Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Following extensive consultation, a mandatory requirement to provide sustainable drainage systems on new developments was introduced in Wales from 7 January this year. SuDS, as they are more commonly known, will provide multiple benefits for flood risk reduction, rainwater re-use, water quality, well-being and biodiversity. I am proud that we are the first country in the UK to introduce mandatory SuDS on all new developments.

The recent flooding in parts of the UK shows the need for us to be vigilant and innovative in how we deal with excessive rainfall, which is only likely to get worse as a result of climate change. The original enforcement Order was one of five pieces of secondary legislation the National Assembly made to implement the SuDs provisions in Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Under the 2010 Act, approval is required before construction of drainage systems can commence on new and redeveloped sites. The Sustainable Drainage (Enforcement) (Wales) Order 2018 provides for the enforcement of breach of the approval required concerning drainage systems. The Order makes provision for the SuDS approving body to exercise powers of entry and issue enforcement notices or stop notices to a developer that breaches the requirement for approval.

However, following implementation, it has come to light that a minor amendment is needed to article 21 of the 2018 Order to bring it in line with recent changes to other enforcement legislation. Article 21 limits the fines that can be passed in a summary case for the offence of failing to comply with a temporary stop notice, enforcement notice or stop notice to a maximum of £20,000.

The 2018 Order was drafted before section 85(1) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 commenced, but was not put into force until after the commencement and so was not caught by that provision. The 2012 Act removed the upper limit on the fines magistrates' courts could pass for almost all offences. To provide consistency with other offences of a similar nature, it is proposed the limit of £20,000 be amended to simply 'a fine', enabling magistrates' courts to pass an unlimited fine. This is consistent with the wording used in amendments to other legislation made by the 2012 Act.

It is important the SuDS regime is backed up by appropriate enforcement arrangements, and I commend this Order to the National Assembly.