year?

I’m not aware of that pilot scheme, but if it was three years ago, that doesn’t mean it’s been rolled out, if you like. But, certainly, I’m happy to look into that and write to the Member.

I too have been contacted by constituents who are very concerned about the reduced maintenance regime that’s being undertaken by Natural Resources Wales in parts of north Wales and, as a result of that reduced maintenance scheme, ditches, because they’re not being cleared, are beginning to flood-water on to agricultural land—what has been very productive agricultural land. What action are you taking to ensure that Natural Resources Wales does target its maintenance appropriately so that farmers aren’t losing out because of a lack of maintenance in their areas?

I think you raise a very important point. It’s not one that has been raised with me as a concern but I’d be very happy to discuss it at my next meeting with the NRW chair and chief executive, which I think is next week or the week after.