Will the Cabinet Secretary outline the work undertaken by officials to get the maximum devolution of powers over water and publish the findings in full, following the then Minister for Climate Change’s response at paragraph 159 of the Record of Proceedings for Plenary on 12 December 2023?
I jointly commissioned Sir Jon Cunliffe to lead an independent review of the water sector in Wales, alongside the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England. The resulting report, published on 21 July, offers a comprehensive, independent, and impartial assessment of how we can reset our strategic approach to water in Wales, including the legacy arrangements established before devolution.
This represents a once in a generation opportunity to reshape the powers and governance around one of our most precious assets. I am working with the Secretary of State to secure the necessary legislative changes to devolve powers to Wales, enabling us to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission.