Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:39 pm on 23 January 2019.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 1:39, 23 January 2019

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Minister, you now have, obviously, overall responsibility for the rural affairs and environment portfolio, and, in particular, Natural Resources Wales. When I've gone around, since taking over the shadow brief, talking to the forestry sector in particular, they are deeply concerned about the management of the forestry estate in Wales, and in particular about their ability to access commercial timber so their operations aren't jeopardised in the future. This is emphasised today with a letter that has appeared in the press—and I appreciate the Welsh Government don't comment on leaks—but, from my personal experience of going around, everything in that letter bears out on the ground. And when you see figures of 12,000 jobs and £100 million-worth of investment, these are big numbers, and unless NRW get their act together and start delivering a forestry sector that can supply our timber businesses, we really will be losing much of this investment and many of these jobs. What confidence can you give us here today that you have confidence in the way NRW are taking forward the forestry sector here in Wales and, in particular, are addressing the concerns that have been expressed to me personally and in the letter that's appeared today?