6. Statement by the Minister for Climate Change: Water Quality

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:07 pm on 15 November 2022.

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Photo of James Evans James Evans Conservative 5:07, 15 November 2022

Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you for your statement, Minister. I do wholeheartedly agree with your comment that this is a team Wales approach and it does need a number of stakeholders and agencies to come around the table to address water quality, because no one part of the blame can be put on one party. I was quite pleased in your statement that you've got a task and finish group looking at short-term mitigation measures. I was just wondering if you could expand on that and what they're looking at to see if we can get the planning system moving again. And also, you said there's a database of mitigation measures that has been put together. I was just wondering if you could actually expand on what those are, and what wider consultation will be had with the wider industry to make sure that those things can be implemented.

And two final questions. You mentioned the £3.1 million for flood mitigation and water quality schemes. I'm not aware of the details of that, so if you could point me in the direction of where those schemes are and how they're going to improve flood management and water quality, I would be very interested in that. And also, finally, as you say about wet wipes, you are right, Minister; they are not recyclable and people do just chuck them down the pan, or whatever they do, and it's not right. I'd like to know what discussions you've had with Ministers from the UK Government around labelling, because I do agree with you that we need to be very clear around single-use plastics and what is recyclable and what isn't, and if you could expand on the discussions you've had with the UK Government, I'd be very grateful. Diolch, Llywydd.