Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:43 pm on 13 October 2021.
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.