8. What progress has been made in securing a sustainable financial settlement from the UK Government to support effective remediation of Wales's 2,100 coal tips? OQ57006

UK Government must act to tackle the long-term legacy cost to Wales of remediation, reclamation and repurposing of coal tip sites, which are a legacy of the pre-devolution mining industry. At least £600 million is needed over a decade and a half, far more than anticipated when devolution and our current funding arrangements began.

Thank you, Minister, for your answer. The physical scars of the industrial revolution are a legacy that we live with today, with nearly 40 per cent of all disused UK coal tips being here in Wales. As you so rightly said, the reclamation costs are on a scale in excess of anything that could have been anticipated when devolution began, but it’s important that we deal with this issue now. So, will you press the UK Government in the forthcoming spending review to commit the investment needed to tackle this long-standing issue, in areas like the Cynon Valley, to ensure the safety of all our communities?

Yes, I can absolutely give that commitment to press the UK Government on this particular issue. Ahead of the spending review I’ll be writing to the Chancellor outlining our priorities for Wales in that letter, and I will be requesting that the UK Government works urgently with us to develop a formal strategy and funding programme for long-term remediation, reclamation and repurposing of coal tip sites, to manage the climate change impacts, and address the public safety concerns in that area.

At the introductory meeting I had with the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury recently, I took the opportunity to outline our key priorities for the spending review, and I was very clear that coal tip safety is our key concern that we want to see addressed in this spending review. I look forward to a meeting with the Chief Secretary tomorrow where I’ll again be pressing the exact points that you’ve raised this afternoon.

I thank the Minister.