5. What measures will the Welsh Government introduce to tackle river pollution from agriculture? OQ56990

Pollution of any kind impacts us all and we must tackle it for the benefit of our environment and communities. On 27 January this year, I introduced the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021, and initial measures came into force on 1 April.

Can I thank the Minister for that response? Whilst last week the major public debate was about safety from COVID, my e-mail account had more contact regarding pollution of the River Wye than it did about anything else. I'm also aware of the pollution of other rivers from agricultural run-off. People are also concerned about run-off from chicken farms and nitrogen and other chemicals going into the river. Can we expect to see an improvement in river quality in the near future? Because from what I hear from people regarding the River Wye, it is in a very delicate state at the moment, and I'm sure other rivers will be in exactly the same position fairly soon. We need to protect our rivers, and whatever it takes to protect our rivers needs to be done. 

I absolutely agree with the Member, and we do have concerns around the River Wye at the moment. You ask whether we'll see an improvement in our rivers. What I want to see is an improvement on the scale that we've seen with our bathing waters, for instance, where we've made huge improvement strides. I will certainly want to see that with the rivers. I am working closely with the Minister for Climate Change, because preventing pollution from poultry farming certainly has a role to play, as you referred to. And obviously, planning authorities are having to consider the environmental impacts of any planning proposals for new poultry units, so that's why I've been working with the Minister in relation to planning, because we have seen an increased number, certainly in the number of poultry farms and the applications as well. So, we need to make sure that the cumulative impact doesn't have a detrimental effect. 

Thank you, Minister, for answering Mike's question; it's really helpful. The situation with some of our rivers across Wales is extremely worrying, and we share that worry. An urgent shared endeavour is needed to address the pollution levels currently being experienced. I'm sure you would agree, though, Minister, that river pollution isn't all due to agriculture, as we have seen in the River Usk, where regular discharges of raw sewage into the river are taking place, even when it seems there haven't been significant episodes of rain. Hundreds and hundreds of local people are really concerned about that. I know you will be as well, and I furnished you with evidence of that. Minister, would you agree that the majority of farmers care for the environment and do the right things? And would you finally agree that we need our regulators, NRW, to step up and deal with anyone or any body that breaches the rules, and that includes water companies? What we're seeing at the moment is totally unacceptable, certainly on the Usk.

I will certainly agree with both of your statements. I would never say that all pollution is caused by agricultural practices. There are many sources of pollution, and I would say the majority of farmers absolutely care for the environment. However, we are seeing unacceptable limits of agricultural pollution—and I referred to the regulations that came into force earlier this year.

In relation to your other point, around other sources of pollution, obviously, where water companies fail to comply with their permit conditions, or they operate without a permit—and you'll be aware that NRW issue permits for storm overflows, for instance—NRW will investigate and, where appropriate, will take enforcement action. So, you're absolutely right—it is important that our regulators play their part as well.

Good afternoon, Minister. Just following on from my colleague's question around the River Wye, living on the River Wye as I do, in Hay-on-Wye, I do get additional questions and issues brought up around this issue. It's a very live concern. The River Wye, like other rivers, runs through both England and Wales, so there is a complex issue here about how we work across borders. This week, The Times newspaper featured an admission, for the first time, from a big chicken supplier, Avara Foods, that the use of chicken farms contributes to the pollution in the Wye catchment area. And having met with organisations locally and nationally who are concerned about the pollution in the River Wye, including—very important to say this—representatives from farming unions, who themselves are very, very concerned and committed to tackling river pollution, I would like to ask you, Minister, how you intend, as my colleague has mentioned, to work to strengthen the abilities of Natural Resources Wales, and their active role with Natural England, in order to ensure that we tackle river pollution with the appropriate resources and budget to deliver a clear action plan. And I wonder if I could ask you to meet with me—and perhaps there may be others as well—to discuss strengthening Natural Resources Wales. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

In relation to the last question, around meeting with you to discuss NRW, that actually falls within the portfolio of the Minister for Climate Change—she has responsibility for NRW. So, I would suggest you write to her to ask in relation to that specific part of your question.

In relation to the poultry farms and the pollution around the River Wye, as I said, preventing pollution from poultry farms has a massive role to play in the quality of our rivers. And it is important that the planning permission threshold, for instance, is correct. So, at the moment, the threshold is so that if you have—I forget what the figure is—this number of chickens, you don't have to apply for planning permission, which certainly concerns me. And that's part of the discussions I am having with the Minister for Climate Change, who, as you are aware, also has responsibility for planning. The regulations that we currently have, which are from 2016, require intensive poultry units to obtain a permit to operate, and that does include measures to protect the environment. If we need to strengthen those regulations, I think we need to look very hard at doing that, but, as I say, that's part of the discussions I have with the Minister for Climate Change.