Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:58 pm on 11 January 2022.
I think the case that the Member was referring to back in 2014 was because a business case was not put forward. I think that's my recollection of it. The Member will be very aware of the significant progress that the Welsh Government has made to improve our understanding of the number and also of the status of the coal tips that we have here in Wales. We have around 2,500 disused coal tips. A significant piece of work has been undertaken with the Coal Authority and with the UK Government, who, I'm afraid, do continue to ignore its responsibility for the industrial legacy that we have. The Welsh Government has confirmed £44.4 million of investment in coal tip safety for maintenance works over the next three years, but I'm sure the Member will appreciate that business cases do have to be put forward in order to be able to audit and show the way that public money is spent. Our programme for government includes the introduction of a coal tip safety Bill during this Senedd term also.