7. Will the Minister make a statement on the accuracy of Wales's flood maps? OQ55515

Diolch. Natural Resources Wales are responsible for maintaining and updating Wales's flood maps. No model can be 100 per cent accurate, but the maps are constantly refined as new data and methodology become available. New flood maps will be launched alongside our national flood strategy this autumn, followed by a new flood map for planning in 2021.

Well, thank you for that response, but in dealing with casework recently I came to realise that 90 per cent of Welsh rivers do not have the gauges to measure water flow in those rivers. Now, that's the data that's being used to produce these maps across Wales, and it's those maps, of course, that are the basis for a number of planning decisions in all parts of Wales and a number of decisions as to whether people can access insurance for their homes or their businesses. But if the original data isn't robust or, for many parts of Wales, simply isn't available, then there's a risk that those far-reaching decisions are made on an erroneous basis.

Now, are you confident, therefore—and that's my question—are you confident, with the flow of 90 per cent of Wales's rivers not being monitored, that there is adequate data to create reliable flood maps in Wales? And if you are not, then what are you doing to tackle that situation? Because, with such a lack of data, the risk is that what we see NRW doing, essentially, is to put a finger in the air.

I will certainly go back to ensure that that is not the case. Currently, we've got the development advice map, and that's going to be replaced by the flood map for planning. So, it's really important, as you say, that that new system is based on absolutely the best data that we could possibly have. I've provided full funding support to NRW and to local authorities, along with my colleague Julie James, to create the new national asset database and the Wales flood map product. So, it is absolutely vital that the data is correct. So, I will certainly go back and check that that is the case.