Senedd/Election Watch - April 2015

• Non-domestic rates (aka. business rates) were devolved to Wales on April 1^st. Finance Minister, Jane Hutt (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan), said it provides “the opportunity to develop taxes that....reflect the needs, circumstances and priorities of the people of Wales."
• The National Assembly's Health & Social Care Committee sent a letter to Deputy Health Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth), recommending improvements in 8 areas of the ambulance service, including handover delays at A&E departments, community treatment and staff rosters. It follows a short inquiry into the performance of the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.
• On April 29^th, interim chief executive of the Wales Ambulance Trust, Tracey Myhill, said the service had "turned a corner" after sustained improvements in ambulance response times since January 2015, following a project to keep local ambulances as close to their home bases as possible to prevent being deployed out of area.
• Communities & Tackling Poverty Minister, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), launched a new child poverty strategy, retaining the commitment to eradicating child poverty in Wales by 2020. Proposals include reducing the number of workless households, improving educational outcomes for children in poverty and reducing the cost of living.
• A ban on tobacco displays in stores came into force in Wales on April 6^th. Health Minister, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West), said the "ban on displaying cigarettes and tobacco is the next step to help us limit the attraction of cigarettes....and further raise awareness about the dangers of smoking.”
• A report commissioned by the Welsh Government suggests the Wylfa B nuclear power plant could be worth up to £5.7billion to the Welsh economy over 20 years if Welsh companies take advantage of the supply chain. Business & Economy Minister, Edwina Hart (Lab, Gower), described it as a “once in a generation opportunity”.
• The Jobs Growth Wales scheme – which helped unemployed 16-24 year olds find work placements – closed suddenly. The Welsh Government hailed the scheme as a “fantastic success” and announced they were working on a replacement. Shadow Economy Minister, William Graham AM (Con, South Wales East), criticised the lack of transparency, saying “it's clear Labour were winding the scheme up” following secretive in-year cuts.
• A record number of teenagers were admitted to hospital with eating disorders in 2013-14, increasing by 36% over a decade. Charities repeated calls for a specialist eating disorder unit to be established in Wales, while the Welsh Government said an extra £250,000 has been provided since 2013.
• The value of Welsh exports fell by 11% (-£1.6billion) in 2014 compared to 2013 according to the latest statistics. Across the UK, export values fell by 4.8% over the same period. Eluned Parrott AM (Lib Dem, South Wales Central) said, “Labour needs to stop making excuses....They have the tools to boost growth but don't”.
• A review of NHS staff training recommended the creation of a single national “super authority” to oversee workforce planning. NHS Wales currently spends £350million a year on training, but up to a third of Welsh medical graduates don't work in Wales when they qualify.
• A Cardiff University study found that primary school age pupils were more likely to try e-cigarettes (6% of under-11s) than traditional cigarettes (2%) but e-cigs are unlikely to contribute to young people's nicotine addiction. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ruth Hussey, said she was concerned that e-cigs are acting as a “gateway” to tobacco. A proposed Public Health Bill aims to restrict the use of e-cigs in public.
• A series of deliberate grass fires in the South Wales Valleys prompted neighbourhoods to launch their own patrol schemes, while South Wales Fire Service said the cost could run to more than £800,000. Public Services Minister, Leighton Andrews (Lab, Rhondda), praised the efforts of firefighters and condemned the fires as “criminal acts”.
• The National Assembly voted for a moratorium on opencast mining to allow a review of current policy and how effectively it protects local communities. Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside), ruled out a moratorium but would host a summit on opencast mining, while the Welsh Government would support local authorities taking legal action on failed mine restorations.

Projects announced in April include : £1million to recruit trained primary care staff to diagnose dementia, with a goal of detecting 50% of dementia cases by 2016; an £11million Welsh Government-EU project to improve gender equality in the workplace and a £114million Welsh Government-EU project which will create 52,000 apprenticeships over the next four years in West Wales & The Valleys.

Westminster 2015 : The Manifestos I (Conservatives, Greens, Labour)
Westminster 2015 : The Manifestos II (Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, UKIP)

• Around 100 company bosses signed a letter supporting the Conservatives, and backing a cut in corporation tax to 20%. They said the Coalition has supported investment and job creation, and a “change in course will threaten jobs and deter investment”.
• Ed Miliband pledged that Labour would pass legislation to force employers to offer full-time contracts to employees if they've been on a zero hour contract for 3 months. He said, "There is no greater symbol of an economy that doesn't work than zero-hours contracts.”
• The Liberal Democrats pledged to double the annual borrowing limit for Wales – as set out in the Wales Act 2014 – from £500million to £1billion. Candidate for Brecon & Radnorshire, Roger Williams, said, “Increased borrowing powers means that Wales would have greater scope to stimulate the economy with....significant capital expenditure projects.”
• Former Conservative Welsh Secretary and Foreign Secretary, William Hague, told voters on a visit to the marginal Cardiff North constituency that a Labour UK Government would be a risk to jobs and living standards. He also defended his draft plans for “English votes for English laws”, saying Welsh MPs would retain an input on EnglandandWales matters like criminal justice.
• Labour pledged to scrap the “bedroom tax” if they form the next UK Government. The Conservatives claimed the measure had “restored fairness” to the housing system, while Plaid Cymru said Labour abstained on votes to repeal the measure at Westminster.
• Plaid Cymru would introduce a 5p per litre cut in the price of fuel as part of an EU fuel rebate scheme which is already used in parts of Scotland and England. The Liberal Democrats said Plaid Cymru would not have enough influence at Westminster to carry the proposal through.
• The Conservatives committed to a like-for-like four submarine replacement of the Trident nuclear missile system, claiming Labour was willing to use the missiles as a “bargaining chip” to ensure Ed Miliband becomes Prime Minister. Labour are considering reducing the number of submarines, while Plaid Cymru, the SNP and Greens completely oppose a replacement.
• The Liberal Democrats announced a “Help to Rent” scheme where prospective tenants aged 18-30 would receive a repayable government loan to cover the cost of rent deposits. The Conservatives called for increased housebuilding, Labour and Plaid Cymru support rent controls, while UKIP would prioritise social housing for those with locally-born parents.
• Labour would protect policing numbers and aim to save £800million by scrapping police and crime commissioners. Police forces in EnglandandWales saw their budgets cut by £300million in 2014-15, while Conservatives claimed Labour have over-estimated the amount of money they would save.
• Plaid Cymru called for Aberystwyth to be named UK Capital of Culture in 2018, and a reformatting of the City of Culture award to include towns. Candidate for Ceredigion, Mike Parker, said, “Businesses....across Ceredigion would have an unprecedented opportunity to not only showcase their produce and services but also receive a much-needed boost.”
• In a series of tax announcements, the Conservatives said they would remove homes worth up to £1million from inheritance tax, Labour would fine tax avoiders and close loopholes which would raise an estimated £7.5billion a year, while the Greens would introduce a 60% income tax rate for those earning £150,000+ per year, raising an estimated £2billion.
• UKIP's leader in Wales, Nathan Gill MEP, was criticised for claiming climate change was not influenced by humanity and was instead used as an excuse to raise taxes. Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant, said the claim was “bonkers”, while Plaid Cymru said 95% of climate scientists agreed that humanity was impacting climate change.
• Leader of the Green Party in Wales, Pippa Bartolotti, said voters should join a “peaceful revolution” as she launched her party's Welsh manifesto on April 14^th. The Greens are standing a record 35 candidates in Wales.
• A Labour UK government would ensure an extra £375million per year for Wales according to its Welsh manifesto. They would also provide a minimum guaranteed funding level for Wales (aka. Barnett floor) - though no figures were provided.
• The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) launched their Welsh campaign on April 16^th, promising to end austerity, raise the minimum wage to £10 per hour, scrap zero-hour contracts and nationalise railways, utilities and banks.
• The Welsh Conservatives would support a Welsh bid to host the Commonwealth Games. Wales last hosted the games in 1958, and the Welsh Government together with Cardiff Council have explored the possibility of a bid for the 2026 games.
• Labour and the Conservatives were caught in a row over the potential role of the SNP in a hung parliament. Former Prime Minister, John Major, said nationalists could “blackmail” a Labour government, while Ed Miliband said David Cameron was “demeaning his office” by “talking up nationalists”.
• The Socialist Labour Party launched their campaign in Port Talbot on April 21^st, demanding an “end to capitalism” through a 90% income tax rate on incomes above £300,000 per year, withdrawal from the EU and nationalisation of all transport services.
• UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, called for the licence fee to be cut by two thirds to £48.50 a year, and for the BBC to be “a purely public service broadcaster”. The Green Party have pledged to abolish the licence fee and fund the BBC via direct taxation.
• Nick Clegg warned that Conservative plans for regional pay would have cost Wales £1.4billion had the Liberal Democrats not blocked the proposals. The Lib Dems pledged to issue guidance to public sector bodies to ensure pay increases in line with inflation.
• The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reported that the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dem and SNP manifestos failed to provide enough detail on proposed cuts or tax rises to the general public. Labour's plans would create £90billion of extra debt, while the Conservatives would need to “find substantial spending cuts”.
• Plaid Cymru called for the creation of a Northern Powerhouse for Wales, supported via the electrification of the north Wales mainline, the creation of bespoke specialist capitals (a la France) and an enshrinement of a fair share of spending across Wales in law.
• The Welsh Liberal Democrats warned that a “BLUKIP” Conservative-UKIP coalition in a hung parliament would present a danger. Leader Kirsty Williams AM (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor) said the Lib Dems ,”Would provide a heart to a Conservative government and a brain to a Labour one.”
• The Conservatives pledged to curb tax rises in legislation introduced in the first 100 days of a new government which will mean income tax, national insurance and VAT cannot be raised before 2020. Labour said it was a “gimmick” and that Tory plans to reduce welfare threatened tax credits, with the Lib Dems later revealing "secret" Conservative plans for an £8billion welfare cut - claims described by George Osborne as "desperate stuff".