00:00Wales' natural landscapes are breathtaking.
00:04We've got some of the most dramatic and beautiful spaces anywhere in the world.
00:08But there are concerns that too much is being taken over by different energy infrastructure,
00:12particularly things like pylons.
00:14Welsh Conservative Janice Finch Saunders wants to know why underground solutions
00:18to pylons aren't being taken up by the Welsh Government.
00:21There are numerous reasons why we should really be having a mandate
00:26that says no pylon construction unless absolutely necessary,
00:31no other way possible.
00:33There's no reason why they can't go underground.
00:35It takes seven years to recoup the cost.
00:39It takes seven years to recoup the cost and then you've got your pylons,
00:43you've got your underground works in and everybody then is happy.
00:47So with this in mind, will you, Cabinet Secretary,
00:51please look at bringing forward some kind of mandate for electricity cable
01:00to be placed under the ground and again for pylons to be used as a last resort.
01:05We've actually put in place the Independent Advisory Group on Future Electricity for Grid for Wales.
01:10They're looking at possible approaches to delivering the electricity network,
01:14but I come back to the point that this isn't simply a question of energy generation,
01:18it's energy supply as well to all those parts of Wales that need it,
01:21and in some ways we're going to need to get that electricity to and fro all of these areas,
01:25including those areas that need economic development that relies on an electricity grid.
01:30And, you know, I've said, you know as well, you're a member of the Climate Change Committee,
01:35our electricity demand is going to double and possibly triple by 2050.
01:40So I think we all have to seriously wrestle with these issues.
01:44Our rivers, coasts and waterways all across Wales are suffering from pollution.
01:49There is an ongoing lawsuit taken up by thousands of residents over pollutions in rivers in mid and east Wales.
01:55And some bathing areas in Wales have been deemed too polluted for humans to enter.
01:59So Senedd members want answers.
02:01In the meantime, we know that Natural Resources Wales has been awarded nearly £2 million to double down on tackling pollution and polluters.
02:10So what use has Natural Resources made of this money to take some exemplary action against polluters,
02:18so everyone gets the message that there are consequences of non-compliance?
02:23In fact, the total committed since the regulations were introduced is well over £4 million,
02:28in addition to the near £2 million over the last year there.
02:32So the enforcement approach is actually driving change now within the sector.
02:36Compliance levels are improving.
02:38So the improvement levels are up by 12% between June 2024 and March 2025.
02:44We've still got a lot further to go, Jenny, I've got to say as well, OK?
02:48But that is a significant improvement and I think there is a correlation between the additional resource being put in.
02:54Part of it is the collaboration and part of it is the enforcement as well.
03:00So, indeed, for planning, we're going to take a look at the
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