Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 15 February 2022.
Thank you, First Minister. Tomorrow will mark two years since devastating floods hit nearly 1,500 houses and businesses in my region as a result of storm Dennis. I'm sure you can understand the ongoing trauma and fear they feel every time it rains heavily, as it is this week, especially as most of the reports into those floods are not yet published, and very little has changed in terms of defences.
The National Flood Forum—an organisation based in England—has existed since 2002 to ensure that communities and individuals feel supported and empowered to reduce their flood risk. It has only received modest funding to date to operate in Wales. The Scottish Government supported the establishment of the Scottish Flood Forum in 2009, a charity that has gone from strength to strength, receiving a grant of £200,000 per annum to work across Scotland with communities at risk of flooding to develop community flood action groups, as well as providing immediate support when individuals and communities experience flooding. Has the Welsh Government considered the benefits of supporting the establishment of a Welsh flood forum to similarly empower at risk communities in Wales? And if not, is this something that the First Minister would be happy to discuss further?