The Recent Flooding

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 4 March 2020.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 2:20, 4 March 2020

You do have to have the demand first, before you pass the cash on, and I don't think a demand's gone forward.

But if I could ask my question, the point I would like to ask is: we had the all-party group on woodland and forestry yesterday, and various Members challenged some of the experts around the table as to why there isn't greater woodland planting in some of the upland areas. The response that came back was that some of the rules and regulations around the management of those upland areas make it prohibitive, if not impossible, to plant woodland on those areas. Would you concur with that evidence that was put before us yesterday, and if you don't, will you actively encourage greater woodland plantations in the uplands, which could help alleviate some of the flooding further down by greater absorption further upstream?