Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
The environmental and economic legacy of Wales' industrial past
Open
Opened 12 Dec 2024
Welsh Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Wales has a proud industrial heritage based on activities such as coal mining, slate quarrying, copper smelting, steelmaking and manufacturing among others. Today, most of the heavy industries that powered the Welsh economy during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have gone. This inquiry will examine their environmental legacy, the economic impact of their decline, and what it means for Wales as it transitions to the green and digital economies. Read the call for evidence to find out more about the inquiry.
Where it stands
The inquiry is open, opened 12 December 2024.
The committee has not published a report yet.
Evidence
- 3 oral evidence sessionsLatest 22 October 2025
- 15 witnesses
Recent activity
- Correspondence received from the UK Government, in response to the letter on the environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past, dated 19 June2 July 2026, Correspondence
- Correspondence to the Secretary of State for Wales, relating to The Environmental and Economic Legacy of Wales’ Industrial Past (Gwaddol Amgylcheddol ac Economaidd Gorffennol Diwydiannol Cymru), dated 20 April 202620 April 2026, Correspondence
- Correspondence to and from Natural Resources Wales, relating to the inquiry The environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past, dated 27 January11 February 2026, Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions
On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct 2025 |
Oral evidence
Meirion Thomas · Industrial Communities Alliance Wales,
Michelle Rowson-Woods · Coalfields Regeneration Trust
|
View ↗ |
| 11 Jun 2025 |
Oral evidence
Jacqueline Mynott · Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council,
Mark S. Williams · Caerphilly County Borough Council,
Nicola Pearce · Neath Port Talbot Council,
Rachael Davies · Flintshire County Council,
Robert Hartshorn · Caerphilly County Borough Council
|
View ↗ |
| 2 Apr 2025 |
Oral evidence
Carl Banton · Mining Remediation Authority,
Daniel Therkelsen · Coal Action Network,
Haf Elgar · Friends of the Earth Cymru,
Mary Lewis · Natural Resources Wales,
Mr Anthony Collins · Coal Action Network,
Ms Kirsty Luff · Friends of the Earth Cymru,
Nadia De Longhi · Natural Resources Wales,
Nick Cox · Mining Remediation Authority
|
View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Carl Banton · Operations Director | Mining Remediation Authority | 1 |
| Daniel Therkelsen · Campaign Manager | Coal Action Network | 1 |
| Haf Elgar · Director | Friends of the Earth Cymru | 1 |
| Jacqueline Mynott · Head of Infrastructure Asset Management | Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council | 1 |
| Mark S. Williams · Executive Director - Corporate and Regeneration | Caerphilly County Borough Council | 1 |
| Mary Lewis · Head of Natural Resource Management & Policy | Natural Resources Wales | 1 |
| Meirion Thomas · Director | Industrial Communities Alliance Wales | 1 |
| Michelle Rowson-Woods · Head of Operations - Wales | Coalfields Regeneration Trust | 1 |
| Mr Anthony Collins · Policy Campaigner | Coal Action Network | 1 |
| Ms Kirsty Luff · Communications Officer | Friends of the Earth Cymru | 1 |
| Nadia De Longhi · Head of Regulation & Permitting | Natural Resources Wales | 1 |
| Nick Cox · Head of Programme Delivery - Metal Mines | Mining Remediation Authority | 1 |
| Nicola Pearce · Director Environment and Regeneration | Neath Port Talbot Council | 1 |
| Rachael Davies · Contaminated Land Officer | Flintshire County Council | 1 |
| Robert Hartshorn · Director of Environment and Regulatory Services | Caerphilly County Borough Council | 1 |
Correspondence
On smaller screens, scroll horizontally to read every column. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.