Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to be able to participate in this Petitions Committee debate today, because it is an opportunity to talk about the flooding that hit RCT in February, and Pontypridd, my constituency, was the most badly affected area of Rhondda Cynon Taf. So, it is an issue that I have consistently and persistently raised questions on to the First Minister and other Ministers, because although much has already been done, there is still much more to do, and I do not intend to allow those flooded communities in my constituency to be forgotten. 

For each of the 321 homes and dozens of businesses that were severely flooded in Pontypridd, and for the 1,800 homes that were otherwise affected, action is the key word. Winter is here and the anniversary of the floods is approaching fast. People are understandably anxious for the future, and the fear of further flooding is traumatic and must not be underestimated. So, I do not believe that my constituents want anything to get in the way of the progress that we are already making, and the work that is currently in hand.

Public inquiries have their place, but an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, a statutory inquiry, is expensive, it is time consuming and it is a very bureaucratic process, and I know from practical experience that a public inquiry will take at least a year—in all likelihood, at least 18 months—and would be unlikely to add very much to what we already know about the information that we already have from the inquiry report already published by Natural Resources Wales, or what we will know, certainly in my constituency, from the eight section 19 inquiry reports that we're expecting some time in early January. It is vitally important that we have the opportunity to consider those reports, because they will enable immediate action to be taken on top of the action that is already under way. 

I do understand the well-intentioned demands for a public inquiry, but it won't change what needs to be done. A public inquiry, in my view, will only delay what needs to be done now, and if I thought a public inquiry would deliver any benefit to the communities I represent, I would support it. At this moment in time, it is not the right step. It may be appropriate to consider once we have those section 19 reports, but now is not that moment in time.

So, as I say, our focus has got to be on action, and there has been progress. Considerable repair work has been carried out by RCT council, Welsh Water and NRW. RCT council, together with Welsh Government, has also been exploring the potential for a local business insurance scheme, and I want to see that develop. And I'm grateful to the environment Minister, Lesley Griffiths, who has committed millions of pounds of Welsh Government resources to ensure that the preparatory work being carried out by RCT council can go ahead whilst we await the UK Government's decision to make good on its promise of £70 million to £80 million of funding to repair key infrastructure. I'm also very grateful to the Moondance charity, who made a generous donation of £100,000 to help support over 100 of the most immediately affected families there. Also, I'm very grateful for recent interventions by the mental health Minister, Eluned Morgan, for her work with Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board in respect of ensuring that mental health and support services are available to the local community.

Can I also put on record my thanks to all those councillors and community workers and residents who did so much during the course of the flooding? Now, in the immediate aftermath of the floods, I visited those communities with the First Minister and along with the local MP in Pontypridd, Alex Davies-Jones. We've held over 30 public and private meetings with residents and local businesses. The most recent was this week. The views and experiences of the residents are set out in a very detailed report that has been circulated amongst all those who were immediately affected by the flooding. My most immediate concern is that no home that would reasonably benefit from flood resilience measures, such as, for example, floodgates, should be prevented from having them because of cost, and I'm pleased that the Minister, in response to questions from me, has confirmed that funding is available. I'm glad also that RCT council have already had confirmation that their application for funding and that discussions with NRW on a similar scheme for similar measures in flood-risk areas is under discussion with the Minister, and I'd be grateful if the Minister would provide an update on those discussions.

Now, there is still much to do. Insurance is a real issue, with businesses who suffered damage running into tens of millions finding it difficult to get cover, and we must hold the UK Government to its promise of financial support, and I hope that every Member here is as determined as I that they will. We must urgently progress the introduction of flood-resilience measures, such as floodgates, with NRW, and progress other important issues identified in our Pontypridd flood report. Such an improved flood warning system is important, and the introduction of community flood ambassadors and, we also believe, the introduction of regular flood drills. These are the actions that the communities in Pontypridd have raised with me that I want to focus on, and I can assure them that these objectives will continue to be my priority. Diolch, Llywydd.