Peatlands

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:01 pm on 29 November 2017.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 2:01, 29 November 2017

Minister, having previously just now congratulated you, I think I should now switch into attack mode. [Laughter.] Otherwise, you will be given false reassurance about how you will be treated in this Chamber.

I think this is a really important question. Peatlands are the most important terrestrial carbon store in the UK—20 times more carbon stored there than in UK forests. You say that you have secured funding, but a lot of the funding at the moment for the management scheme is through EU LIFE funding. I just wonder what's going to happen to that. Are there any plans for 2020-1? Obviously, restoring these peatlands and then maintaining them—the maintaining bit is going to require ongoing funding.