For those who experience flooding the psychological impact is devastating, and these are effects that we can see clearly in our communities when we meet with and talk to those affected. The power of mother nature to cause devastating floods is nothing new, yet there is no doubt that as climate change takes its grip the threat of increased flooding in our communities in future is a serious one, and one that governments at all levels must come together to tackle head on. 

When homes and businesses are flooded, it's important that the relevant authorities do all they can to help and pick up the pieces. When parts of my constituency were very badly affected by storm Dennis back in February last year, I visited many of those affected along with the environment Minister, Lesley Griffiths, and also saw at first hand how Rhondda Cynon Taf staff worked around the clock before, during and after the storm to help local people—an important point recognised in the first part of the Government's amendment. I want to place on record my thanks to all of those who helped.

It is important that we learn what happened, where and why flooding occurred, and what we need to do in future to mitigate its impact. We must recognise also that RCT council has, or is in the process of carrying out, 28 different inquiries into the flooding last year, in addition to NRW's work. There must be the opportunity for these processes to conclude rather than just restarting the process, launching a new inquiry that covers old ground when our public services are under so much pressure and going above and beyond.

But, waiting for inquiries to report back on their findings doesn't, of course, mean that we do nothing. Instead, it means that practical interventions can be, and are being, made now. For example, some of the long-term solutions that recognise the topography of the Valleys and the large number of culverts can be put in place to mitigate the impact of heavy rain, surface run-off and engorged water channels. 

I visited one scheme in Trecynon, again with the environment Minister, last August, where an attenuation pond had been established, bypassing a flood-prone culvert and establishing a new habitat in the process. This was funded out of over £0.5 million given to RCT council to work on repairs and remediation of flood-alleviation assets by the Welsh Government; more money for other schemes has also been allocated since. I welcome this long-term approach from the Welsh Government, in close collaboration with forward-thinking local authorities. Other works carried out by RCT council using Welsh Government funding include interventions in Cwmbach to prevent flooding that has long plagued local businesses there. These are all locally owned, employing local people and contributing to the foundational economy.

When I met constituents who'd been affected by flooding and spoke of the difficulties getting insurance, I was able to inform them of the Government-supported Flood Re scheme. More work should be undertaken to raise awareness of this, and I would like to see the scheme extended so that businesses can benefit from support towards their increased insurance costs too.

Finally, I would like to formally record my thanks to the Moondance Foundation and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their help in financing and administrating the Cynon valley flood fund that I established with Beth Winter to support local people whose lives have been turned upside down by flooding.