I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak on this matter, considering I'm not a member of the committee, but particularly as the report is rather robust in its analysis and rather damning in its conclusions. My interest in this report is because my Member's legislative proposal is on improving inland waterways, and, obviously, water pollution affects my constituency.

The first recommendation of the report, in black and white on page 6, reads:

'The amount of sewage discharges into Welsh rivers is unacceptable. We must see action from the Welsh Government', a damning admission that the Welsh Labour Government has been content, for over 20 years, to see raw sewage dumped into our waterways, waterways such as the River Towy in Carmarthenshire and the Cleddau in Pembrokeshire, both in my constituency. Simply put, it isn't good enough. This is why I'm grateful to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee and its Chair, Llyr Gruffydd, for investigating this important matter. This is an issue that affects constituents of every Member in this Siambr, with notifications of discharges flooding my inbox. Every time a permitted combined sewage overflow discharges sewage, I get notified by concerned constituents, those who use the inland waterways, who get in touch in both anger and desperation through Surfers Against Sewage's online system.

According to the committee's report, 2020 saw 105,751 permitted—permitted—discharges. Those are instances where the Welsh Government policy dictated that raw sewage could be dumped in our rivers and seas. This number omits non-permitted sewage discharges, instances where there are no Welsh Government-approved permits to dump human waste in our rivers, a point raised and stressed by committee Chair Llyr earlier. The exact number we don't know, because neither the Welsh Government nor their sponsored body NRW monitor instances such as these. Frankly, I believe this is not good enough.

Across the border, the UK Government have brought an action plan to address these very issues; the Welsh Government have sat on their hands, signed off on sewage permits and continued to dump raw waste into our rivers.

Dŵr Cymru have stated that this is a situation that is, and I quote,

'not where we want to be.'

Ofwat have acknowledged their deep concerns about sewage discharge, going on to say the 'current level is unacceptable'. Yet, Welsh Government policy has led to us being in this position, so, by opting to do nothing, the situation will only worsen.

We can only effect change by taking heed of this report and the recommendations included in it. All 10 of these recommendations are constructive, effective and achievable.

I would also stress that the better river water quality taskforce needs to be more transparent than we are seeing at present. Where are the minutes from this meeting? This is such a public interest topic that the idea that a taskforce set up to improve river quality won't publish minutes of its meetings is frankly bizarre.

Welsh Government, water companies and regulators must all come together to deliver meaningful change. Now is the time to listen and for action and to work constructively with one another, and I'm sure we can make some positive steps forward. This is an opportunity to turn the page and ensure our rivers become bastions of biodiversity and places for all of us to enjoy. I sincerely hope this report is the wake-up call that's needed. Diolch.