Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:05 pm on 27 September 2022.
Thank you. Well, unfortunately, as you know, I didn't really want to bring those regulations forward. I don't think anybody likes being told what to do. But the voluntary approach hadn't worked, and I do think it was important we brought those regulations forward, which target activity known to cause pollution, wherever it takes place. So, I think that all-Wales approach is about a preventative action and not waiting for our water bodies to fail.
You asked specifically around the £40 million that we gave, I think over the next three years, to address other causes of water quality problems across Wales, and that funding is being used—again, I mentioned it in my opening answer to Sam Kurtz—in relation to remediating metal mines and restoring modifications to waterways.