7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Welsh Government's marine-licensing procedures? OAQ52684

The Welsh Ministers' marine licensing authority functions have been delegated to Natural Resources Wales, who carry them out on Welsh Ministers' behalf. The marine licensing determination process provides for a thorough and robust assessment of proposed activities, including consideration of the need to protect the marine environment and human health.

Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, it has now been established through legal action that there was no environmental impact assessment to dump mud from Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor onto the Cardiff Grounds. There was no consideration of the effect on the marine environment or public health. It was also established through our legal action that you, as Cabinet Secretary, are ultimately responsible for undertaking an EIA. So, will you now take action and make sure that an environmental impact assessment is done, or will you continue to act unlawfully?

I'm very grateful for the opportunity to set out the EIA process again. A key point to note is that this non-EIA approach does not mean that a full and thorough environmental assessment was not undertaken. A radiological assessment was carried out and supported by experts, as well as the wider environmental and human health assessments needed for the marine licence determination. An EIA was carried out on the Hinkley Point C project overall; it was submitted as part of the supporting information supplied with the application for the marine licence and, as such, was considered in the determination process.

The difference between non-EIA and EIA projects is the length of time for public consultation: 28 days for non-EIA, and for EIA applications this is increased to 42 days.

As you know, Cabinet Secretary, again, the Petitions Committee has taken much evidence on this and has given detailed consideration to the petition calling for the suspension of marine licence 1245ML. This licence has been opposed by so many, including the committee itself. And I want to put on record my thanks to you, Neil, for being so determined to stand up for the people who you believe this is going to affect. And still this licence has not been suspended.

Some of the evidence we took: some of the digging, some of the findings at the appropriate depths, for some of the contaminants have not been undertaken since 2009. We are now in 2018. Now, with that in mind, will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on why you and your Government are going against so much opposition and what actions you will take to listen to the people who are most affected? And it's no good shaking your head. I sat in those meetings, Cabinet Secretary—

I wasn't shaking my head. 

What actions will you take—

I wasn't shaking my head. [Laughter.]

Not you, no, no, not you; this one here—your questions are coming up next.

What actions are you taking to prevent the disposal of what is considered potentially dangerous sediment here into the beautiful Cardiff Bay?

The Member will be aware that this is a live licence and that, as such, this is a matter for Natural Resources Wales. They are the licensing authority, and I'm  limited in what I can say about particular marine licences, given the Welsh Ministers' statutory role under the regime. I'm very grateful to have that opportunity, as I said, to set out the process. I understand there's going to be a debate next week also, but I just want to reassure people that NRW have made their determination based on expert advice in line with the radiological assessment procedure developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Question 8 [OAQ52670] is withdrawn. Question 9, Suzy Davies.