9. Will the Minister make a statement on phosphate levels in Welsh rivers? OQ58928

Yes. Thank you, Ken. On 9 February, the First Minister will reconvene a summit of key partners in tackling excessive levels of phosphates in Welsh rivers, to discuss current progress and establish next steps. I'll set out the outcomes of that discussion, together with an action plan, in a written statement, which will go out shortly after the summit.

Thank you, Minister. That’s really helpful to know. I recently met with small businesses in the house-building industry, and they were raising this matter as a concern. Will the housing industry be present at that meeting on 9 February, and will you be able to give some reassurance that their concerns have been paid attention to?

Yes, absolutely. So, I'll just reiterate what I said to Huw Irranca-Davies earlier on in this session. What we've asked each sector to do is to look to see what they can propose to help solve their part of the problem. So, for house building, we know that surface water drainage systems, SUDS, are part of the solution; there will be others. We have asked each sector to come back to us, and we have been working all the way through. This isn't a one-off in July, and and then another one-off in February. We had a whole series of meetings going through the piece, chaired by officials, chaired by NRW. A whole range of things have been going on. But each sector has been asked to look to its own to see what it can do. 

The house builders have absolutely been a part of that. They are part of the problem. They need to be part of the solution. I would say that about whichever sector you'd ask. So, rather than everybody saying that it is somebody else's fault, look to put your own house in order, to come forward with practical, sustainable solutions that we can help implement and fund. Then, together, we can make sure that our rivers go back to the state that we'd all like to see them in. 

I thank the Minister and the Deputy Minister.