Senedd Watch - March 2012

The First Minister used his St David's Day message to promote tourism off the back of the 2012 Olympic Games, Wales Tourism Week and the imminent completion of the All-Wales Coastal Footpath. Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid, South Wales West) repeated calls for St David's Day to become a national holiday. In London, Prime Minister David Cameron hosted a celebratory event at 10 Downing Street attended by Welsh celebrities and dignitaries. The BBC/ICM...

Read More

Time for reform - A follow up to "Enough's Enough"

Judging by the "robust" reaction to my last blog, it's fair to post a proper follow up. Just adding another comment wouldn't do the reponse I've received justice. It's depressing, but it doesn't surprise me, that one of my most popular blogposts has been overtly critical of the Welsh Government, civil service and probably...

Read More

Cardiff Green Investment Bank Bid - Enough's enough

A dunce's cap is casting a broad shadow over Wales and the Welsh economy. (Pic : Modified from Webbaviation.co.uk) Ultimately, politicians and civil servants are ordinary people just going about their business. Although I'm probably being naïve , they usually have our interests at heart. It's an incredibly tough job, and...

Read More

Social Services Bill consultation

Social services in Wales are due to undergo a major shake-up. (Pic: Click on Wales) Deputy Minister for Children & Social Services, Gwenda Thomas (Lab, Neath), launched the Welsh Government's consultation on a Social Services Bill last week. It's arguably the first "meaty" piece of legislation to be proposed as part...

Read More

As soon as she said she was standing....

Well, it's only fair. And tongue-in-cheek of course. ....there was only ever going to be one outcome, wasn't there? As you already know, Leanne Wood has been elected Plaid Cymru leader, succeeding Ieuan Wyn Jones. This result would have been unthinkable before the leadership election started, but Leanne built such...

Read More

Sêr Cymru – A new science strategy for Wales

Earlier this week, the Chief Scientific Adviser Prof. John Harries, First Minister Carwyn Jones and Business Minister Edwina Hart (Lab, Gower) unveiled a new strategy for science in Wales that supersedes the previous "Science Policy for Wales" from 2006.At the heart of the new strategy - available here - is the creation of the £50million Sêr Cymru (Stars Wales) scheme that aims to: Attract "star" academics to Wales to carry out research projects Create...

Read More

M4 Newport consultation and rail upgrades in Gwent

The Welsh Government have, at last, formally launched their consultation into possible solutions to the "bottleneck" at the Brynglas Tunnels in Newport. The consultation website is here and comments are due by 6th June. I'm on record opposing a new M4 bypass around Newport, as is Syniadau. It would be complete overkill and likely to become a costly white elephant, especially if it were tolled to help pay for the £1bn+ construction costs. That would...

Read More

Use it or lose it : Welsh Language Strategy 2012-2017

Last week, Education Minister Leighton Andrews (Lab, Rhondda) unveiled the Welsh Government’s 56-page (sigh), five-year plan (sigh) for the Welsh language covering promotion, education and daily use. In his foreword Leighton acknowledges exciting developments in the last few years, including the launch of Welsh-language "online newspaper" Golwg360, the formal establishment of a virtual Welsh-language higher education institution (Coleg Cenedlaethol...

Read More

Cardiff Enterprise Zone : Question marks before it begins?

The Plan Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government have lofty ambitions for the centre of Cardiff. The creation of a “national business district” was heralded by Cardiff Council's Lib Dem leader Rodney Berman as a “red letter day for the city”. It's a fantastic and exciting vision of Cardiff's future, perhaps more so than my own the other day. The site is slap bang in the middle of Cardiff city centre, adjacent to Cardiff Central station...

Read More