tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35666083507073343112024-01-23T03:30:53.271+00:00Oggy Bloggy OgwrFy iaith, fy ngwlad, fy nghenedl Cymru....Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.comBlogger698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-65157826143144161472017-08-01T09:23:00.000+01:002017-08-01T09:23:43.842+01:00State of Wales Goes Live<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNSzYiO44savdHrv3Gf3PeAOn-B2ToOY1m2eyhylHB-KjXDbI_wxkC9ZvkwR9oIPp2BEIT0lO-LacBqL1nB6IgBDJJZ7KIoDFp8cgGfpdAQCI9lL01MHrzj35dEX9NH-QdUThLXLrsRs/s1600/stateofwaleslogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNSzYiO44savdHrv3Gf3PeAOn-B2ToOY1m2eyhylHB-KjXDbI_wxkC9ZvkwR9oIPp2BEIT0lO-LacBqL1nB6IgBDJJZ7KIoDFp8cgGfpdAQCI9lL01MHrzj35dEX9NH-QdUThLXLrsRs/s400/stateofwaleslogo.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My new independence and
<i>"all things big picture"</i> site, State of Wales, <a href="http://www.stateofwales.com/">launched yesterday</a>. It's the first of three new sites coming over the next few
months.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"State of Wales is a quarterly magazine-style blog which will explore, in-depth, the major challenges facing Wales now and what Wales could and should become in the future; issues that aren't strictly connected to everyday party politics."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.stateofwales.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgep8b7CjQp4yTD6r1z1y1hf6hXGgd0j69LgyQ_nLhscoMzoQ1SfZEqVsKHfLKnqUdtTOf_AVAXhVGCYDELmV4zSNuekG1i4UiPAopmnk4j18D_hkQZtupA9w6-quj-oO-0axKJvEOoR3k/s640/julysocmedia.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The new
Bridgend-focused Oggy Bloggy Ogwr will launch this month,
while my weekly Welsh political news site, Senedd Home, launches in
September.<br /><br />There are clear implications for<i> this</i> site, so it's
worth outlining what's going to happen to it and what you can
expect.<br /><br />This site (the Blogger site) will become an <i>"archive"</i>. It's likely to have a subdomain (name).oggybloggyogwr.com and
will also retain the oggybloggyogwr.blogspot.com address.<br /><br />All
politically-significant posts from the last six years will be
retained. Other posts will be moved to the new sites: for example,
satirical posts will be moving to Oggy Bloggy Ogwr, while
independence-related posts (i.e. defence posts, Wales & the
World) will be gradually moved to State of Wales to join the
<a href="https://stateofwales.com/independence-index/">Independence Index</a> itself.<br /><br />Most Assembly-related articles
written prior to the summer recess will be staying here, as will links to other sites (because Wordpress' blogroll is crap) - Senedd Home is going to include a feature focused on stories from the blogosphere to compensate.<br /><br />Another thing to warn you about is that some old social media links won't work anymore. I
doubt this will affect you that much but it's worth noting it.<br /><br />Social media links to Bridgend-related posts and satirical posts shouldn't be affected as they'll be
moving to the new Oggy Bloggy Ogwr (so will retain the link name),
it's more for everything else.<br /><br /><b>If you've subscribed to Oggy
Bloggy Ogwr by e-mail, you've been automatically signed up to receive
the newsletters/emails from the new sites....if you're wondering why you got the first newsletter yesterday (particularly if you're not that interested in Welsh nationalism).</b><br /><br /><b>If you want to unsubscribe from one particular newsletter (or all
of them) you can do so by following a link towards the end of the newsletter itself.</b><br /><br />The current Oggy Bloggy Ogwr
(oggybloggyogwr.com) will be taken down so work can start on the move
by the end of this week (6<sup>th</sup> August). The aim is to launch
the new Bridgend-focused site w/c 21<sup>st</sup> August. Details about Senedd Home
will be revealed closer to launch, but State of Wales gives you an idea of what to expect.<br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-13292121700438361532017-07-31T08:38:00.000+01:002017-07-31T08:38:10.701+01:00Senedd Watch - July 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This is
the final <i>"Senedd Watch"</i> post - and my final post relating
to Welsh politics on Oggy Bloggy Ogwr - before I launch Senedd Home
in September. While this has never been the most read feature, I know
it's useful to some people. There'll be an equivalent of this on
Senedd Home, but at the moment I intend for it to be a weekly update instead of monthly. <a href="http://stateofwales.com/">State of Wales</a> will be launching this evening, so keep an eye out for that.</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
Economy & Infrastructure Committee concluded that the Welsh
Government faced a<i> "heroically ambitious" </i>task to award the
new Wales & Borders rail franchise, setting out 10 key priorities
for the new service including simple fares, new trains and a clock
face timetable.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Church
in Wales believed young people were put off collective acts of
worship in schools because they were <i>"not done well"</i>. The
comments came as a petition from two Cardiff students calling for an
end to collective worship was referred to the Education Secretary. A
<i>"broadly Christian"</i> daily act of collective worship is
currently a legal requirement in schools.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The FAW
Trust said extra money was required for grassroots sport, as
expectations based on current funding levels were<i> "unrealistic"</i>.
Sport Wales receives £22million a year from the Welsh Government, a
cut of 14% over the last seven years.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Eluned
Morgan AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Mid & West Wales) repeated calls for a city
region-style deal for rural Wales following a report on post-Brexit
rural strategy. The report's recommendations include the
establishment of a Commissioner for Rural Wales, improved
infrastructure and fair funding.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Shelter
Cymru believed discretionary housing payments – help for those
struggling to pay their rent – have been<i> "wasted"</i> by
local authorities. Councils said application numbers had been low and
underspending resulted in hundreds of thousands of pounds being
returned to the UK Government.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Liz
Saville Roberts MP (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Dwyfor Meirionnydd) claimed Welsh police
forces would be £25million a year better off if policing were
devolved in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland, and that planned
changes to policing formulas for <i>EnglandandWales</i> could see a
£32million cut to Welsh police forces.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Exam
regulator, Qualifications Wales, warned that GCSE results could be
lower than expected for 2016-17 due to a large number of students
taking GCSE English Language, Welsh and Maths exams a year early.
Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams (<span style="color: orange;">Lib Dem</span>, Brecon & Radnor),
said she would consider stopping the practice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government unveiled plans to increase the number of Welsh speakers to
1 million by 2050, including an expansion of Welsh-medium education
by a third (including nursery groups) and an increase in the amount
of time devoted to teaching Welsh in English-medium schools.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> The
Education Secretary announced that university tuition fees in Wales
will rise in line with inflation from 2018, increasing from a maximum
£9,000 a year to £9,300. She said it was because of a fee rise in
England, but the move was condemned by the NUS and opposition
politicians who said it contradicts Labour's general election pledge
to scrap tuition fees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Up to 300
jobs are set to be created in Newport after Spanish train
manufacturer, CAF, announced they would build a facility at Llanwern
to become operational from autumn 2018. It was reported the company
will be offered £3million in grant funding from the Welsh
Government, who said it was <i>"a major coup for Wales"</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The UK's
Government's Repeal Bill – formalising Brexit – was published on
July 13th. The Welsh and Scottish governments issued a joint
statement saying neither would be able to support the Bill in its
current form, describing it as a <i>"naked power grab"</i>.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Environment & Rural Affairs
Secretary, Lesley Griffiths (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Wrexham), warned the Welsh farming
industry faced being <i>"put back decades" </i>after Brexit,
citing a lack of engagement from the UK Government. She repeated
condemnation of the Repeal Bill saying she couldn't accept the Bill
as it is.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A campaign
was launched against proposals to outlaw<i> "smacking" </i>in
Wales by removing it as a legal defence in court cases. Be Reasonable
Wales claim the change could lead to <i>"ordinary parents facing
jail"</i>. Communities Secretary, Carl Sargeant (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Alyn &
Deeside), hopes to secure cross-party support for the move, but
polling suggests a majority of people in Wales are against
criminalisation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Steffan
Lewis AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, South Wales East) accused the Welsh Government of
only consulting large anchor businesses on the potential impact of
Brexit and neglecting the <i>"Brexit shock"</i> that could hit
smaller firms. The Welsh Government claimed they had been working
with companies of all sizes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
Children's Commissioner, Dr Sally Holland, called for a radical
overhaul in how bullying is handled by schools in a new report. The
report claimed there was a lack of consistency, with many schools
reluctant to address the issue.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A
Newport-based steel company, Coilcolor, which supplied products to
some of the world's biggest companies went into administration after
flooding from Welsh Government land destroyed £3.7million worth of
machinery in November 2016. The company claimed the Welsh Government
<i>"paid lip service"</i> to them, with significant delays in
payments.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Local
Government & Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cardiff
West), launched a consultation on local government electoral reforms.
Some of the proposals include lowering the voting age to 16, giving
councils the option of introducing new voting systems and electronic
voting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Health
Secretary, Vaughan Gething (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cardiff S. & Penarth) announced
there was<i> "no case" </i>to establish a medical school in north
Wales, though there was a case for expanded medical education. Sian
Gwenllian AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Arfon) said the Health Secretary had <i>"shown
contempt" </i>for north Wales.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">UK
transport secretary, Chris Grayling, scrapped a proposed
electrification of rail lines between Cardiff and Swansea on 20th
July, saying improvements could be achieved without engineering
works. The Welsh Government said the announcement was<i> "disturbing"</i>,
while Plaid Cymru argued Wales receives 1% of Network Rail funding
despite having 6% of the track.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Michelle
Brown AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, North Wales) was recorded by a former employee
describing Labour's Chuka Umunna MP as a <i>"f**king coconut"
</i>and also making abusive remarks about Tristram Hunt MP and former US
President, Barack Obama. She apologised and admitted the language –
used in a private conversation in May 2016 - was<i> "inappropriate".</i></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Labour
demanded an immediate suspension while the case was referred to the
Standards Commissioner and UKIP's National Executive. There were also
calls for her suspension from Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and
Nathan Gill AM (<span style="color: #666666;">Ind</span>, North Wales).</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">BBC's
Panorama reported a 43% increase in the number of men and boys
seeking treatment for eating disorders, also revealing England spent
six times per-head than Wales on eating disorders. Two Welsh health
boards also didn't record the numbers seeking treatment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A row
broke out over a proposed £400,000 Welsh Government-backed sculpture
of an iron ring outside Flint Castle, with the architects claiming it
represents the surrender of Richard II to Henry IV. However, more
than 10,800 people (at time of posting) signed a petition calling for the sculpture to be
dropped as it was a <i>"symbol of oppression"</i>, being a visual
pun of Edward I's<i> "Iron Ring" </i>of castles built during the
13th Century Anglo-Norman conquest of Wales.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
Economy & Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Clwyd
South), paused the sculpture plans on July 26th pending a review,
adding that he <i>"recognised the strength of feeling"</i> around
it.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A
pro-fracking organisation accused PCC Arfon Jones (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, North Wales
Police) of<i> "cronyism"</i> and <i>"abuse of power"</i> after
North Wales Police withdrew a contingent of officers from an
anti-fracking protest site near Preston. The PCC questioned whether
Welsh police officers should be sent to protests in England when
there's a moratorium on fracking in Wales.</span></li>
</ul>
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<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Major
projects announced in July include: A continuation of
Cardiff-Anglesey flights; a £6.8million strategy to introduce<i>
"precision medicines"</i> based on genetics; a pilot of free
weekend travel on some long-distance TrawsCymru bus services until
May 2018 and a £3.4million National Imaging Academy (radiology)
based at Pencoed, Bridgend.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-60870380762504370232017-07-22T08:30:00.000+01:002017-07-24T17:19:33.058+01:00End of Term Report 2016/17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhculWrtoD02BMHS0Nepktx5kUKiCXPaRQk8AiXhGd35W2pkE5rdu_nJwgEqgzTU3_RFw_184YefU5RH7VprWHjhnPUGLJU7pHPaUKFmTTj-keH3ktw2CBj32PiPfkrHU1cNggWoadZd-g/s1600/senedd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="780" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhculWrtoD02BMHS0Nepktx5kUKiCXPaRQk8AiXhGd35W2pkE5rdu_nJwgEqgzTU3_RFw_184YefU5RH7VprWHjhnPUGLJU7pHPaUKFmTTj-keH3ktw2CBj32PiPfkrHU1cNggWoadZd-g/s400/senedd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />As is tradition, here's
my verdict on how the Welsh Government and opposition leaders have
performed in the first year of the Fifth Assembly.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Carwyn Jones AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Bridgend)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />First Minister</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />B-</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />He's been placed in a
very difficult position by being on the wrong side of the EU
referendum result but still has nowhere to go when it comes to seeing
Brexit through. There'll be many policy areas where Wales' interests
will have to be defended at the highest level. Carwyn's shown a
sincere willingness to do that and will probably have the backing of
most of the Senedd to do so too.<br /><br /><i>"Domestically"</i>,
the legislative programme is, as ever, relatively safe and
unambitious – but in the absence of a working majority, it has to
be. The difference between Welsh Labour's managerial centrist stance
and Corbyn's more old-school 1970s Labour may cause internal problems
and leave them open to accusations of hypocrisy (see tuition fees).
However, far from the opposition making his life difficult, if
anything he's never been more comfortable.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Mark Drakeford AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Cardiff West)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Finance & Local
Government Secretary</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />B-</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Is austerity over? Not
quite. Mark passed a budget – with help from Plaid Cymru - that
lifted a bit of the burden that's fallen on local government, with
spending remaining flat. Mark's also overseeing the introduction of
the first Welsh taxes in hundreds of years and has previously
expressed support for more novel ideas like a land value tax - which
may or may not end up replacing council tax and business rates in the
long-term.<br /><br />I still believe there's
more to come and he may run into trouble when income tax devolution
starts, but Mark's making a much better fist of Finance Secretary
than he did as Health Secretary.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Ken Skates AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Clwyd South)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Economy &
Infrastructure Secretary</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><b>B</b><br /><br />Succeeding Edwina Hart
was always going to be tough and although many will disagree, Ken's
acquitted himself well. He's had a full plate, dealing with the
tail-end of the steel crisis and now having to deal with the fallout
from Brexit and more specific problems like the future of the Ford
plant in Bridgend. None of them has really <i>"blown up"</i> yet
and maybe that means Ken's performance is peaking before the real work
starts.<br /><br />Ken's shown he's not
scared to make big calls (Circuit of Wales). Based on what's been
made public, it was the right decision – though there are questions
about how the Welsh Government came to its conclusion and he can
expect more tough questioning in the autumn once the details come
out.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Vaughan Gething AM
(<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cardiff S. & Penarth)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Health Secretary</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />B</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />For the first time in a
long time, there's a bit to be cheerful about when it comes to the
performance of the Welsh NHS. There are signs ambulance response
targets are closer to being consistently met for the first time in
several years. There are also encouraging signs with regard staff
recruitment (though training and retention remain major concerns).<br /><br />You get a sense from
Vaughan he's determined to get a grip on issues like Betsi Cadwaladr
health board's special measures and waiting times (which remain poor
compared to the rest of the UK). It's a promising first year in the
role, spoiled only by his sometimes condescending manner in the
Senedd chamber.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Kirsty Williams AM (<span style="color: orange;">Lib
Dem</span>, Brecon & Radnor)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Education Secretary</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />C+</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />You get a sense
Kirsty's still in shell shock from the 2016 election results and has
been a bit quiet, having neither put a foot wrong nor really shone in
the role. There was a measured reaction to another poor set of PISA
results and she can hardly be blamed for that. Kirsty's also
overseeing the implementation of major changes to student support via
the Diamond Review and the eventual scrapping of HEFCW – these are
no small things.<br /><br />There's trouble
brewing. Any goodwill students might've had towards her looks set to
be damaged with tuition fees set to rise by £300 a year. It's also
debatable whether she would've had more of an impact by staying out
of government. By being the face of what might become unpopular
policies, Kirsty's in danger of being seen as a Labour stooge.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Lesley Griffiths AM
(<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Wrexham)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Environment & Rural
Affairs Secretary</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />C</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />It's been a quiet year probably because, Brexit-aside, there's not a lot happening in
Lesley's portfolio that will grab the public's attention. She's set
out a comprehensive vision for an increase in green energy
production, but successive Welsh governments haven't rushed to make
it a reality. There've also been moves on new ways to target bovine
TB.<br /><br />However, we're still
yet to get an idea of what will/may replace farming subsidies
post-Brexit. That's partly the UK Government's fault, but we'll need
some idea soon.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Carl Sargeant AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Alyn & Deeside)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Communities Secretary</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b><br />B-</b><br /><br />Communities is a
neither here-nor-there portfolio in the grand scheme of things -
particularly in the absence of criminal justice or welfare powers –
but there have been significant developments. As promised, the
government are seeking to scrap right to buy. Carl's also had to make
a big call in winding down Communities First (which is, on balance,
the right decision). I also believe the Welsh Government moved
quickly in the fallout from the Grenfell Tower disaster – not that
it's likely to impact Wales all that much - and showed the UK
Government up in the process. Quietly impressive.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Mick Antoniw AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Pontypridd)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Counsel General</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b><br />C</b><br /><br />He technically lost the
Welsh Government's case on Article 50, but in doing so he's shown a
willingness to fight Wales' corner. Far more questions have been put
to him in the Senedd chamber than his predecessor – mainly due to
Brexit – so the role has more visibility than ever before. Mick
looks set to have another busy year with the Repeal Bill almost
certain to be formally challenged by the Welsh and Scottish
governments if concessions aren't made.</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Ministers</b></u></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Alun Davies AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Blaenau Gwent)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Minister for Lifelong
Learning & Welsh Language</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />C- (B for effort)</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Based on what's
happened so far, the story of Alun in government seems to be
repeating itself. Having gone from being one of the more effective
backbenchers of the Fourth Assembly to a return to government, he
talks the talk but the bar is perhaps set too high in terms of what
he can deliver.<br /><br />Alun will have the
unenviable task of seeing though the Welsh Government's 1 million
Welsh-speakers policy and Valleys Taskforce (promising 7,000 new jobs
in 4 years); I can't fault the ambition or the effort, but I'm
sceptical either vision will be fully delivered. There's also been
one major cock up with the costings of the Additional Learning Needs
Bill being some £13million out from reality. That's not necessarily
his fault, but he'll be culpable for it.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Rebecca Evans AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Gower)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Minister for Social
Services & Public Health</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />B-</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />At the second attempt,
the Public Health Act has been successfully seen through without
incident and with strengthened measures on things like obesity. Will
it work? We'll have to wait and see. Rebecca's also shown leadership
on Sport Wales, though we all deserve a fuller account of what
actually happened there. Other than that it's been a bit quiet, but
there are choppy waters approaching with the shortlisted Member's
Bill on autism – will the Minister back it or not?</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Julie James AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>,
Swansea West)</span></b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Minister for Skills &
Science</span></i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />C</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Julie has been somewhat
overshadowed by Ken Skates. That might be about to change with some
growing areas of concern. Firstly, it looks like the standard of
careers advice has taken a nose-dive, with the uptake of
apprenticeships and work-based learning being very low amongst school
leavers. Secondly, I suspect the £425million Super-fast Cymru
broadband scheme is a scandal in waiting, with concerns from the
Public Accounts Committee on delays, low uptake and poor marketing.
There are no big disappointments, but it's not a completely
unblemished record and, as hinted, I suspect next year will be
tougher if some of these problems aren't addressed.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>
</b></u></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Opposition Leaders</b></u></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Andrew Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>,
South Wales Central)<br /><br />Personal: C+<br />Party: C+</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Still standing. Andrew
defied the central party in picking Leave in the EU referendum but
found himself on the winning side. He's performed very well in the
Senedd chamber on occasion but is becoming an expert at not answering
questions (we're still yet to hear his own post-Brexit vision for
Wales) and is too easy to wind-up. You get the sense his authority is
being undermined in the higher echelons of the party, yet there's no
sign of a serious leadership challenge. Politics is a funny old game.<br /><br />As a result, it's hard
to judge the performance of the Tories in Wales. They did OK in the
local elections and, despite suffering a serious setback in the UK
general election, they still formed the UK Government. You get a
sense the dam will break at some point, but you can argue they're
doing well to shore it up.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>,
Rhondda)<br /><br />Personal: C<br />Party: C+</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />It's been the toughest
year of Leanne's leadership, saved from being a disaster by gaining a Westminster seat and
an increased number of council seats. Even if Leanne has sometimes
come across as two dimensional over the past year, all leaders have
rough patches. Although the progress promised in 2012 hasn't materialised
yet, there's no need for an immediate change.<br /><br />As for the party as a
whole, you would've thought losing Dafydd Elis-Thomas would've
brought some relief, but others have popped up to take his place as <i>"trouble-maker in chief"</i> both
within and outside the Assembly. There've been a few bungled stunts,
very few punches landed on Labour it's got to be said (though they
did manage to secure a £100million+ package in the budget) and they
seem to be struggling to figure out what they're for. Plaid really need to
hit the ground running in September.</span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>,
Mid & West Wales)<br /><br />Personal: D<br />Party: D (C for effort for some individuals)</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Despite his
unquestioned levels of parliamentary experience, Neil Hamilton has
occasionally appeared out of his depth or ill-suited to 2010s
Cardiff. They say there's no such thing as bad publicity and UKIP
cling to that, trying to make headlines for the sake of it not
because they actually have something to say. It got boring pretty
quickly and they're struggling to find a niche for themselves in a
post-Brexit referendum Wales other than being court jesters.<br /><br />Apart from the
successful Leave vote and occasional outbursts, UKIP has contributed
little to the Senedd chamber. After losing two of their most capable
AMs and taking a real hiding in the local and general elections, they
seem like political featherweights. Their AMs' naiveity has shone
through, but at least their less prominent members have made an
effort and generally take the role seriously – for example, Caroline Jones
and even Gareth Bennett and David Rowlands on occasion.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-33490458124012299932017-07-20T17:08:00.001+01:002017-07-20T17:26:33.603+01:00Cardiff-Swansea electrification zapped by UK Government<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_DMFu8i6rmHDTvj9tExFLg0kzgDm8Nd6SAQOhF2bxZeEj-bthCEj_TWsfUaV-gtRBNTjNHpCusU39eDjoYR3J66kcmSNvqo4SrT3DwR5QMrWI-rIEQbuTgFv0CXxWd87qEkOsZZI-DY/s1600/grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_DMFu8i6rmHDTvj9tExFLg0kzgDm8Nd6SAQOhF2bxZeEj-bthCEj_TWsfUaV-gtRBNTjNHpCusU39eDjoYR3J66kcmSNvqo4SrT3DwR5QMrWI-rIEQbuTgFv0CXxWd87qEkOsZZI-DY/s400/grey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Rail electrification
between Cardiff & Swansea (including Bridgend) was promised by a
Conservative-led government in 2012. Five years later <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40665659">they've scrapped it</a>.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm not surprised as
we've been softened up for this news. It's happened <a href="https://nation.cymru/2017/this-is-why-wales-is-poor-uk-gov-has-no-intention-of-investing-in-our-prosperity/">the same week</a> the
first round of contracts (worth £6.6billion) for the (estimated)
£56billion High Speed 2 project in England – to which Wales will
be paying our share of at least £2.7billion – were announced.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Secretary,
Alun Cairns, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-40608819">slimed his way through</a> the issue earlier this week by
talking up the benefits of the new trains. You know what contempt
rail passengers are held in when the replacement of 40+-year-old
trains that are frequently overcrowded during rush hour is seen as a
gift instead of a basic necessity.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Alun clearly knew what
was coming, but there's been dishonesty and shadow playing on this from the start. Extending electrification from Cardiff to
Swansea is something the Conservatives were reluctantly talked into
by the Lib Dems in 2012. They've never really wanted to do it,
having <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/04/whitehall-wonga-line-dot-electric-shock.html">wrangled over who was going to pay for it</a> and dragging their
feet. It was even omitted from their 2017 manifesto, which should've set alarm bells ringing.<br /><br />The English transport
secretary, Chris Grayling (who also has responsibility for rail
infrastructure in Wales), <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/rail-electrification-swansea-cardiff-been-13357575">argues</a> the benefits of electrification can
be delivered with the new Hitachi intercity express trains, coming
into service in south Wales later this year. Fortunately, the new
trains are both electric and diesel powered meaning they can run on
tracks without overhead lines.<br /><br />This also means they're
more expensive to build, heavier, more things can go wrong with them, are less environmentally-friendly and noisier. That means
higher maintenance costs for the track, inefficient engines, no real
difference in journey times between Swansea and Cardiff, as much
noise as today....it's almost as if there'll be absolutely no difference to
things as they are now.<br /><br />It's a typical solution
of a government, party and nation-state that does everything by
spreadsheets, divorced from both how things work on the ground and
long-term thinking.<br /><br />Hitachi has built a new
maintenance facility in Swansea for the new trains. If you've gone
past it recently you will have noticed it's come complete with the
infrastructure for overhead power lines. They're going to get rusty.<br /><br />Electrification between Cardiff and London is still going ahead, but you've got to wonder –
with the current state the UK Government's in – what other plans they have in store for us. As Prof. Stuart Cole has
argued, this project can't simply be restarted if the expertise and
resources are moved. If it's scrapped now it's unlikely anything will
happen for a long time; in 15-20 years when we're still talking about this we'll wonder, <i>"Why didn't we do something back in the 2010s?"</i><br /><br />I suppose the only
question is why has it been scrapped?<br /><br />We haven't been told
because the Conservatives know we won't like the answer: the money
and resources for electrifying Cardiff-Swansea are needed in England.<br /><br />The budget for current
electrification work has over-run and if the UK Government are going
to deliver pledges in parts of England, <i>"less important"
</i>projects need to be ditched.<br /><br />On an <i>EnglandandWales</i> scale, this is an easy to write-off project between two small
provincial cities and should be placed behind the likes of Bath,
Liverpool and Manchester. It also means some English cities miss out, like Nottingham and Sheffield - so it's not just Wales being left behind.<br /><br />At a Welsh level, it's
about providing electrified rail services between the capital, one of
the most important industrial centres (Neath Port Talbot &
Bridgend) and the country's second and third largest cities (Swansea
& Newport respectively), as well as being a springboard for
electrification in north Wales. Westminster doesn't see this.<br /><br />Wales has about 6% of
the UK's rail network, yet receives around 1-1.5% of Network Rail
funding. Scotland gets a population-based share because rail
infrastructure is devolved. It isn't devolved here because if
Wales received a ring-fenced 4.9% share of UK rail spending, it would
mean less money to spend in <strike>England</strike> London.<br /><br />As they've
significantly underestimated the costs involved, yet again Network
Rail's bungling will hamper a major infrastructure project in Wales.
It doesn't bode well for the new Wales & Borders rail franchise,
Metro, north Wales electrification and pretty much any significant
project you can think of either.<br /><br />Network Rail is really
good at putting new shelters in stations, painting lines, fixing bridges and
installing new signalling, but beyond that, they're not looking fit
for purpose when it comes to running Welsh railways.<br /><br />The first rule of
politics is <i>"Don't make promises you can't keep"</i>, but that
doesn't seem to apply here. So we've been lied to and let down
again. The most depressing thing is you know we're going to
sit back and take it because we've got no cards to play and we're
used to it.<br /><br />I can't wait to see
what happens with the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon! Fingers crossed!<br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-32237465819674835882017-07-18T17:32:00.001+01:002017-07-18T17:43:44.482+01:00FMQs: RIFW Redux, Tuition Fees & Parking Fines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OUo5tycoChTlHXiR3H0aBZg7arnc13mOagDQJbkaCc_eE8tk5xJu1N81_zcq0ENsg7xE3cuNjnHLI7jyhRzgwPdiGBh0hPF1wi432Ct4X9Cf1gUDHBlMKQecLY_x8vcQVmRfm7fXDHM/s1600/fmqs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OUo5tycoChTlHXiR3H0aBZg7arnc13mOagDQJbkaCc_eE8tk5xJu1N81_zcq0ENsg7xE3cuNjnHLI7jyhRzgwPdiGBh0hPF1wi432Ct4X9Cf1gUDHBlMKQecLY_x8vcQVmRfm7fXDHM/s400/fmqs.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />The final
FMQs of the 2016-17 Assembly term took place this afternoon and it's
also the final FMQs covered on this site.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://stateofwales.com/">State of Wales</a> will launch at the end of the month, while Senedd Home (which
will house all posts relating to everyday Welsh politics – like
this one) launches in September. Oggy Bloggy Ogwr will become
Bridgend-only. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'll explain what's happening again another time because there's going
to be some <i>"disruption"</i> over the next couple of weeks, but for now, I
turn attentions to the AMs.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>FMQs, 18th
July 2017</b></u></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Party
Leaders</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Neil
Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid & West Wales) asked whether the First
Minister agreed <b>the Welsh economy needs to become more diverse</b>,
particularly in terms of attracting private capital? As he's done for
the last few weeks, he pointed to the Circuit of Wales as an example
of a failure to attract that sort of investment.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister told him that if the Circuit of Wales was in such a strong
position they wouldn't have needed a government-backed guarantee. He
didn't disagree with the principle that Wales needs to be more
attractive as a business destination. There's interest in the
proposed technology park in Ebbw Vale and the recent announcement of
CAF opening a train-building facility in Newport is more good news.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leanne
Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda) wanted to know whether Wales is moving
closer to, or further away from,<b> free university tuition</b>? She's heard
a lot of justification for a proposed hike in tuition fees in Wales,
even though it contradicts Labour's recent manifesto commitment to free
university tuition. Students believe fees should be frozen and Plaid
want higher education funded from the education budget.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister believes a strong support package for both undergraduates
and postgraduates has been put on the table via the Diamond Review
and is more generous than England. The NUS signed up to that and he
was surprised to hear Plaid Cymru distance themselves from the
Diamond Review. If Plaid wants tuition fees abolished they should
outline where the money will come from.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Finally,
Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales
Central), targeted <b>Cardiff & Vale Health Board</b>. Firstly, a
<i>"damning"</i> <b>Wales Audit Office report into the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40630692">award of HR contracts</a></b> which were potentially unlawful, lacked transparency and
were awarded without advertising. This board is under close scrutiny
by the Welsh Government because it has a budget deficit of up to
£35million.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister said it was a matter for the health board, but the Health
Secretary has demanded an explanation. Any answers will be shared
with the Senedd.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Secondly,
Andrew briefly turned to one the big stories of the week – the
<b>court ruling on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40628560">staff parking fines</a> at the University Hospital,
Cardiff </b>– where staff are facing financial ruin after being ordered
to pay unpaid fines that may reportedly run into hundreds of
thousands of pounds collectively.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
something that's not likely to make him popular, the First Minister
said parking enforcement was introduced due to a death at the site
caused partly by illegal parking, as well as the impact illegal
parking has on traffic flows. Enforcement has to happen even if the
cases here are unfortunate otherwise if gives drivers a green light
to park anywhere they like without penalty.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backbenchers</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">David
Rowlands AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, South Wales East) asked when a report on the
<b>inquiry into the land sales to South Wales Land Developments</b> (<a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/search/label/RIFW">RIFW scandal</a>) will be published? He described the inquiry as a test of
competence of the entire scrutiny framework in devolved Wales.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister was quick to say that the Auditor General believes the Welsh
Government acted quickly and the review will focus on the governance
of RIFW and the professional advice received. Legal proceedings were
underway (presumed to be in order to reclaim some of the lost money)
which meant he couldn't comment further.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Huw
Irranca-Davies AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Ogmore) asked for a statement on <b>a recent
Estyn report into Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen</b> in Bridgend county. Huw
praised the headteacher, Nick Brain, for vowing to turn around the
school in a year following a highly-critical report and subsequently
achieved record GCSE passes which led to the school being taken out
of special measures.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Carwyn was
pleased the school has made significant progress and hopes it will
continue to do so. The turnaround showed the difference leadership
can make as the staff and pupils are largely the same as they were
before. Extra assistance is available if the school needs it in the
future.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mike
Hedges AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Swansea East) asked about <b>Welsh Government support
for enterprise zones.</b> When will the current zones be reviewed, and
how will their success be measured?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government remains committed to the existing 8 enterprise zones with
<i>"success" </i>being the creation of more jobs. Initial
discussions have been held on the future of the zones. The case for
creating new enterprise zones will always be examined.<br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-6170010439684804932017-07-13T17:33:00.000+01:002017-07-13T18:18:53.753+01:00Growing Pains: Senedd demands specialist arthritis service<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsPp3g5fIsdggc5arNn3tYdGdXH3tFf9UoM_RwICxSreUQVObPASYh1Sy_c2bgxchB5L_Fn7-T0iiZ6nd5Nhz2CotFEeotcYC9X9OdsCul7vOGZMmF7nGEhWdZBKQxwIZYxkIJ8EG5pk/s1600/JRAChild2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsPp3g5fIsdggc5arNn3tYdGdXH3tFf9UoM_RwICxSreUQVObPASYh1Sy_c2bgxchB5L_Fn7-T0iiZ6nd5Nhz2CotFEeotcYC9X9OdsCul7vOGZMmF7nGEhWdZBKQxwIZYxkIJ8EG5pk/s320/JRAChild2.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : stephencataldo.com)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Arthritis is perhaps
stereotyped as an <i>"old person's disease"</i> caused by
joint wear and tear, but there are a number of arthritis and arthritis-like
conditions that can strike at any age such as juvenile idiopathic
arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Even if children can
grow out of juvenile arthritis, if it isn't properly treated it can
cause lifelong disabilities.<br /><br />This is another
member's debate where I have personal experience. My younger brother
has, and my mother had, ankylosing spondylitis (a type of rheumatoid
arthritis affecting the spine) - so I know full well the impact
arthritis has on a young person as I've seen it for myself.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=19463">motion</a> calls for
the Senedd to:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Note that Wales is the
only part of the UK without a paediatric rheumatology centre, with an
estimated 400 children in south Wales alone suffering from juvenile
arthritis.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Note an ongoing review
into specialist children's health services.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Call upon the Welsh
Government to back calls by arthritis charities to establish a
specialist children's arthritis centre in Wales.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Much of the debate
focused on constituents' stories and those from a recent event
raising awareness of juvenile arthritis held at the Senedd. Many
stories were typical of problems facing individuals with less common
diseases, like late diagnoses, lack of training and awareness amongst
NHS staff, a lack of specialist local services and bullying by other
children.<br /><br />David Melding AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>,
South Wales Central) was surprised such services didn't already
exist. Underlining the urgency, he told the chamber there was only
one specialist rheumatology consultant (based in Cardiff) providing a
majority of services in Wales and they were close to retirement.<br /><br />Children often can't do
the same things as their peers due to mobility problems, and Julie
Morgan AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cardiff North) raised the amount of time children
have to take off school to spend in hospital, which can impact their
studies; a constituent had to pay for private tuition to make sure
their daughter successfully got through her GCSEs with good grades.<br /><br />Along similar lines,
both Joyce Watson AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Mid & West Wales) and Rhun ap Iorwerth
AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Ynys Môn) said the long distances children often had to
travel to receive treatment was in itself an uncomfortable
experience for them. Rhun also argued that while south Wales may have the
patient numbers to support a specialist centre (a recommended 1
specialist consultant per 200,000 resident children), north Wales
would find it more difficult.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With a lack of
specialist medical services, the role of volunteers to provide
support services is important. Hefin David AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Caerphilly)
highlighted the work of Arthritis Care in his constituency, who
provide advice on exercise, employment, accessing welfare and pain
management.<br /><br />According to Health
Secretary, Vaughan Gething AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cardiff W. & Penarth), the
Welsh Government couldn't support the wording of the motion (due to
an ongoing review of health & social services) and would abstain.
He also claimed concerns about services in north Wales being provided
at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool hadn't been raised before, but he
would reflect on comments made in the chamber.<br /><br />However, the Health
Secretary did acknowledge <i>"current provision....could be
improved"</i>. In terms of specific actions, the commissioning directives for arthritis (which guide how
health boards provide services) will be updated to ensure patients
are able to manage their condition and live their lives as they want
to (calling back to accounts of children being unable to do the
same things as their peers). <br /><br />The rest of it essentially boiled down
to, <i>"Wait for the review."</i><br /><br />In reply to the debate,
Dr Dai Lloyd AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, South Wales West) - who has 35+ years
experience as a GP – believed it wasn't sufficient to say
something's a good idea then refer it to a commission;<i> "we have
to take action now"</i>. Moving hospital services into the community
is all well and good, but we still need specialist services that can
only be provided at specialist centres.<br /><br />The motion was approved
with 27 votes to 9 abstentions.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-21622759430210102352017-07-11T17:39:00.003+01:002017-07-11T18:19:29.336+01:00FMQs: Mind Your Language<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesr6PB7RhqUoS_OfjlTCJZ53m54-af6De7vzbyucWcahPO0aHwqddKOLspZF3SKUn5xkF_RIXltSla_eLXy4FSg5MLIvIuQDgQ6FU_Z_WTxhvkMlTLiM33DsmBvXF4W0JFnvyb5bXCFg/s1600/fmqs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesr6PB7RhqUoS_OfjlTCJZ53m54-af6De7vzbyucWcahPO0aHwqddKOLspZF3SKUn5xkF_RIXltSla_eLXy4FSg5MLIvIuQDgQ6FU_Z_WTxhvkMlTLiM33DsmBvXF4W0JFnvyb5bXCFg/s400/fmqs.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The
penultimate FMQs of the 2016-17 term, and although there's still a
lot of heat being generated on the Circuit of Wales saga (yet again)
it's not generating much light at the moment but that might soon be about to change.
</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>FMQs, 11th
July 2017</b></u></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Party
Leaders</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South
Wales Central), highlighted an interim report on health & social
care that was published today. Will the final report's
recommendations guide government thinking on skills, workforce,
demographics etc.? He criticised <b>the Welsh Government's reluctance to
implement recommendations of major independent reports</b>, like the
Williams Commission.<br /><br />The First Minister insisted the review
wouldn't have gone ahead if the Welsh Government didn't intend to
take it seriously. It's important to find common ground across the
parties on health and he looks forward to the final report. He
wouldn't, however, commit to following through on all of the
recommendations until he's seen them all.<br /><br />Plaid Cymru leader,
Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda), returned to <b>the Circuit of Wales</b>.
All of the opposition parties and some Labour backbenchers have
either called for a full inquiry or for serious questions to be
answered. The due diligence report is due to be published during
recess, so AMs won't have an opportunity to scrutinise it properly
until September.<br /><br />Carwyn said the Welsh Government are in
discussions with relevant parties so they can publish as much of the
due diligence report as possible. <br /><br />Leanne then accused the
First Minister of making misleading statements, referring to
contradictions in accounts of Aviva and the First Minister in the run
up to the first refusal in April 2016 and the final refusal last
month. The statements make it look like the First Minister was
blowing hot and cold on backing the scheme and whether changes to the
financial model were acceptable.<br /><br />The First Minister defended
himself by saying the project had changed several times over six
years. It was rejected because under public accounting rules the
guarantee the developers were seeking would've appeared on the
government balance sheet as if the Welsh Government had given them
the money as capital spending – that money would have to be cut
elsewhere. We also hadn't heard whether Plaid Cymru agreed with the
decision or not (though all indications are they wanted the project
to go ahead).<br /><br />Finally, UKIP leader Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid
& West Wales), agreed with Leanne Wood and called for a Public
Accounts Committee investigation. However, his question turned to
Brexit negotiations and a <b>planned meeting between the First Minister
and the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.</b> He hoped Carwyn
wouldn't undermine the UK Government's position and will accept the
UK will leave both the single market and customs union.<br /><br />The
First Minister isn't going to the meeting to negotiate but to outline
the agreed Labour-Plaid Cymru position. He can't undermine the UK's
negotiating position because he still has no idea what it is, as the
UK Cabinet keep saying different things. The public clearly didn't
support the Conservatives Brexit position because they didn't win the
election and it was now time to reach a broader consensus.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backbenchers</b></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" rip-style-bordercolor-backup="" rip-style-borderstyle-backup="" rip-style-borderwidth-backup="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sian
Gwenllian AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Arfon) asked for a statement on <b>staff
redundancies at Welsh universities</b>. Bangor University is the latest
institution to propose job cuts (117). Was it time for the Welsh
Government to step in and make sure universities have the right
resources?<br /><br />The First Minister expects universities to <i>“engage
meaningfully”</i> with staff. The Welsh Government don't welcome job
losses and it should be a last resort not the first, but universities
are independent and can make their own decisions. They shouldn't be
solely reliant on government funds and should do more to attract
private sector investment. <br /><br />Mark Isherwood AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, North
Wales) wanted a statement on <b>employability programmes</b>. Could the
First Minister explain why the Welsh Government's employability
programme is unlikely to start before April 2019 and why it will be
provided by a single contractor? <br /><br />The First Minister said a
statement will be/was made later in the afternoon (so didn't go into
much detail). An interim programme running between now and April 2019
is being trialled to support the Valleys taskforce.<br /><br />Dai Lloyd
AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, South Wales West) & Rhun ap Iorwerth AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Ynys <span class="st">Môn</span>) both asked questions on <b>modern languages education</b>. Was the
First Minister open to the idea of holding a fair to encourage pupils
to take up foreign languages?<br /><br />The Welsh Government has a
five-year plan (Global Futures) to encourage take-up. He was open to
the idea of a language fair (as done in Scotland), but in the
meantime, the language institutions of Spain, Germany and France are
due to open offices in Cardiff in the autumn. Modern languages also
won't be forgotten in the well-publicised push to increase the number
of Welsh-speakers.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-86301192913154605792017-07-08T10:56:00.000+01:002017-07-08T10:56:21.155+01:00Right to Buy ban "needs explaining"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk9LAmCXUN0USL4fkBW0MlJXIA5CaAH39-hb_wsC9CTAoPL3mDcjO6rJx8FTb8BZZBXMzutApKw-uwP2FyRhf9Ffoh7NBYkjMXB2rfZM5hur4Pv5Vf5OjEKSVSgIoyQ2emgqKT7GAM9E/s1600/Right-to-buy---the-King-f-009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk9LAmCXUN0USL4fkBW0MlJXIA5CaAH39-hb_wsC9CTAoPL3mDcjO6rJx8FTb8BZZBXMzutApKw-uwP2FyRhf9Ffoh7NBYkjMXB2rfZM5hur4Pv5Vf5OjEKSVSgIoyQ2emgqKT7GAM9E/s320/Right-to-buy---the-King-f-009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic: <i>The Guardian</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The Communities
Committee published their Stage One report on the <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2017/03/right-to-buy-set-to-be-abolished-in.html">Abolition of Right to Buy Bill</a> yesterday (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11104/cr-ld11104-e.pdf">pdf</a>). In summary, their recommendations
were that:</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Senedd support the
general principles of the Bill, although committee member David
Melding AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central) disagreed, believing housing
supply should be increased instead.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Bill should be
amended to ensure the implications and details of the ban are
properly explained to tenants by qualifying landlords.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> The Welsh Government
should test its draft information documents with tenants to determine
if it's appropriate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Monitoring should take
place on the impact the Bill will have on specialist advice services.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The Abolition of Right
to Buy Bill was introduced in March 2017 (explained in more detail
<a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2017/03/right-to-buy-set-to-be-abolished-in.html">here</a>). Although local authorities can already suspend Right to Buy,
the Bill intends to introduce a blanket ban across Wales, with a
year-long<i> "grace period" </i>after the Act becomes law to give
tenants one last chance to take up Right to Buy.</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />There's broad support
for the Bill, primarily because
of concerns about housing shortages and a lack of replacements for
homes sold under the scheme. However, a representative from Tenants
Wales believed the ban should only apply to new social housing,
alongside the reform of the existing scheme.<br /><br />Shelter Cymru even
acknowledged that Right to Buy is a popular scheme that enables
households to access home-ownership in communities where they're
already grounded. However, they believe the scheme had become unsustainable due to
a lack of new social houses being built.<br /><br />On the proposed 12
months <i>"grace period"</i>, a majority of respondents believed
this was enough time for tenants to take up their Right to
Buy option. <br /><br />Tenants Wales questioned why the Bill proposed a one year grace period, when local authorities currently have to wait two years before applying for a new suspension of Right to Buy.
Shelter Cymru and Tenants Wales were also concerned that tenants may
be targeted by underhand mortgage brokers and lenders during the
grace period.<br /><br />Local authorities and
housing associations expect a surge in Right to Buy applications in
the period before the ban comes into force. It was suggested by
Community Housing Cymru (CHC) that the maximum discount could be cut
during the grace period and/or tenants could be made aware of other
home-ownership options.<br /><br />Although the Bill makes
it a legal requirement for tenants to be informed of the ban coming
into effect, there's little detail on precisely what information will be
provided and how it would be distributed, with a danger that tenants may be confused about, or unaware of, the ban coming into force if it's not explained properly.<br /><br />Shelter Cymru believe
informing tenants should be the Welsh Government's job, in order to
ensure there's a consistent message across Wales. Housing
associations would prefer to hear from tenants themselves on what
information they would find useful and the best way to present it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-17477993681495544852017-07-04T17:35:00.000+01:002017-07-04T17:47:34.665+01:00FMQs: Abortions, Smoking & Sport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlJe9PnS7Nus3i5yzQAOaSIJ-pG3b6O7Rct2WWCv5cJj2kVE0lrSLpM_KMNrlb48W77aaBzDC66AwVl7iqeyFK2Rxm-9LyrH3mis5nsceTquBj1muU16dcIZOQ3qFDyiSdPEq2twxmM4/s1600/fmqs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlJe9PnS7Nus3i5yzQAOaSIJ-pG3b6O7Rct2WWCv5cJj2kVE0lrSLpM_KMNrlb48W77aaBzDC66AwVl7iqeyFK2Rxm-9LyrH3mis5nsceTquBj1muU16dcIZOQ3qFDyiSdPEq2twxmM4/s400/fmqs.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Another
summary of FMQs from the Senedd.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FMQs, 4th
July 2017</b></span></u></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Party
Leaders</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">First up
was Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda) who asked
whether Wales will follow England in <b>providing free abortion services
to women from Northern Ireland</b> (following a court ruling)? Her second
question was whether the Welsh Government were going to stick to a
manifesto commitment to <b>lift the pay cap for NHS staf</b>f?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">To the
first question, the First Minister said<i> "yes"</i> and the Welsh
Government are actively considering how to implement it. Again, the
answer to the second question was <i>"we would like to do it"</i>,
but he believes any financial commitments should be met by the UK
Government.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Leader of
the Opposition, Andrew Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central) returned
to the Circuit of Wales saga, in particular, the Welsh Government's
proposed support for <b>an automotive technology park in Ebbw Vale</b>. The
existing enterprise zone in the town has created just 172 jobs in
five years, so why was the First Minister so confident that this
proposal would work? Would businesses need the track for testing?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government's confidence is based on their proposed £100million
investment and having sounded out business support for the project,
the First Minister believes it can deliver the projected 1,500 jobs.
After those discussions with businesses they've said they it wouldn't
be essential but would be <i>"nice to have"</i>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">UKIP
leader, Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid & West Wales) – as last
week – decided to continue the questioning on the <b>Circuit of Wales</b>.
He largely repeated what <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2017/06/fmqs-circuit-of-wales-stressed-teachers.html">he said last week</a> about the figures standing
up to scrutiny without excessive burden on the public purse, and the
decision being mainly down to Treasury and ONS accounting
methodology.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister believed that if the project had strong support from private
backers it shouldn't need a government guarantee to underpin it. He
was open to taking another look at any new proposal, but on the terms
that were presented the project was too much of a risk.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backbenchers</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">John
Griffiths AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Newport East) asked for a statement on progress
with <b>local government reform</b>. There's a need to local government to
be more representative of the population, with just 28% of
councillors being women.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A new
Local Government Bill will be introduced in the next parliamentary
term. We're a long way from being able to say local government is
properly representative. Some progress has been made with 51 people
taking part in a diversity and democracy programme prior to May's
local elections, but there's still a long way to go.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mark
Isherwood AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, North Wales) asked about <b>access to tobacco</b>
products in Wales. A survey found 62% of Welsh smokers have bought
tobacco without duty paid and this black market trade is threatening
local shops.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Public
Health Act 2017 will introduce a register of tobacco retailers and
makes it an offence to hand over tobacco products to under-18s. It's
a matter for HMRC to pursue investigations on tax and duty issues.
The Welsh Government continue to aim to reduce smoking rates in Wales
to just16% of adults by 2020.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mike
Hedges AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Swansea East) wanted a statement on <b>the importance of
sporting success to the international image of Wales</b>. Swansea
receives global publicity because it's home to a Premier League team;
was the First Minister pleased Swansea City remain in the English
Premier League for another season?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Sport
plays an important part in our culture, and Wales' Euro 2016 exploits
will have done more to raise the profile of Wales than any
politician. Visit Wales has worked with Swansea City since 2011 to
improve marketing of Wales. The First Minister added that it was an
anomaly that Wales doesn't compete in one-day cricket tournaments –
unlike Scotland and Ireland – and he would support a Welsh cricket
team if there were no financial hit to Glamorgan. Elite sport is also
important in promoting healthy lifestyles, citing cycling as an
example.Another summary of this week's FMQs from the Senedd.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-28826833359731384312017-07-02T09:38:00.000+01:002017-07-02T09:38:59.182+01:00Senedd committee calls for more medical school places<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAto4Y-ySvh4-zx3jLzyIywTyyBlhZCKbMPDoQt-Qe3-Xi1FjIj80VS-ebguPeV0B7H5UAzhEli4rvodp4U3OooWe79Mc24RHCATCVOZ9l5Na0Se4CN-qLTc9Le_JoavUU3RYux1duQBk/s1600/_91169077_medics5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="624" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAto4Y-ySvh4-zx3jLzyIywTyyBlhZCKbMPDoQt-Qe3-Xi1FjIj80VS-ebguPeV0B7H5UAzhEli4rvodp4U3OooWe79Mc24RHCATCVOZ9l5Na0Se4CN-qLTc9Le_JoavUU3RYux1duQBk/s320/_91169077_medics5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : BBC Wales)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Medicine is already one
of the most competitive and academically-demanding university
courses. On top of that it's becoming a struggle for Wales to recruit and train
tomorrow's doctors – subject to an inquiry by the Health &
Social Care Committee (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11089/cr-ld11089-e.pdf">pdf</a>).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Chair of the
committee, Dai Lloyd AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, South Wales West) said:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We believe there
is a clear case for increasing medical school capacity in Wales if we
are to address the current recruitment and retention issues....There
is a clear need to take a message out to schools across Wales that
medicine is a....realistic
and achievable aspiration for students from all communities."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Key Recommendations:</span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An outline plan for
establishing a single national medical education body (Health
Education Wales) should be published by September 2017.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government
should work with the Wales Deanery to secure a sustained increase in
the number of students living in Wales studying medicine in Wales,
including a plan to develop undergraduate medical courses at Bangor
University and further develop rural medical training.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Medical schools should
include more general practice time in undergraduate clinical
training and increase training places in specialities with staffing pressures.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government
should ensure quick clarity on the position of EU nationals living
and working in the UK, particularly medical professionals.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Wales currently has two
undergraduate medical schools, based at Cardiff and Swansea
universities respectively. Cardiff offers five-year, six-year and
four-year (graduate) medicine courses, while Swansea offers a
four-year graduate only course. The Wales Deanery is responsible for
postgraduate medical and dental training.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> The recommendations of
a 2016 report by Prof. Robin Williams called for the establishment of
a single Health Education Wales body to integrate the Wales Deanery
and NHS workforce education services. Health Education Wales is
expected to go live in April 2018, but the Committee demanded a clear
action plan.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The number of students
living in Wales applying to study medicine fell by 15% between
2015-2017 compared to the UK average of 5%. In 2016, only 30% of
medical students studying in Wales were actually from Wales, with
many cases of Welsh students applying to study at a Welsh university
being rejected and ultimately studying in England.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> The problem here is
that, after graduation, students usually end up remaining in the area they studied in; there's an obvious impact on the Welsh language and
areas with pronounced recruitment problems like north Wales. There
was almost overwhelming support from witnesses for establishing a
medical school at Bangor University, but worries over a lack of
clinical training places in the north. One witness suggested
establishing regional training academies to include more GP
placements in particular.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Engagement with schools
is another priority so students consider studying medicine in the
first place. Some of the reasons for the decline in applications from
Wales may be high entry requirements,
low career expectations/ambition and a lack of preparation for
medical school interviews.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Although hospital
medical vacancies often make headlines, the Welsh NHS is said to be
walking into a GP recruitment crisis. Younger doctors prefer
to work in urban areas, while GPs are already concerns about heavy workloads and an
ageing population who have increasingly complex medical needs. As a
consequence, more GP practices are being run directly by local health
boards instead of the traditional partnership model. While demand for
GPs has increased, the number of training places in Wales has
remained at just 136 a year when it should be closer to 200.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There were calls to
allow more experienced junior doctors (F2 grade) to take a<i> "taster"</i> in
primary care without committing to the formal GP training programme.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In hospitals, there are
particular problems across Wales in recruiting to posts in
psychiatry, general medicine, anaesthetics and general surgery. This
means local health boards spent £88million on locums
in 2015-16 – almost double what was spent in 2014-15.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Amidst the gloom,
there's some good news. Wales has a reputation for more supportive
medical training, a better work-life balance, lower living costs
(useful when you consider how expensive medical school is), offers
more attractive contracts to junior doctors, while trainee doctors
(with the exception of trainee GPs) have lighter workloads than their counterparts
in England.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why should this matter
to you?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh NHS has long
been over-reliant on temporary/locum doctors and immigrant labour
from inside and outside the EU. The first are often expensive, the
latter are likely to be put off coming here after Brexit (depending
on UK immigration policy).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Fewer doctors mean
longer treatment waiting times, poorer training environments, heavier
workloads for all other doctors and may even threaten some services –
like local GPs. The long-term solution is to recruit and keep as many
Welsh-trained doctors as possible, but that's going to mean better
education before university, investing in medical education and providing a better offer to newly-qualified
doctors.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If the recommendations
are followed through, more prospective doctors from Wales will be
able to study here instead of going elsewhere and probably staying
there - but you can only lead a horse to water.<br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-4785414422606840612017-07-01T08:52:00.000+01:002017-07-01T08:52:03.948+01:00Welsh rail franchise & Metro: Still on track?
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7IRBUhMk_3FBiDUMzYcJNTs0K_E99JA5aAw_QlmNRJEChFFzKnc6nMMf5YlVDJeY2tenG4mm2e0Fnv_MUbXo1cXlJePXucdw7IM0sp43v5Ses5fGyn57fb2DAkAg87Zdy1PHJjPLJCs/s1600/Llantwit-Major-Station-%252820070702%2529---Arriva-Trains-Wales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="604" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7IRBUhMk_3FBiDUMzYcJNTs0K_E99JA5aAw_QlmNRJEChFFzKnc6nMMf5YlVDJeY2tenG4mm2e0Fnv_MUbXo1cXlJePXucdw7IM0sp43v5Ses5fGyn57fb2DAkAg87Zdy1PHJjPLJCs/s320/Llantwit-Major-Station-%252820070702%2529---Arriva-Trains-Wales.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The current franchise
to run passenger trains in Wales and English border counties –
presently held by Arriva Trains Wales – expires in October 2018.
For the first time, the Welsh Government will award the new
franchise, which will include the South Wales Metro.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> The Economy &
Infrastructure Committee reported on their inquiry yesterday (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11093/cr-ld11093-e.pdf">pdf</a>).
Committee chair, Russell George AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, Montgomery) said:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"This report
examines the various challenges facing the Welsh Government and
others as we approach a crucial point in the history of the railway
network in Wales. It highlights our concerns in a number of areas,
and sets out how the growing mass of organisations involved in
running rail services in Wales and the Borders need to work together
if the people....are to receive the 21st Century rail services they
demand."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key Recommendations:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Confusion over devolved
powers for the rail franchise should be cleared up as a matter of
urgency, alongside clarification on the capital funding package for upgrading the
Valley Lines.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government
should ensure:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">the right people and
skills are in place within Transport for Wales to assess bids and
manage the new rail franchise.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">a watertight agreement
with Network Rail and the UK Government to mitigate any risks in
transferring control of the franchise.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">the terms of the new
franchise incentivise the chosen operator to innovate, invest in and
work to grow passenger numbers over the 15-year term. Contingency
plans should be put in place should the operator fail to comply.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A rolling stock
strategy should be drafted to take into account projected passenger
numbers and needs for 25 years, including low-carbon solutions such
as hydrogen fuel to replace diesel on non-electrified routes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Urgent clarification
should be sought from the UK Government on Cardiff-Swansea and north
Wales coast electrification, as well as a redevelopment of Cardiff
Central station.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In what should come as
no surprise, the required powers haven't been devolved yet, putting
pressure on the Welsh Government to get everything in place with less
time available. While Scotland is able to use a public sector operator to run
rail services, Wales can't because a necessary amendment to Railways
Act 1993 hasn't been made – de-legitimising Transport for Wales (a
body set up by the Welsh Government to oversee the franchise).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Four companies have bid
to run the franchise: Abellio, Arriva Trains Wales, KeolisAmey and
MTR. A final contract specification is due to be published in July
2017, but there were criticisms of a lack of engagement with
passengers, as well as concerns that Transport for Wales doesn't have
the experience to manage a complicated project in a short timeframe.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Following public
consultation, the Committee drafted 10 key priorities for the new
franchise:<br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZemxYoGJh3qXKqpIQwMU724BuVU_-_ujs9vNruYHS1Q4DyIXrizTKrYpDiOYjxocPASXQFRhny6mRKZ1u5B9h2y4NcTJ8gToqrGh322vmzr6bKDxfXycsGngLy9f__dNkuu59q16XSz4/s1600/10-priorities-new-wales-rail-franchise.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZemxYoGJh3qXKqpIQwMU724BuVU_-_ujs9vNruYHS1Q4DyIXrizTKrYpDiOYjxocPASXQFRhny6mRKZ1u5B9h2y4NcTJ8gToqrGh322vmzr6bKDxfXycsGngLy9f__dNkuu59q16XSz4/s640/10-priorities-new-wales-rail-franchise.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />(Click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As funding will be
drawn down before Brexit, EU contributions to the Metro are
uncertain. There's also a £125million commitment from the UK
Department for Transport (DfT) towards Valleys electrification, but
the Welsh Government still expect that investment to come regardless of whether
there are overhead wires or not.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Views were mixed on
whether both the Metro's infrastructure and trains should be
maintained and run by the successful bidder (known as vertical
integration); at the moment Network Rail maintains the railway while
train operating companies run the trains. Prof. Stuart Cole believes
Network Rail provides better insurance against risks, but the Cardiff
Capital Region believes vertical integration provides better
long-term value. The Committee cautiously supports vertical
integration, and while they accept Network Rail's performance in
Wales has often disappointed, also welcomed their desire to work more
closely with devolved bodies.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Likewise, there were
mixed views on whether the franchise should be a standard franchise
(where train companies collect fares and accept commercial risk), or
a concession model (where the train company is paid a fee to run services,
but fares go to the authority that owns the franchise). The Welsh Government prefer the
concession model, with Transport for Wales confident they've come up
with a<i> "best of both worlds"</i> solution.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Trains were a major
talking point, with clear dissatisfaction amongst passengers. All
trains need to be disability compliant by 2020, with Prof. Cole suggesting 70%
of Arriva Trains Wales' fleet fail to meet this. Adding further
problems, new trains can't be bought and constructed that quickly and
the Welsh Government don't have the powers to do it themselves <i>unless</i>
they consider establishing a rolling stock company and buying trains
at a potential cost of hundreds of millions of pounds (see also: <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2017/01/making-sense-of-sardine-express.html"><i>Making sense of the Sardine Express</i></a>).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Clearly, improvement to
existing infrastructure is vital - and witnesses provided the
Committee with ideas for reopenings and new stations. However,
there's no firm date for Cardiff-Swansea electrification, only an
<i>"assumption"</i> it'll be carried out between 2019-2024 -
similarly the north Wales coast mainline.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Outline proposals
exist for a redevelopment of Cardiff Central station to cope with
major events, but the DfT don't see it as a priority for investment
at this time.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why should this matter
to you?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It's obvious that if
you use railways within Wales (or the English border counties) this
is a big deal and will help decide how you use trains in the future,
what those trains will be like and even whether you'll be able to
take a bike or find a seat during rush hour; but some of the evidence
from the inquiry is worrying.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There are so many
things that need to be done in such a short space of time I'm losing confidence it can be
completed. The UK Government have foot-dragged for so long on
ensuring the Welsh Government have the right powers to award and run
the franchise successfully, it's making me wonder whether the process
has been deliberately set up to fail.</span><br />
</div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-87447460685090102092017-06-30T08:30:00.001+01:002017-06-30T08:30:59.710+01:00Senedd Watch - June 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId8az28uEmssB7b5PC5jr2nguxfViD460GgFGl2xIq7u8oHQMkkh6ONrdkGnZHi1BWHpJIe86A-q3oi0HN7Zcptg4OYU1zR21FqE-JfAd2X0KF5-JYTMVIcVFrYqvNitbzVbrHKSA7Bw/s1600/seneddwatch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="700" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId8az28uEmssB7b5PC5jr2nguxfViD460GgFGl2xIq7u8oHQMkkh6ONrdkGnZHi1BWHpJIe86A-q3oi0HN7Zcptg4OYU1zR21FqE-JfAd2X0KF5-JYTMVIcVFrYqvNitbzVbrHKSA7Bw/s640/seneddwatch.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government publicly revealed Aston Martin received £5.8million
in repayable business finance, following a ruling by the UK
Information Commissioner in May 2017. The new plant is expected to
employ 750 people at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.<a name='more'></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A deal was
struck to place Hoover pensions into a protected fund to prevent them
from collapsing. The company will pay £60million towards the fund,
which affects 4,000 people in Wales. The UK Pension Regulator said,<i>
"We do not agree to these types of arrangements lightly but in
this case we believe it is the right outcome for scheme members."</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> A freedom
of information request by BBC Wales revealed up to a third of cancer
patients weren't given the name or contact details of their key
worker. The Welsh Government said they were developing new standards.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Following
the hosting of the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff on June
3rd, the Welsh Government confirmed they were in discussions to host
The Open golf championship and a stage of the Tour de France. Economy
Secretary, Ken Skates (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Clwyd South) said,<i> "I think there is
great potential to host new major events that have not yet been to
Wales".</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> The
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) announced cuts of
£28.3million to university funding. Universities warned of
redundancies, but HEFCW said the funding amounted to just 10% of all
money raised by Welsh universities (due to higher tuition fees).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government unveiled a proposed curb of zero hour contracts in the
social care sector, whereby care workers will be given a choice after
three months whether to stick to a zero hours contract or move onto a
minimum-hours contract.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Following
the UK general election result, the First Minister demanded the UK
Government <i>"rethink"</i> its plans for a <i>"Hard Brexit"</i>,
calling for a broad-based consensus and a transitional deal, as he
wasn't convinced the Brexit process could be completed within two years.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government told the Public Accounts Committee that the Additional
Learning Needs Bill will no longer save £4.8million, but actually
cost an additional £8.2million - £13.1million more than initially
thought. The figures used to draft the
original impact assessment were criticised as faulty.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
results of a consultation on the titles of the National Assembly
suggests the most popular option is changing the name to <i>"Welsh
Parliament"</i> and AMs to Welsh Parliament Members (WPMs). The
Llywydd, Elin Jones (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Ceredigion), said the move would, <i>"play
a part in ensuring that more people fully understand the powers of
the Assembly".</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">AMs backed
a proposal by Paul Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, Preseli Pembs.) to introduce a
Member's Bill on autism by 40 votes to 9 abstentions. The Bill aims
to protect the rights of autistic children and adults in Wales.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Education
Secretary, Kirsty Williams (<span style="color: orange;">Lib Dem</span>, Brecon & Radnor), seemingly
dropped a Welsh Government target to improve Welsh performances in
the OECD's PISA examinations. The target is for Welsh pupils to achieve average scores of 500 by 2021, but she told the Children &
Education Committee it's <i>"not my target"</i>. The First
Minister later contradicted this by saying the target remained in
place.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Following
a major fire which killed at least 79 people at the Grenfell Tower in
West London on June 14th, Ann Jones AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Vale of Clwyd) said her
legislation to make installation of sprinkler systems in new-build
properties in Wales mandatory was often thwarted by the UK Government, who
inflated the cost of the systems.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
Conservatives complained over the political balance of committee
chairs after it was agreed Labour would take the vacant Environment
Committee chair, resulting in Plaid Cymru having more chairs than the
Conservatives despite being a smaller group. Paul Davies AM claimed
the move breaks Assembly rules.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A task
force for digital news recommended journalists headed by an
<i>"impartial editor"</i> be employed by the Assembly Commission
to provide news about the Assembly on digital platforms. The chair of
the task force, Prof. Leighton Andrews, said it wouldn't be a
propaganda tool as it was focused on the legislature.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">As many as
1,100 jobs are to be lost from a Tesco call centre in Cardiff due to
a centralisation of operations in Scotland. The centre is due to
close in February 2018. The Economy & Infrastructure Secretary
said a <i>"package of support" </i>would be provided to employees,
while local AMs called for a re-think of the decision.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Education
experts warned that a lack of careers advice in Welsh schools was
preventing young people getting out of poverty, describing it as a
<i>"national disgrace"</i>. Only 1.3% of school leavers went into
work-based learning in 2016.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Targets
for new teacher recruitment were missed in 2015-16 by up to a third
in the case of secondary schools and 19% for primary schools. NUT
Cymru said the figures<i> "bordered on a crisis"</i> and were
caused by high levels of work-related stress and the job not meeting
expectations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">On June
27th, the Welsh Government decided they would not underwrite the
Circuit of Wales project in Blaenau Gwent – effectively cancelling
it - believing the projected job figures were exaggerated and there
was a risk to public finances. A £100million automotive
technology park will be taken forward instead.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Plaid
Cymru's economy spokesperson, Adam Price AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Carms. E &
Dinefwr), said the Welsh Government had rejected the <i>"single
biggest private investment ever in Wales"</i> and the private sector
would <i>"think twice before investing in the south Wales valleys
again". </i>He later accused the Welsh Government of misleading the public, calling for an independent inquiry into the decision.<i><br /></i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Chair
of the Public Accounts Committee, Nick Ramsay AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, Monmouth),
accused the Welsh Government of<i> "fobbing off"</i> the
committee's investigation into the project after two senior civil
servants refused to attend an evidence session.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister unveiled the legislative programme for 2017-18 on June 27th,
including new laws to introduce a minimum alcohol price, scrap
up-front tenant fees, expand free childcare, reform local government
and update regulation of registered social landlords. Consultation
will also begin on introducing a law to outlaw <i>"smacking"</i>
in 2018-19.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Projects
announced in June include: A £500million first phase of Swansea city
centre regeneration; and £1.3million to expand computer coding clubs
in schools.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtsAqXt4ZFv6iXXgP0nMILG3_gldORBDPE7SUP80e_ihtb7EoMEswmWUZ_bP0eJjoXyOj5KnUCXU0yyz4JLwqlmh_fSBeZOroH7yz4cwoJ45ItuTAomg8V4WGcNuwq4b_D2WS27vx2YY/s1600/election2017graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="700" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtsAqXt4ZFv6iXXgP0nMILG3_gldORBDPE7SUP80e_ihtb7EoMEswmWUZ_bP0eJjoXyOj5KnUCXU0yyz4JLwqlmh_fSBeZOroH7yz4cwoJ45ItuTAomg8V4WGcNuwq4b_D2WS27vx2YY/s640/election2017graphic.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
UK general election on June 8th resulted in a hung parliament. The
Conservatives fell short of an overall majority in the House of
Commons with 318 seats. Theresa May subsequently formed a minority
government, securing the support of Northern Ireland's Democratic
Unionist Party (DUP) on June 26th. Alun Cairns retained his post as
Welsh Secretary in a reshuffle on June 11th.</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Channel 4
News revealed a Neath-based call centre had undertaken potentially
illegal practices for the Conservatives during the 2017 general
election, such as paid canvassing and misleading calls. The company
also hired many people on zero hours contracts for the campaign. The
Conservatives said they had acted within the law.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Labour won
28 seats in Wales and 262 across the UK as a whole. The party said
they were ready to attempt to form a government if the Conservatives
were unable to do so.</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The First
Minister described the Conservative-DUP deal – which included an
additional £1billion+ for Northern Ireland over two years - as a
<i>"straight bung"</i> which <i>"kills the idea of fair funding"
</i>and threatens to destabilise the UK.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The SNP
lost 21 seats, including senior figures Angus Robertson and Alex
Salmond. They did, however, remain the largest party in Scotland with
35 seats. The Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour all made gains in
Scotland.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Plaid
Cymru won 4 seats in Wales - an increase of 1 compared to 2015 and
matching their best ever performance in a Westminster election.
However, their vote share fell by 1.7% nationally and they failed to
win Ynys Môn – one of their key target seats.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Lib
Dems won an additional 4 seats across the UK, but lost their only MP
in Wales – Welsh party leader, Mark Williams – alongside 36
deposits; Tim Farron stood down as leader of the UK party on June
14th. UKIP also failed to win any seats and saw their share of the
vote collapse by 10.8% across the UK and 11.8% in Wales.<br /><br /></span></li>
</ul>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-35221358101519554442017-06-29T17:37:00.000+01:002017-06-29T18:03:00.755+01:00Senedd sceptical about snare use (but stop short of a ban)<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUekXWgt28G9bcYlyqA5GXhypIuqIxiWx8QFsnUJzm4e4KTzYVVBaXnI_t7B9csFkXJ73iDp8qWh3FBCeNv8OXkVSi95Z-7MLt60mS6k7_nsG-6z1CcWeySk24QiFKbmKna8ts-Rv5aVk/s1600/fox-668885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="590" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUekXWgt28G9bcYlyqA5GXhypIuqIxiWx8QFsnUJzm4e4KTzYVVBaXnI_t7B9csFkXJ73iDp8qWh3FBCeNv8OXkVSi95Z-7MLt60mS6k7_nsG-6z1CcWeySk24QiFKbmKna8ts-Rv5aVk/s320/fox-668885.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />The
Environment Committee stopped short of calling for an immediate
ban on the use of snares (to trap pests) in their latest inquiry report
(<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11086/cr-ld11086-e.pdf">pdf</a>) but have displayed a certain level of scepticism.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Responding
to the inquiry findings, recently-appointed Committee chair, Mike
Hedges AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Swansea East) said:</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Given
the risk to animal welfare, we believe it's essential that every
effort is made to ensure that Welsh Government policy in this area is
supported by robust evidence.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
inquiry has shown us there are considerable gaps in the data
available to understand the scale, efficacy, and humaneness of
snare-use in Wales."</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: black;">Key
Recommendations:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Welsh Government should undertake an annual review of the Code (of
best practice) and if it's found not to be working, the law should be
tightened on snare use.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
legislation is drafted it should include requirements such as
training, licensing and holding landowners liable to prosecution for
snare misuse. If this doesn't work, then consideration should be
given to a ban on snares.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The use of snares that are already non-compliant with the Code should be banned
on Welsh Government-owned land.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snares
are currently used by farmers to control foxes and rabbits <i>"as a
last resort"</i>, usually by trapping the animal in a wire before
being killed. Sometimes they're used for hunting or research. Their
use has been criticised by animal welfare organisations and a
petition calling for an outright ban – which gathered more than 1,400 signatures – was
submitted to the Senedd in September 2016.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's
currently a legally-binding Code of Best Practice for snare use, with any
animals caught in snares needing to be protected from pain and
suffering. However, the RSPCA and others argued that the Code was
effectively voluntary as, while having a Code is mandatory, following it
isn't compulsory and many snares are located on private land with landowners' permission, making prosecutions unlikely.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">To
counter that argument, the Countryside Alliance expected people to
use Code-compliant snares for the right reasons or expect a snare ban
– a ban which the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) argued would
be easier to enforce.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Free-running
snares (which relax when a fox or other animal stops pulling) are
allowed, self-locking snares are illegal. Anti-snaring campaigners
described free-running snares as<i> "a bit of a joke"</i> and
inhumane, preferring a total ban on their use. There was no agreement
amongst witnesses on what might replace it – shooting was said to
be impractical at certain times of the year, while trapping was too
cumbersome and may cause more injuries to wild animals as they try to
escape.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Around
2,000 gamekeepers have been trained via on-demand courses on how to use snares as
stipulated in the Code, but training isn't a formal/legal
requirement, just a recommendation.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In addition, there's little to no data collection on snare use in Wales and while Natural
Resources Wales doesn't use snares on their land, they don't explicitly ban their use either.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
muddled picture was reflected in existing animal welfare laws, which
the Law Commission of <i>EnglandandWales</i> describes as
<i>"overly-complicated and sometimes contradictory"</i>. They
recommended a new Bill be introduced at Westminister on the subject with permission
sought from the Senedd.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Welsh Government reject the idea, and while they're not considering
introducing a new law on snares, they're <i>"actively reviewing
(their) position" </i>– a sentiment the Committee shared.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="color: black;">Why
should this matter to you?</span></b></u></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
it wasn't for the public petition on the issue, it's unlikely this
topic would've even been the subject of an inquiry.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clearly,
there's concern about snares and their impact on wildlife, but any
talk of a ban will likely be resisted by livestock farmers, as
snaring is one of the few practical, legal means left for them to
control foxes.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tighter
controls on snare use – as in Scotland – may be a more likely
direction of travel, but I doubt it would satisfy everyone; it's not
the ban animal welfare campaigners want, while it would inevitably
involve more bureaucracy for farmers and gamekeepers.</span></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-66475609777477864502017-06-27T17:27:00.001+01:002017-06-29T11:53:57.415+01:00FMQs: Circuit of Wales, Stressed Teachers & Gambling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QeR_7PIZy4OuQrwDgxITWYZu8yDz7mab9EIc4x7MMYtRO4XhgaHgIcJz4IRL42KlPg0c2XQ4gH1jI_9_TlaRpti6FfFzha6Ns4zfpv_fHVCfsxudqRgNjoi9JN_rHK_nkcyOgmku3V4/s1600/fmqs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QeR_7PIZy4OuQrwDgxITWYZu8yDz7mab9EIc4x7MMYtRO4XhgaHgIcJz4IRL42KlPg0c2XQ4gH1jI_9_TlaRpti6FfFzha6Ns4zfpv_fHVCfsxudqRgNjoi9JN_rHK_nkcyOgmku3V4/s400/fmqs.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Here are
the highlights of this afternoon's First Minister's Questions which,
as you might expect, was dominated by the Welsh Government's decision
earlier today not to underwrite the Circuit of Wales project in
Blaenau Gwent.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>
</b></span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FMQs, 27th
June 2017</b></span></u></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
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<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Party
Leaders</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
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</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leader of
the Opposition, Andrew Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central), went for
the jugular with a question on <b>the Circuit of Wales project</b>. Evidence
given yesterday by James Price (a senior civil servant) to the Public
Accounts Committee contradicts today's decision; the civil service
defended spending £9million developing the project as <i>"value
for money"</i>, but the Economy Secretary claims the project's
benefits were over-exaggerated. Who's right? Did the First Minister
still have confidence in James Price?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
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<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Carwyn
didn't believe the two positions contradict each other, as Phase 2 of
the project (an automotive technology park) – of which there's some
interest by business - will go ahead. There were specific concerns
about the viability of the race track itself and the company involved
couldn't meet the Welsh Government's conditions for financial
support.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Carwyn
accused Andrew of <i>"cowardice"</i> for naming a civil servant
who couldn't defend himself in the chamber. Andrew wasn't too happy
about that and the Llywydd decided to end the questioning there.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">UKIP
leader, Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid & West Wales), opted to
continue with the Circuit of Wales. He accused Labour of deliberately
stalling a decision until after the general election and believed the
maximum outlay by the Welsh Government would've been £8million a
year for 33 years. The decision displays a <i>"pathetic lack of
vision"</i> and damages the economic hopes of south-east Wales.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Carwyn
wasn't going to be lectured by someone involved in closing the mines
blah, blah, Thatcher, blah, blah. Decisions couldn't be taken while
due diligence processes were incomplete, and it would've been
reckless to do otherwise. Far from the risk being £8million a year,
it could've cost £157million in capital funds this financial year
alone – money that could be used for new schools and hospitals.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Plaid
Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda) turned attentions to
<b>rising sickness rates amongst teachers</b>, mainly due to their
workloads. It's a situation that's worse than the Welsh Government
were willing to admit. Did the First Minister agree with recent
claims by NUT Cymru that teacher recruitment was bordering on a
crisis?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Unsurprisingly,
the First Minister didn't agree. There's be opportunities to come up
with a better package for teachers when their pay and conditions are
devolved.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backbenchers</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Janet
Finch-Saunders AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, Aberconwy) asked for a statement on how the
Welsh Government were <b>tackling rural crime</b>. Crime costs the rural
economy £2million a year, and in her area, a rural crime team say
livestock crimes account for 75% of cases, with 2,000 sheep killed in
dog attacks.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government are working closely with the relevant authorities, but
policing is non-devolved. There's a need to change attitudes,
particularly when it comes to fly-tipping. The First Minister
welcomed initiatives such as those trialled by Aberystwyth
University, which uses DNA techniques to successfully prosecute sheep
rustling; it's vital as much evidence as possible is found.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Simon
Thomas AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Mid & West Wales) asked what the Welsh
Government were doing to tackle <b>excessive gambling</b>? The impacts run
into the tens of millions of pounds, and he called for more
independent research free from the influence of the gambling industry
itself.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While the
First Minister accepted gambling regulation was non-devolved, the
Welsh Government are<i> "exploring what they can do"</i> to
address the problem, but betting shops and the planning system are
only part of the issue as online gambling increases. Recommendations
from the Chief Medical Officer are due later this year.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Vikki
Howells AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cynon Valley) wanted an outline of <b>support being
offered to retired military personnel and their families</b>,
particularly the role of local authority <i>"armed forces
champions"</i>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There was
a specific commitment to veterans and their families in Labour's
government programme. The Communities Secretary will be meeting
<i>"armed forces champions" </i>in the autumn to discuss their
role and the support the champions can give to the community. The
Welsh Government have also developed a new ex-forces pathway to
access social housing.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-35576970074613485262017-06-26T17:46:00.000+01:002017-06-26T18:15:53.645+01:00Clear vision needed for post-Brexit regional funds<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWixJsIbEvMvg_D33dhgKiTQQHo2ANIWwTVYqjXAgmEPKH_En9Z9LjtUIiKzp6jht3lafFml1S3XFk0CTr1nnUuKUQXH-n4YWRySLnNaExli1oNv9NFjjsDmQrodE4KRXU3T4_DJ3_jCw/s1600/eu-funds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWixJsIbEvMvg_D33dhgKiTQQHo2ANIWwTVYqjXAgmEPKH_En9Z9LjtUIiKzp6jht3lafFml1S3XFk0CTr1nnUuKUQXH-n4YWRySLnNaExli1oNv9NFjjsDmQrodE4KRXU3T4_DJ3_jCw/s320/eu-funds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : Getty images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Senedd's External
Affairs Committee have called for the Welsh Government to start
planning for a post-Brexit, post-EU funding Wales in a new inquiry report published
last week (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11081/cr-ld11081-e.pdf">pdf</a>).</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Chair of the Committee,
David Rees AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Aberavon) said:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"The opportunities
that will arise from Brexit to refresh our approach to regional
policy....must be seized. Carrying on as we are is not an option and
everyone....needs to start thinking about approaches to
tackling some the economic challenges we face as a nation. It's a
call to arms that none in Wales should shy away from."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key Recommendations:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ensure funding from the
UK Government is<i> "future proofed"</i>; examine the benefits of
a needs-based funding formula (after <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-40406396">today's announcement</a> this one can be shelved). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Continue to press the
UK Government on a formal post-Brexit inter-governmental structure
and decisions on where powers over regional policy will lie.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Present a clear vision
and direction for regional policy post-Brexit (including a new
industrial strategy).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Commission expert research to determine how effective current regional policy
has been.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Set out how to boost
private sector investment in research and development.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Post-Brexit regional
policy should be more focused on economic development and public
sector collaboration than social programmes.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When the UK leaves the
EU, Wales will no longer receive structural funding (previously known
as Objective One), currently worth £2billion between 2014-2020. It's works out as £458-per-head for Wales, compared to the £100-per-head UK average. The money is used
to support economic and social programmes in regions where
economic output is less than 75%-per-head of the EU average.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">West Wales & The
Valleys is one of only two UK regions eligible for these funds.
The UK has the highest economic inequality between its nations and
regions of any EU member, and there were calls by witnesses to ensure post-Brexit regional development policy benefits the whole UK.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Funding has been
guaranteed by the UK Government until 2020. After that, nobody knows. The Welsh Government-Plaid Cymru <a href="https://beta.gov.wales/brexit">Brexit white paper</a> claims Welsh
funding will need to be topped-up to make up for the loss of EU money. However, Prof. David Bell argues this wouldn't
take into account Wales' specific needs, while the funds could still be cut by
the UK Government.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Structural funds have neither significantly improved matters nor failed; areas
get out a bit more back than they put in but it <i>"doesn't do any
magic"</i>. Prof. Kevin Morgan added that Wales' expectations that
the funds would be transformative were <i>"wholly unrealistic"</i>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government
expect powers over regional development that are either already devolved or
exercised at an EU level to remain/be devolved. Any changes would require a new law at Westminster and/or consultation with the Senedd.
There's no idea what will <i>actually</i> happen, with Prof. Morgan
again warning that responsibilities shouldn't come without the money to fund
them.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In terms of what may be
different about a Wales-only regional development policy, there were
calls for: better community engagement/understanding, simplification
of the rules, proper monitoring of the success of any schemes and
greater flexibility in what support can be used for. All suggestions
address weaknesses that exist in the current system.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Denmark was cited as a nation to learn from. As a
predominantly rural nation, they established five regional councils
with responsibility for economic development, securing full
participation by local businesses and trade unions, as well as
working to each region's individual strengths. Where businesses played a full
part in these regional bodies, an additional 8,300 jobs were created.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Innovation is becoming
more important in regional development policy too, with Wales being
historically poor at submitting quality applications for research
funding. As a result, only 1.2% of UK research funding is spent in
Wales. It was argued the figure needs to hit something close to 7% to
close the economic productivity gap with the rest of the UK.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why should this matter to you?</b></span><br /><br />If you've ever been on a training or employment course, undertaken research at university, or made use of social programmes for minority groups like the disabled, the likelihood is they've been at least part-funded by the EU. If that funding isn't replaced there's a good chance these programmes will have to be cut back or closed.<br /><br />EU funds have been wasted in Wales and if, after Brexit, the rules were flexible and the current levels of money are maintained by the UK Government, we may all see concrete benefits instead of the<i> "hidden" </i>ones only experienced by a few (like funding research). <br /><br />One of the Leave campaign's main claims last June was that by leaving the EU, the UK would have more of its own money to spend on itself. What happens to structural funding in Wales will decide whether we were told the truth or lied to.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-75494847849972209192017-06-22T17:34:00.001+01:002017-06-22T17:34:17.777+01:00Committees Bite Size #5: June 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO5YUH9jofHeZDzUHNEniiu8r6yGuP_0J1jcLjuEbwVJhOuVY3hkXKlko1FfuqZ28KYPe4FS8qDzgFjGgT4MnMLVwiH0Yb01H3JkDY8iob_HgRlxytiMZAVzbQE0FlzLLReuTwYT0ots/s1600/bitesize.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="595" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAO5YUH9jofHeZDzUHNEniiu8r6yGuP_0J1jcLjuEbwVJhOuVY3hkXKlko1FfuqZ28KYPe4FS8qDzgFjGgT4MnMLVwiH0Yb01H3JkDY8iob_HgRlxytiMZAVzbQE0FlzLLReuTwYT0ots/s400/bitesize.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I thought I'd done the last of these, but there's room for at least one more.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><u>Environment: New Bovine TB Programme</u></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on 23rd May 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11050/cr-ld11050-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Key Recommendations:</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should set a date by which Wales is Bovine TB-free, and interim targets to eradicate the disease.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Targeted badger removal should be scientifically monitored, reviewed and ultimately stopped if it has no impact on Bovine TB rates. The findings should be presented to the Committee within 12 months.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Farmers should be compensated with <i>"a reasonable sum" </i>for any cattle slaughtered as part of a TB eradication programme.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should provide assurances that Brexit shouldn't impact on the amount of money farmers receive from the EU for bovine TB testing or access to the single market.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Bovine TB is a bacterial infection which is transferred between cattle but also carried by badgers. Most of the controversy here rests on whether a cull of badgers is necessary (to control the spread of the disease) or a vaccination programme. In 2015/16, the Welsh Government and EU spent just over £26million tackling the disease, and while it's had some success in reducing the number of infections, Wales is still some way from being TB-free.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">About 50% of cases are caused by cattle-to-cattle transmission. Here, the Welsh Government intends to introduce stricter biosecurity controls, but veterinary experts believe larger herd sizes are a risk factor in spreading the disease. While the number of cases is falling, the number of cattle slaughtered has increased, reportedly due to the use of the gamma interferon test - which is said to be highly sensitive.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">There was no real consensus on whether a badger cull would be effective. Some witnesses were critical of the Welsh Government for not including enough detail on a cull, while others believed a cull might increase the risk of infections as new badgers move into areas vacated by culled badgers (perturbation effect). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government's preferred strategy is to trap, test and remove infected badgers found in areas with persistent bovine TB outbreaks, instead of culling them. The Committee expect the Welsh Government to be transparent about this approach – regularly monitoring the programme and publishing details - and it should be stopped if evidence finds it's not having any effect.</span><br />
<u><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Children & Young People - Stage One: Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Bill</b></span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on 24th May 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11055/cr-ld11055-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">See also:<i> <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2016/12/law-to-support-additional-learning.html">Law to support Additional Learning Needs introduced</a></i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key Recommendations:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Senedd agree to the general principles of the Bill. They did so unanimously on June 6th.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Amendments should be tabled to: improve the definition of ALN, timescales for undertaking assessments, place a duty on health authorities to notify local authorities if someone under school age is suspected of having ALN and have due regard for the UN Rights of the Child.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Clarity should be given on how and when Welsh Government regulation-making power will be used.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An explanation is required for why special schools will no longer need to appoint an ALN co-ordinator.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Although similar measures were tacked on to another law during the Fourth Assembly, the stand-alone ALN Bill was introduced in December 2016, aiming for a<i> "complete overhaul"</i> of the special needs tribunal system and enshrining minimum service standards in law for ALN children and young people. In a survey, 90% of parents and carers believed children and young people don't have ALN identified early enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">There was broad support for the Bill, but with some reservations on how it would work in practice and a lack of clarity in the Bill itself. For example, some witnesses believed the definition of ALN was too narrow and focused on learning, not on general development. Others criticisms were directed at the statutory timescale to develop individual plans (IDPs) - because it wasn't on the face of the Bill but will be left to the new code - as well as a lack of understanding of who will be responsible for drafting the IDPs in the first place.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The report has been overshadowed by a separate investigation involving the Finance Committee which revealed the Bill will cost £13million+ more than first anticipated. So despite the broad welcome for the new law, it's already in choppy waters.</span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Public Accounts: Coastal Flooding & Erosion Management</b></span></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on 13th June 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11073/cr-ld11073-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key Recommendations:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should clearly set out the roles and responsibilities of those involved in coastal protection.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A single point of information should be created for coastal flooding awareness.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Consideration be given to managing coastal flooding on a regional basis with local authorities.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should consider how much money they put towards new flood/erosion defences and how much is used to manage them and sets out their proposed budget over a longer time period.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This inquiry follows-up on a Wales Audit Office report from July 2016. The WAO report found that while investment in coastal protection had improved, the pace of change in the management of the schemes had been slow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">No single body is responsible for coastal protection and there's a complicated web of organisations involved, with some being unclear of their own role or the role of the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). NRW is in a position where it monitors everything and essentially reports on/scrutinises its own activities – a clear conflict of interest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The production of Shoreline Management Plans – which set out coastal protection schemes for up to 100 years – has taken longer than expected, with some local authorities said to be making slow progress in implementing them and effectively left to their own devices. The Committee believe national oversight is now <i>"essential"</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">One controversial aspect of coastal protection is <i>"managed retreat"</i> – where land (often including homes and communities – like Fairbourne in Gwynedd) is abandoned so authorities can set up a better long-term line of coastal defences. Nobody has, as yet, set out how to help communities affected by managed retreat, which could include compensation,<i> "buy-to-lease" </i>deals or physical relocation. The Welsh Government are still considering their options.</span><br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Public Accounts: Natural Resources Wales Accounts 2015-16</b></span></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on 15th June 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11077/cr-ld11077-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key Recommendations:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">NRW should undertake a full review of its governance arrangements with regard contracting.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">NRW should also review its internal understanding of State Aid rules, public law and the regulations regarding contract awards.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">NRW's accounting team and executives should have greater oversight and scrutiny role when it comes to awarding contracts.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I don't make a habit of covering reports on annual accounts, but I'm making an exception this time due to a highly controversial £39million timber deal signed off by NRW and flagged up by the Auditor General – who believes some parts of the deal were<i> "irregular" </i>and <i>"contentious"</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The contracts awarded to the timber mill were abnormally large. NRW defend the decision because of the rapid spread of larch disease, but the Committee were surprised that the decision to award such a large contract was left with one officer – a former director at the Forestry Commission. There was an acceptance, however, that the accounting team should've had greater oversight on the deal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Committee were <i>"shocked"</i> that such a large contract could be awarded to a single company without either a competitive tender process or a full business case. NRW claim it was the only operator which could've dealt with the volume of timber, so it was pointless to open it up to competition because of the <i>"sense of crisis"</i> ( the spread of larch disease and a collapse in the larch market).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The contract was awarded on the basis that a new saw line would be built to deal with the additional larch – but it never happened, and there was enough capacity in the system anyway. This, together with some of the contract irregularities, raise questions as to whether NRW complied with EU state aid regulations, which – in the Auditor General's verdict – render the contracts illegal. NRW didn't seek legal advice on the contracts until the Wales Audit Office raised concerns.</span><br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />External Affairs: The Great Repeal Bill White Paper (Brexit)</b></span></u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on 19th June 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11079/cr-ld11079-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key Conclusions:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The lack of detail in the White Paper makes it difficult to tell what the implications are for the Welsh Government and Senedd and fails to consider the role of the devolved administrations.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The lack of consultation is unacceptable; the UK Government needs to <i>"adopt a more positive and constructive approach"</i> to working with Wales and delay publishing the Bill until they have.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Any doubts over Welsh Ministers' ability to make changes to Welsh law under delegated powers before Brexit should be removed.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">Unlike other committee inquiries, this is a set of non-binding observations rather than recommendations - meaning they can be ignored by the UK Government.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The UK Government's white paper on the Great Repeal Bill – which will be used to enshrine EU law in UK law prior to Brexit – was published in March 2017. At the moment, EU laws and regulations override domestic law, but are so intertwined in terms of regulations etc. it's easier to keep them and let future governments change them or repeal them as they see fit than getting rid of them wholescale.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Disappointingly, but not at all surprisingly, there's been little to no mention of the devolved administrations in the white paper, despite many aspects of EU policy and regulations being the sole responsibility of the Senedd, Scottish Parliament etc. This failure to consult could well be a prelude to a constitutional crisis if it isn't resolved, as the UK Government and UK Parliament could well strip the devolved administrations of existing powers through the Great Repeal Bill. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Amendments to the various Government of Wales Acts may also be on the cards to ensure that Welsh Ministers are able to exercise their functions with regard current EU law in devolved areas from the first day of Brexit. This will certainly require proper consultation with the Senedd because it would change the devolution settlement, but as of yet there's no sign of this or, where it is included in the white paper, is rather ambiguous.</span><br />
<br />Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-14891864595234810622017-06-20T17:48:00.000+01:002017-06-20T17:48:55.616+01:00FMQs: Brexit, Recycling & Grenfell Tower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />Things are starting to get back to normal after the general election (ha!) so it's back to the grind for me with the latest First Minister's Questions from the Senedd.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></u><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FMQs, 20th June 2017</b></span></u><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Party Leaders</b></span><br /><br />Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda), believes the general election result didn't deliver a mandate for<b> leaving the EU single market</b>. She accused the First Minister of <i>“being all over the place”</i>, having listened to concerns herself from Airbus over tariffs which contradict statements made by the First Minister to business leaders on <i>“access” </i>to the single market, as well as senior Labour figures in London who've all talked about "<i>membership”</i>.<br /><br />The First Minister said the election result didn't give a mandate for a <i>“Hard Brexit” </i>and his view hasn't changed that Wales needs <i>“full and unfettered access”</i> to the single market. He didn't rule out EEA or EFTA membership as a short-term measure, but the EU referendum result showed people didn't want the UK to abide by EU rules and regulations; this is different to membership of the single market and both Labour and Plaid agreed on a white paper outlining this position.<br /><br />Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Davies (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central), asked for <b>clarity over the Welsh Government's PISA targets </b>following comments by the Education Secretary that the targets are to be abandoned. It's the second time a national target has been disowned by a cabinet member for education. Who's taking ownership of education in Wales? Is it a wonder it's in such a shambles under Carwyn's leadership?<br /><br />The First Minister confirmed that there's no change to the target of Welsh pupils scoring an average of 500 points by 2021 – but it's only one target amongst many. Carwyn then tried to deflect attention away by picking at a sore spot, saying the Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, is invited to UK cabinet meetings while Andrew's not, also flagging up the odd circumstances around his replacement for the leader's debate during the election campaign.<br /><br />UKIP leader, Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid & West Wales), made a rather odd request that Plaid Cymru should use their position in the UK House of Commons to secure more funding for Wales; did the First Minister agree?<br /><br />Neil then raised a more pressing issue – and hit new lows - on <b>the Grenfell Tower disaster</b>, where he accused Jeremy Corbyn of <i>“weaponising” </i>the disaster by calling for the seizure of private property to house the victims, something he later described as <i>“dangerous rhetoric” </i>and compared it to civil disorder that undermines parliamentary democracy.<br /><br />In response to the first statement, Carwyn said it's not for him to tell other parties to<i> “extort money”</i>. As for the second, UKIP were displaying a <i>“complete lack of humanity”</i>. Jeremy Corbyn has simply expressed the anger many people in the area were feeling because of a lack of support from the local authority. Neil had <i>“gravely misjudged” </i>the mood of both the chamber and the public and should reflect on his comments.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backbenchers</b></span><br /><br />Mohammad Asghar AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales East) asked whether the Welsh Government intended to review <b>recycling targets</b>? In April, three Welsh local authorities in the Gwent area failed to meet government targets and had fines waived – so what incentives may there be for under-performing councils?<br /><br />The Welsh Government are giving consideration as to what recycling targets to set beyond 2025; at the moment Wales is exceeding the 58% (of household waste recycled) target and are on course to hit the 70% target by 2024-15. Councils are already incentivized because by recycling more they avoid paying landfill tax (which is being devolved to Wales).<br /><br />Following a question from Caroline Jones AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, South Wales West), Carwyn brushed off concerns about Kier Group's <b>controversial <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40326040">new waste collection service</a> in Bridgend</b>, saying he's used it for the last fortnight without any problem and it's not that different to the old system. It was a matter for Bridgend Council – having been assured they're<i> “doing something about it"</i> – and he claimed opposition to the new contract is led by people who didn't want the new system (I presume he means the <i>“two bag rule”</i>) in the first place.<br /><br />Darren Millar AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, Clwyd West) asked what the Welsh Government were doing to <b>improve the lives of older people</b>? 75,000 older people in Wales are said to be lonely, and this issue isn't being addressed as much by government. <br /><br />The Welsh Government are investing in initiatives to ensure the elderly can maintain their independence and remain at home. It's right to say loneliness has a detrimental impact on older people's physical and mental health and the government are willing to work with Age Cymru and other third sector organisations to address it. They're also working to make Wales a dementia-friendly country and improve awareness of various scams targeting the elderly.<br /><br />Nathan Gill AM (<span style="color: #666666;">Ind</span>, North Wales) asked for a statement on <b>the future of devolution</b>. The DUP leader has pressed for air passenger duty to be devolved to Northern Ireland; what was the Welsh Government's position on this with regard Wales?<br /><br />The First Minister hopes devolution would <i>“continue to be strengthened”</i>. The Welsh Government have long argued for devolution of air passenger duty, and if it were devolved they would look to reduce it or cut it completely for long-haul flights. There's no rationale for it to be devolved to Northern Ireland and Scotland but not Wales. It was, however, important that if/when taxes are devolved the situation is properly communicated to the public so they understand the changes.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-88581901909505987462017-05-31T17:47:00.000+01:002017-05-31T17:47:11.634+01:00Senedd Watch - May 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size: small;">Labour
lost 107 seats in Welsh local council elections on May 4</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">.
However, they managed to retain control of Cardiff, Swansea and
Newport councils. Labour lost control of Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and
Blaenau Gwent councils, but despite this the results were said to be
<i>“not as bad as expected”.</i></span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid Cymru gained 33 seats and
remained the second largest party in local government, but took
overall control of just one council – Gwynedd. They narrowly missed
out on taking overall control of Anglesey, Carmarthenshire and
Ceredigion, but picked up extra seats across Wales – a result
described by party leader, Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda), as
<i>“breaking new ground”.</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Conservatives regained control
of Monmouthshire and won an additional 80 seats, finishing second in
Cardiff and in position to take control of the Vale of Glamorgan.
Conservative leader, Andrew Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central) said
the results meant the party's<i> “hard work paid off”.</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
Liberal Democrats lost 11 seats but made gains in Powys. UKIP won no
seats, while the Green Party gained their first elected councillor in
Powys. Llais Gwynedd lost 7 seats, while Independents took control of
Blaenau Gwent and increased their seat total by 11.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">92 council
seats were won uncontested. Prof. Roger Scully of the Wales
Governance Centre said it made a <i>“mockery of democracy”</i> and
repeated calls for the introduction of single transferable vote for
local elections.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Welsh Government announced literacy and
numeracy tests for 6 and 14 year olds will be taken online from
September 2017. The tests will adapt to pupils' skills to provide<i> “an
appropriate level of challenge”. </i>Opposition parties cautiously
welcomed the proposal, but were concerned about<i> “pitfalls” </i>such
as poor broadband connections.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The UK was found in breach of
EU regulations on the amount of sewage and waste water discharged
into Carmarthenshire's Burry Inlet. New housing developments in the
Llanelli area are thought to have been a contributing factor. Dwr
Cymru insisted the problems didn't cause excess cockle deaths in the
area.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Welsh Government were ordered by the UK Information
Commissioner to disclose any public funds offered to Aston Martin to
establish a new factory in the Vale of Glamorgan, after initially
refusing to do so following the First Minister's belief it would
<i>“prejudice the conduct of public affairs”.</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Operators of
community energy schemes warned that business rate rises – in some
cases as much as 900% - has placed many local hydroelectric schemes
in jeopardy, if not completely unprofitable. The Welsh Government said
it was considering special assistance, while Plaid Cymru would
introduce a rate relief scheme and loans for pre-application
costs.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator, Stephen Chapman, said Wales'<i>
“porous borders”</i> with England and lack of border checks made it
too easy for people traffickers to move people into the country. The
number of recorded cases of human trafficking into Wales rose from 32
in 2012 to 125 in 2016.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The National Assembly unanimously
passed the Public Health Bill on May 16</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">.
The Public Health Act – which was amended to include measures on
obesity – will regulate tattoos and body modifications, ban smoking
in more public spaces and introduce measures on public toilet
provision. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Welsh Government accused developers behind the
Circuit of Wales project of providing inaccurate information, leading
to a delay in a final decision to underwrite the project. Plaid Cymru
accused the government of deliberately delaying a decision until after the UK
general election. The developers are looking for the Welsh Government
to guarantee around £210million of the costs.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"><br /></span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid's economy spokesperson, Adam Price AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Carms. E & Dinefwr), later demanded an investigation into how the Welsh Government responded to a critical Wales Audit Office report into the project, after it was revealed Economy Secretary, Ken Skates (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Clwyd South), knew civil servants saw the report several weeks prior to publication despite publicly claiming the Welsh Government had <i>"short notice" </i>of it.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Tributes were
paid to former First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, who died on May 17</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">
aged 77. He served as First Minister between 2000-2009 and oversaw
the introduction of many hallmark policies of post-devolution Wales.
He retired as an Assembly Member in 2011 and was appointed Chancellor
of Swansea University. General election campaigning was temporarily
suspended as a mark of respect, while a funeral service was held at
the Senedd building on May 31</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">st</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">.</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">First
Minister, Carwyn Jones, said Rhodri, <i>“wasn’t like other
politicians, and that's why people warmed to him, trusted him and
felt like they knew him so well. I owe him a great deal, just as we
all do in Welsh Labour."</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid Cymru - Labour's coalition
partners between 2007-2011 - paid tribute. Former Deputy First
Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said,<i> "It wasn't easy for him to
deliver the coalition in sections of his party, but Rhodri stood firm
and we agreed a very progressive programme of government."
</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Mike German - who led the Liberal Democrats into coalition
with Labour between 2000-2003 - said he was <i>"a strong opponent
but a great friend. Wales has lost a great politician and stalwart."
</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Andrew Davies said,<i>
“As First Minister, his answers in the chamber were always worthy
of attention and his encyclopedic knowledge across his brief ensured
he was rarely wrong-footed.” </i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">On behalf of the National
Assembly the Llywydd, Elin Jones (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Ceredigion), said <i>"Rhodri's
ability to communicate with, and to understand, the diverse
communities of Wales ultimately won hearts and minds, and was
critical in giving the people of Wales the confidence to strengthen
and develop the National Assembly." </i></span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Political
campaigning for the UK general election was suspended for a second
time on May 23</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">rd</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">,
following an Islamist terror attack at the Manchester Arena, which
killed 22 people and injured 64. The First Minister condemned it as a
<i>“particular form of cruelty”</i> that was <i>“appalling and
senseless”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">A Wales Audit Office concluded that
<i>“improvements”</i> were needed to the 21</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">st</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">
Century School programme, with some new buildings not meeting
required standards. NUT Wales said the programme was<i> “patchy”</i>,
and the report recommended an up to date picture be provided on the
state of schools for the second phase of the programme, due to start
in 2019.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"><br />Projects announced in May include: a £3.4million
joint Welsh-Irish coastal erosion study; a £9million national
broadcast archive based at the National Library in Aberystwyth;
£38million towards a compound semiconductor facility in Newport
under the Cardiff City Region and the launch of a nursing recruitment
campaign.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX8IuMWSVH39MObjGgKEHVcafT7VnPK4XBJRAmLEXDFt0VlUY3h3m1ZpiE7xll_4fXN9_3duVOp6nntbPg_gfP4xnnV-YtBva4LUJVmXH-o1c6dICP-wYBYXAYOIIe2_WhcwZlWGXTds/s1600/election2017graphic.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX8IuMWSVH39MObjGgKEHVcafT7VnPK4XBJRAmLEXDFt0VlUY3h3m1ZpiE7xll_4fXN9_3duVOp6nntbPg_gfP4xnnV-YtBva4LUJVmXH-o1c6dICP-wYBYXAYOIIe2_WhcwZlWGXTds/s1600/election2017graphic.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Conservative leader,
Theresa May, said her party wouldn't raise VAT is they win the
election, but refused to rule out possible increases in income tax
and national insurance. She told the BBC she couldn't make <i>“specific
proposals” </i>unless she were absolutely sure she could deliver
them.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM, warned that a
Conservative victory could see the UK Government take back powers
devolved to the National Assembly. The Conservatives said the
statement was an attempt to<i> “exploit uncertainty over the
devolution settlement”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Labour pledged to recruit an extra
10,000 police officers across <i>EnglandandWales</i> (with up to 900 in
Wales), costing £300million, paid for by reversing cuts to capital
gains tax. Plaid Cymru called for Labour to support devolution of
policing, while the Conservatives criticised the plans as<i>
“nonsensical”</i>. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">In her final address from Downing Street
before the election campaign formally started, Theresa May accused EU
officials of <i>“making threats” </i>and accused the European press of
<i>“misrepresenting”</i> the UK's Brexit negotiating stance, saying the
European Commission's stance had <i>“hardened”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Lib Dems
pledged to raise income tax by 1p to provide extra funding for the
NHS and social care. A Barnett formula consequential would result in
an estimated additional £280million for the Welsh
Government.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Labour pledged not to raise taxes for anyone
earning up to £80,000 a year if they form the next UK government, as
well as a commitment to not raise VAT or national insurance. Those
earning above £80,000 would be asked to pay <i>“a modest bit more”</i>
to fund public services. They also pledged to introduce a <i>“Robin
Hood Tax”</i> on financial transactions to raise £26billion.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
Conservatives promised to reduce net migration to the UK to <i>“tens
of thousands”</i>. The pledge was also in their 2010 and 2015
manifestos but failed to be implemented. UKIP promised <i>“radical
cuts”</i> to immigration in response, including a five year moratorium
on unskilled immigrants entering the UK.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Lib Dems would
approve the Swansea Tidal Lagoon<i> “immediately” </i>if they formed the
next UK government. UK Leader, Tim Farron, also warned that Wales<i>
“would be taken for granted” </i>if the Conservatives won a large
majority.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid Cymru launched their manifesto on May 16</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">,
pledging to <i>"defend Wales”</i> from the Conservatives. Their key
policies included abolishing business rates and replacing it with a
turnover-based system, guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens living
and working in Wales and barrier-free trade with Europe.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
Conservatives committed to scrapping Severn crossing tolls if they
win the general election. The First Minister welcomed the policy,
which originally would only see the tolls being halved. UKIP said the
Conservatives<i> “stole their policy”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Labour said
Conservative plans to means-test winter fuel allowances were<i> “sick
and sneaky”</i>, with a possible 10million pensioners hit by the
changes. The First Minister said the <i>“nasty Tory party is back, and
how”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Following the attack in Manchester, the parties put
forward their policies on national security. Plaid Cymru called for
extra police funding, Labour promised extra staff for the security
services while the Conservatives would establish a commission to
counter extremism.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-24755232487022357982017-05-22T17:34:00.000+01:002017-05-22T17:34:08.521+01:00Committees Bite Size #4: May 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz65mQbn7xT7RWhPRSwK8t2swIzyKM4JG5pM59XLcQ3sze7M5hzo7yusVZPrRut1B7czjmyRqcAEPgtvjWwXvroRjHNU0pOoztgTZKiKp4H2ezwv3ECb0Vh5dPXiu_QUCM3DpB-tNtxs/s1600/bitesize.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz65mQbn7xT7RWhPRSwK8t2swIzyKM4JG5pM59XLcQ3sze7M5hzo7yusVZPrRut1B7czjmyRqcAEPgtvjWwXvroRjHNU0pOoztgTZKiKp4H2ezwv3ECb0Vh5dPXiu_QUCM3DpB-tNtxs/s1600/bitesize.png" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />A brief break from the general election today for summaries of
some of the reports that have come out of the Senedd's committees over the
last couple of weeks.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />I don't know whether this is going to be
the last<i> "Bite Size"</i> post, because I don't know how many
reports will be tabled between now and August. On <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2017/05/oggy-bloggy-ogwrs-future.html">the forthcoming Senedd Home site</a> I intend to summarise inquiry reports as and when
they're released in their own right separately, so posts like these
will (naturally) become redundant.<br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Public Accounts: Hospital
Catering<br /><br /></span></u></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on March 20<sup>th</sup> 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld10986/cr-ld10986-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key
Recommendations:<br /><br /><br /></b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should ensure patients'
views of the quality of food served during hospital stays are
properly recorded.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should carry out an<i>
"urgent"</i> assessment to categorise and prioritise areas of
training on patient nutrition that should be compulsory.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A named non-executive director
in each health board should have responsibility for patient
nutrition.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should revise targets for reducing
food waste by health boards in order to minimise waste and maximise
savings.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Making sure hospital patients get the right food and water is
as essential as medication, with patients likely to come into serious
harm if this isn't followed. This investigation is a follow-up
inquiry into hospital nutrition, of which the Auditor General
believes only 11 of 32 recommendations made in that 2011 report have since been
properly enacted.<br /><br />All-Wales standards for patient food and
hydration were introduced in 2011,
while the average cost-per-patient for meals said to be £3.31 a day
and generally kept under control. A patient survey carried out in
2015 found that while most were positive, they had particular
concerns over replacement meals (when they've missed a meal
off-ward) and one third of patients described hospital meals as
<i>"unappetising"</i>. However, only 10% said meals were poor or
unacceptable. When it came to hydration, 97% of patients said they
were provided with drinks, and only 9% became thirsty because they
weren't provided with enough water.<br /><br />So while the overall
picture was good, patients with specific dietary needs (i.e. vegans,
vegetarians, coeliacs) didn't feel catered for. Meanwhile, there's a
lack of refresher training for nurses on nutrition and hydration –
partly because a nursing lead post that was supposed to create a standardised
all-Wales document was left unfilled. In addition, the cost of
wasted food in the NHS was estimated to be £1million in 2014-15,
with suggestions to improve this including: same-day ordering, the introduction of <i><span style="font-style: normal;">à
la carte</span></i> menus and a computerised catering
system.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Economy & Infrastructure: The Apprenticeship
Levy<br /><br /><br /></b></u></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on March 29<sup>th</sup> 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld10999/cr-ld10999-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Key
Recommendations:<br /><br /><br /></b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should ensure all
companies liable to pay the levy are properly informed, with a review
on the effects of the levy published no later than one year after
it's introduced in April 2017.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Any future levies in devolved areas
shouldn't be introduced without the consent of the Senedd.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
Welsh Government should set out how it intends to improve take-up of
apprenticeships amongst employers, particularly in sectors which have
traditionally shunned them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should ensure
people employed by local authorities in schools aren't used to
calculate the levy as this could adversely affect the schools
budget.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The apprenticeship levy is a UK Government initiative
to fund apprenticeships (funnily enough), and will be paid by public and private sector employers. 0.5% of an employer's total
wage bill will be paid, and the
levy came into force on 7<sup>th</sup> April 2017. It's expected to
only affect less than 2% of employers in the UK - those with annual
wage bills of over £3million. This money will be topped up by the UK
Government.<br /><br />There are concerns over both a lack of engagement and
uncertainty, with very little direct contact or consultation with the
Welsh Government, and the levy itself was announced without consulting
the devolved administrations. The Welsh Government will receive a
population-based share of the revenues, expected to amount to around
£128million in the first year – but due to the burdens on public
employers (£30million in the first year) it's not expected to raise
<i>any </i>additional money in real terms, more a re-direction of existing
funds.<br /><br />There was a particular concern over schools.
Individual schools will fall below the £3million a year wage
threshold. However, once <i>all </i>school employees in a local authority
are counted together they'll easily cross the threshold, meaning more
budget pressures for local authorities which are unlikely to see any
of that levy money back.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Communities: Stage One Report –
Trade Union Bill<br /><br /><br /></b></u></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published on April 7<sup>th</sup> 2017
(<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11015/cr-ld11015-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">See also: <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2017/01/trade-union-bill-senedd-picks-fight.html"><i>Trade Union Bill – Senedd picks a fight</i></a></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Key
Recommendations:<br /><br /><br /></b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The National Assembly supports the general
principle of the Bill. AMs voted 36 to 11 with 1 abstention in favour on 9th May 2017.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Supports
removing the 40% (of everyone eligible to vote in a strike ballot
voting in favour) threshold to trigger strike action in devolved
public services.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Supports future amendments that will ban the use
of agency workers by devolved public services during
strikes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Supports measures that wouldn't limit or cap facility
time for union officials.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The Trade Union Act 2016 amended
trade union laws, particularly threshold for strike ballots, facility
time and numerous other aspects. The UK Government passed it on the
understanding that trade union law was non-devolved. The Welsh
Government disagreed as it would directly impact devolved public
services like health and education. The Bill aims to overturn some of
these before employment relations become a reserved power in April
2018.<br /><br />There was<i> "overwhelming"</i> support for the Bill
and not just from unions, with a belief the Welsh Government's social
partnership model was effective – the WLGA even considering it one
of the big successes of devolution.<br /><br />There's little else to add
to what's already been said on the Bill, other than noting a commitment by
the Welsh Government to amend the Bill to ban the use of
agency staff as cover during strikes (in devolved
public services).<br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Culture: Welsh Language Strategy<br /><br /><br /></b></span></u></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Published
on May 18<sup>th</sup> 2017 (<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11046/cr-ld11046-e.pdf">pdf</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Key Recommendations:<br /><br /><br /></b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The
Welsh Government should<i> "urgently" </i>assess the teaching
requirements to meet the strategy's aims and publish what additional
resources/money will be needed to meet its aims.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Consideration
should be given to providing free Welsh tuition to parents of
children placed in Welsh medium pre-schools.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The new strategy
should place equal emphasis on improving Welsh second language
teaching alongside Welsh-medium education.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">There needs to be a
clear definition of what a<i> "Welsh-speaker" is </i>to determine whether
the strategy is successful or not, and Welsh for Adults schemes
should continue to be supported.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The Welsh Government aims to
have 1 million Welsh-speakers by 2050. In the last census the number
of Welsh speakers was just 562,000. A new strategy is being developed
to meet this aim, focusing on planning policy, education, rights and
support.<br /><br />There was criticism that the draft strategy <i>"lacks
clear and detailed targets"</i>. Witnesses believe that targets
should be reviewed every 5 years to ensure the strategy is on track
to meet its aims. The Welsh Government have assured the Committee
that targets will be included alongside the finalised strategy, but
that means the Committee and witnesses weren't able to scrutinise
them during this inquiry.<br /><br />Education is a key emphasis of the
strategy and there was wide agreement with that, albeit as long as it
doesn't detract from other areas. However, the demand for Welsh-medium
education has to be there and proactively created, and local
education authorities shouldn't just respond to parental demand alone. This
would require serious workforce planning (i.e. recruiting, retaining
and attracting more Welsh-speaking teachers).<br /><br /> Despite the
emphasis on education, there was an additional need to make sure Welsh
becomes a language of business/the private sector to normalise its
everyday use.<br /><br />There was also widespread agreement (and caution) that any new
Welsh language policies require additional money. A figure of
an additional £100million a year over the length of the strategy was
quoted; expanding the Mudiad Meithrin (Welsh-medium nursery) service to accommodate the aims
of the strategy is expected to cost up to £37million a year
alone.<br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-44466866466559821102017-05-18T08:37:00.001+01:002017-05-18T11:18:48.905+01:00Rhodri Morgan 1939-2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-vkOJB3ENG0g6T6kacW0OYorBkJxPp3yD2ySspHWDLoPM5zTmByRwHBx2ZhDkF4guuKiLpdTt9aNozkdFmeECq1p3_wdV8hl7QCoguYfc-EHhqlvD79UkIO6rjgnVnJhxMomY2uDEXg/s1600/rhr_mai_230114rhodri_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-vkOJB3ENG0g6T6kacW0OYorBkJxPp3yD2ySspHWDLoPM5zTmByRwHBx2ZhDkF4guuKiLpdTt9aNozkdFmeECq1p3_wdV8hl7QCoguYfc-EHhqlvD79UkIO6rjgnVnJhxMomY2uDEXg/s320/rhr_mai_230114rhodri_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : Wales Online)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The former First
Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-39957137">has died</a> at the age of 77.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A
graduate of Oxford University and Harvard University, prior to being
elected to the First Assembly in 1999, Rhodri served as Cardiff
West's MP. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Although
he unsuccessfully stood to lead the Labour party in Wales twice following the 1997
devolution referendum – despite being considered a grassroots
favourite - it wasn't until 2000, during a period of serious
political instability in the young Assembly, that he ascended to the
role, becoming Wales' </span><i>"first"</i><span style="font-size: small;"> First Minister in the
process and - you could certainly argue - preventing the Assembly's collapse.<br /><br /> He served as First Minister between 2000-2009 before retiring from politics in 2011.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">One thing that marked out Rhodri's leadership,
particularly in the early years, was a willingness to put distance
between the Welsh branch of Labour and the UK party through simple,
redistributionist measures which retained Welsh Labour's socialist
core in the face of a reformist Tony Blair-led Labour in London – a
policy shift widely noted as</span><i> "Clear Red Water"</i><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As a
result, Rhodri oversaw the introduction of some of the most
well-known and popular policies in devolved Wales – free
prescriptions, free museum entry, free bus passes for the elderly –
which are still retained more than a decade on and, in some cases,
have even been replicated elsewhere.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Paying tribute, his
successor as First Minister, Carwyn Jones (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Bridgend), said:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">"Wales
hasn't just lost a great politician, we've lost a real father figure.
In many ways Rhodri wasn't like other politicians, and that's why
people warmed to him, trusted him and felt like they knew him so
well. He was funny, clever, engaging on almost any topic and
absolutely passionate about all things Welsh.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">....that first
decade of Welsh self-governance , and making distinct choices for
Wales, will forever be associated with his leadership."</span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Rhodri
led Labour into two coalition governments. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Firstly, with the
Liberal Democrats between 2000-2003, then the One Wales coalition
government with Plaid Cymru between 2007-2011 – despite suffering a
heart attack during negotiations. The latter coalition agreement eventually lead to a
successful referendum on law-making powers in March 2011, paving
the way for the Senedd as it is today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Mike German, former
leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Deputy First Minister, said
Rhodri was,<i> "a strong opponent but a great friend. Wales has
lost a great politician and stalwart."</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Former Plaid Cymru
Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">"He was
very easy to work with, and he was very likeable, extremely loyal and
highly knowledgeable. It wasn't easy for him to deliver the coalition
in sections of his party, but Rhodri stood firm and we agreed a very
progressive programme of government."</span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Plaid Cymru leader,
Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda) said Rhodri was <i>"much respected
across the political spectrum and led Wales with distinction during a
crucial period in Welsh history". </i><br /><br />Demonstrating that,
Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Davies (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central),
paid tribute:</span></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">"He was a giant of devolved politics. We
may have had political differences but he was sincere; he always
championed causes he believed passionately in."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />On behalf of the
National Assembly, the Llywydd Elin Jones (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Ceredigion) issued a statement:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"As First Minister of Wales, Rhodri's contribution
in helping build our nation and its young democracy was immeasurable.
His popularity among the people of Wales and his determination to
anchor the institution firmly in the national psyche accelerated the
acceptance of devolution and nurtured pride in our new institution. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">Rhodri's ability to communicate with, and to
understand, the diverse communities of Wales ultimately won hearts
and minds, and was critical in giving the people of Wales the
confidence to strengthen and develop the National Assembly."</span></blockquote>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rhodri's survived by
his wife, Julie Morgan – the sitting Assembly Member for Cardiff
North – two daughters and a son.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-36062577816949779342017-05-14T09:31:00.000+01:002017-05-14T09:45:54.119+01:00Oggy Bloggy Ogwr's Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-O-HmnmcdZ8eYtIjalV6NbXdDUuZIckY1CIqWgOR60de6VAyvwvA24kTjPg8JqWeLSJOwEmR15XIBYMdTPlS8aMj6cDRN9lrQUCCCjROJV5Uh8sLVsjEaEmt_YOobSDRs08OHbXEZOY/s1600/symbols_11400_370795.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-O-HmnmcdZ8eYtIjalV6NbXdDUuZIckY1CIqWgOR60de6VAyvwvA24kTjPg8JqWeLSJOwEmR15XIBYMdTPlS8aMj6cDRN9lrQUCCCjROJV5Uh8sLVsjEaEmt_YOobSDRs08OHbXEZOY/s320/symbols_11400_370795.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />At the <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2016/12/beginning-of-end.html">end of 2016</a> I
said I was going to <i>"retire" </i>from blogging after the local
elections. </span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />I'll be kicking myself a few months down the line,
but I've changed my mind.<br /><br />Before you punch the screen in
anger, or perhaps even welcome that change of heart, there are big changes
coming which means Oggy Bloggy Ogwr as you know it<i> will</i> be coming to
an end.<br /><br />Time for an explanation....<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>The Need for
Change</b></u></span><br /><br />I now get more hits in two days than I did
during the whole of 2011. I'd say that counts as a success, but it's
still a small, niche audience; there's always more to do and every
now and again things need to evolve to keep pace.<br /><br />There are three main
elements to my work here: a Bridgend hyperlocal; monitoring and
commentary of events at the National Assembly; thought pieces on
Welsh independence.<br /><br />Attempted to do everything at once through
the same outlet has resulted in an identity problem that I believe
holds things back. I can see why it seems odd to jump from a post on
FMQs one day, to a 3,000 word tome on Welsh independence the next
then something on a planning dispute in Porthcawl. It also means I
skip a lot to prevent posting several blogs in one day.<br /><br />Some
of the questions I've tried to answer include:<br /><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">How can Oggy
Bloggy Ogwr be a <i>"hyperlocal"</i> when I spend just as much
time covering national politics? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Am I doing a job paid
professional journalists should be doing? Or, in some cases, am I
doing a <i>better</i> job? Do I need to change how I do things?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">By working to no fixed schedule without breaks
am I in danger of <i>"burning out"</i>? How can I change things to ensure I can take fixed breaks?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">How do I balance my
clear support for independence with trying to maintain impartiality
on day-to-day/party political issues?</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />I've decided the
solution is to split Oggy Bloggy Ogwr into three.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFqklDZpLbKmg3UsodOjmZ1Hyfdb32Z_oS8TCcmGHpxKYbXNeiJnI6Ut_Ri1YSqCp-ZiVY2TKDn7Jgd0QTSM4PdsGjcUvMALtftcffIhMcpP1rlPTyrkL8jinThp1UkKgp7YlCqOd-MU/s1600/futureplans.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFqklDZpLbKmg3UsodOjmZ1Hyfdb32Z_oS8TCcmGHpxKYbXNeiJnI6Ut_Ri1YSqCp-ZiVY2TKDn7Jgd0QTSM4PdsGjcUvMALtftcffIhMcpP1rlPTyrkL8jinThp1UkKgp7YlCqOd-MU/s1600/futureplans.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br /><b>Oggy Bloggy
Ogwr</b> will continue - in name - as a hyperlocal blog dedicated to
Bridgend county. The focus will be on local and regional politics,
with posts published as and when needed.<br /><br /><b>Senedd Home </b>will be a
magazine-style site – by that I mean multiple posts will be
published at the same time (once a week when the Senedd is in
session) - focused on party politics at an all-Wales level, Senedd
debates, committee inquiries, legislation, Welsh Government etc. The
focus of my Senedd coverage will change from depth to breadth; more
stories, less commentary.<br /><br /><b>State of Wales</b> will be another
magazine-style site housing all posts relating to independence,
nationalism, nation-building, special investigations/research etc. At
the moment I intend to publish <i>"full editions"</i> quarterly
(four times a year) and more topical posts (such as election
coverage) as and when needed.<br /><br />There'll be major stylistic
changes. Posts on the new Oggy Bloggy Ogwr and Senedd Home will be
more concise (600-800 words max, with few exceptions). So they're
going to be more<i> "journalistic"</i>, but still going into a bit
more detail than you'll get elsewhere. <br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>When/How is this going
to happen?</b></span></u><br /><br />The launch/re-launch of the three sites will be phased in. My
coverage of the UK general election starts tomorrow, but after that's out of the way
I'll be dipping in and out over the summer while I do the background
preparatory work. If you notice old posts disappearing or gaps in coverage over the next few months you'll know why.<br /><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">State of Wales will
launch at the end of July (31<sup>st</sup> pencilled in) with an
eight-part examination of currency and independence. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The new,
leaner, Bridgend-focused Oggy Bloggy Ogwr will start (by default)
sometime in August. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Senedd Home will launch when AMs return from
summer recess (week beginning 18th September). At the moment it'll be
published on Thursday evenings, but if you have a better idea on when to post then let me know.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />In exchange for doing this I'm
going to expect more support. <br /><br />This is one last <i>"Hail
Mary"</i> to get this to a level where I, and I believe many of you,
think it deserves to be. <br /><br />I'll be adding voluntary PayPal
donation buttons. I won't force anyone to donate by putting up pop
ups (and the running costs are basically domain, broadband and
electricity anyway – though I eventually want to self-host). I may
consider running annual fundraisers and possibly allowing advertising
too. I'll provide more details at a later date.<br /><br />If you're
following on social media, I currently intend to do everything
through my existing Twitter and Facebook pages but if there are any
changes I'll let you know. E-mail subscriptions etc. will be more
complicated, but if you've subscribed by e-mail I'm probably going to
automatically subscribe you to all three and let you opt out.<br /><br />I
know people will read the Bridgend posts, so I can see that
continuing indefinitely. The rest I'm not so sure of, particularly
when it comes to the Assembly.<br /><br />You're getting a bargain here –
it's not as if I've asked any of you for anything over the last six
years – and, to be completely frank, I'm pissed off the work here has
often gone unappreciated by the same people who moan about a lack of
coverage of Welsh politics.<br /><br />So here's a friendly warning. I'll be keeping the performance of all three under review and if I don't believe one particular part is meeting expectations I won't hesitate to drop it. In short, if you want me to keep doing it you're going to have to make sure people see it.</span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-24132984837318605482017-05-02T17:33:00.000+01:002017-05-02T17:50:03.227+01:00FMQs: Gaffes, Circuit of Wales & Borrowing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />This
afternoon saw the final FMQs before the local elections on Thursday
and the first since the announcement of the forthcoming UK general
election.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>FMQs, 2<sup>nd</sup> May 2017</b></u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Party
Leaders</b></span><br /><br />UKIP leader, Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid & West
Wales), flagged up Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott's <i>“<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-39778045/diane-abbott-trips-up-on-police-policy">gaffe</a>”</i>
on the cost of <b>recruiting extra police officers</b> this morning, asking for clarity on Labour's proposed policy. He cited figures that show the last time capital
gains tax was increased, revenues fell – it also amounted to a tax
on pensioners, many of whom may offset capital gains to sustain their
incomes in retirement.<br /><br />The First Minister reiterated the
importance of <i>“getting more bobbies on the beat”</i> and made it
clear Labour's policy would cost £300million a year, not £300,000
or £80million - paid for by reversing cuts to capital gains tax. He
then accused UKIP of being <i>“soft on crime” </i>and believed Neil
Hamilton had confused capital gains tax with inheritance tax.<br /><br />Next,
Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda), asked (I have to
say a slightly oddly worded question that I've had to rephrase) <b>why the
First Minister changed his mind on Labour's general
election chances?</b> We've had five different Shadow Welsh Secretaries since
2015 and Labour were <i>“squabbling over lifeboats”</i>, amounting to
gross incompetence.<br /><br />Carwyn didn't quite get the line of
questioning but believes Labour has a better chance of winning an
election than Plaid Cymru regardless, and don't want the Tories to
<i>“walk all over Wales”</i> (amidst more pre-election posturing).<br /><br />Leader of the Opposition, Andrew
Davies AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>, South Wales Central), drew attention to <b>the recent
Wales Audit Office <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39706499">report</a> into the Circuit of Wales</b>. The Welsh
Government could have broken EU state aid rules and Welsh taxpayers'
money had clearly been misused, with up to £300,000 used to buy a
bankrupt motorcycle firm; would the First Minister apologise?<br /><br />The
First Minister tried to bat it away - and it didn't quite work - by saying the Cancer Drugs Fund
in England (a policy the Tories wish to replicate in Wales) was
criticised as a<i> “waste of money” </i>too. There will always be risks with projects the size of the
Circuit of Wales but money has to be used responsibly. Nothing has
been said about whether the project is worth supporting, but it's
still unclear at this stage whether the project is a suitable risk
for further Welsh Government backing.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Backbenchers</b></span><br /><br />Sian
Gwenllian AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Arfon) asked for a statement on <b>plans to create
a medical school in north Wales</b>. The case for a medical school to
serve the north and west was <i>“clear and robust”</i> and could help
reduce the over-reliance on agency staff, with the Betsi Cadwaladr
health board spending £21million a year on locums.<br /><br />The First
Minister said work was<i> “ongoing” </i>on determining the future of
medical training in the north and the Health Secretary will be making
a statement <i>“in the coming weeks”</i>. He was non-committal to a
medical school as such, saying there has to be enough of a
<i>“professional challenge” </i>to entice trainee doctors to an
area.<br /><br />Huw Irranca-Davies AM (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Ogmore) asked what
assessment has been made of <b>the potential benefit to Wales if the UK
Government borrowed more</b> in light of low interest rates?
Classic economics underlines that governments can reverse cuts and
boost the economy by borrowing more when the cost of borrowing is
cheaper.<br /><br />The First Minister believes a shift in policy could
boost capital infrastructure spending. All governments borrow, but it
should be done for the right reasons not to subsidise tax cuts. The
UK Government has no vision for capital infrastructure and that's why
we've seen projects like rail electrification and the Swansea Bay
tidal lagoon slip back. He believes £1.5billion would be a <i>“prudent”
</i>level of borrowing for Wales.<br /><br />For the sake of clarity I'm
counting him as a Tory for Assembly business - Mark Reckless AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>,
South Wales East) asked an eccentrically-worded question on <b>the
<i>“appropriate magnitude” </i>of borrowing for Welsh Government in the
UK context?</b> (English: How much money do you think the UK Government
should allow the Welsh Government to borrow?) Did he think it was
appropriate for the UK Government to borrow 300 times more than Wales
(£500billion) as proposed by Labour?<br /><br />The First Minister said
the Welsh Government will make the best use of the £1billion
borrowing powers provided in the new fiscal framework for Wales. The
UK Government has far more tools at its disposal to pay back any
borrowing (tax, fiscal powers). He repeated his belief that borrowing
to pay for infrastructure is important, but it has to be done
prudently.</span><br />
<br />Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-64838230264509264222017-04-30T10:21:00.000+01:002017-04-30T10:21:47.619+01:00Senedd Watch - April 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMECaj0reXbE9y8Er39kF5DyfySJcWBZP5B_dKUStQGXd59K05o6eK6vNse2wM8OKUMEYFyvZXkkUPnzshelZVMlTFPddSSgobaEp6Wx0riR4GcISX24QvMPocCJqCoYg-xS2dfoU1N0Q/s1600/seneddwatch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMECaj0reXbE9y8Er39kF5DyfySJcWBZP5B_dKUStQGXd59K05o6eK6vNse2wM8OKUMEYFyvZXkkUPnzshelZVMlTFPddSSgobaEp6Wx0riR4GcISX24QvMPocCJqCoYg-xS2dfoU1N0Q/s1600/seneddwatch.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">A
British Heart Foundation report claimed 1 million Welsh adults were<i>
“physically inactive”</i>, with women 40% more likely to be inactive
than men. Physical inactivity is categorised as doing less than the
recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">A
controversial £39million timber deal agreed by Natural Resources
Wales - which was criticised by the Wales Audit Office for its
<i>“irregularity” </i>and lack of transparency - was scrapped when the
company involved failed to build a timber mill.</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">River
conservation trusts condemned the services of Natural Resources Wales
(NRW) after claiming pollution spill-off from farms was <i>“out of
control”</i> and the body didn't have the front line staff required to
investigate complaints . NRW said it faced <i>“challenges” </i>over
pollution but was aiming to <i>“work smarter”</i>.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Figures
revealed a 16% jump in the number of junior doctors training as GPs,
with 84% of training places filled compared to 68% in 2016. It
follows a major recruitment campaign. Health Secretary, Vaughan
Gething (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Cardiff S. & Penarth), declared the campaign a
<i>“success”</i> and said the<i> “figures speak for themselves”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">South
Wales East AM, Mark Reckless, left UKIP to join the Conservative
group on April 6</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">.
He confirmed he'll sit as a Conservative AM but won't be a member of
the party. The defection makes the Conservatives the largest
opposition group in the National Assembly. </span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Caroline Jones AM
(<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, South Wales West) called for him to resign, while UKIP
Assembly group leader, Neil Hamilton AM (<span style="color: magenta;">UKIP</span>, Mid & West Wales),
said Mark <i>“betrayed the trust” </i>of party members and has <i>“no
mandate”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">A Conservative source told BBC Wales that
accepting Mark Reckless into their group without being a member was
contrary to party rules, meaning AMs had put themselves at risk of
de-selection after they voted to suspend their constitution.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">A
report by the Communities Committee into refugees and asylum seekers
recommended improved housing complaints procedures, more English
lessons and more support for unaccompanied child refugees. There are
estimated to be between 6,000-10,000 refugees living in Wales.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
Electoral Reform Society (ERS) warned of <i>“democracy deserts”</i>
after 92 local council seats went unopposed to single candidates - a
similar number to 2012. Gwynedd alone had 21 uncontested seats. The
ERS are campaigning for single transferable vote to be introduced in
local elections and also criticised the lack of diversity amongst local election candidates.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The National Union of Teachers (NUT) called
for the Welsh Government to delay the implementation of a new
National Curriculum, with up to 40% of full-time teachers unaware of
the Donaldson Review's recommendations.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Fines totalling more
than £600,000 were waived for three local authorities – Newport,
Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen – after they missed Welsh Government
recycling targets for 2015-16. Simon Thomas AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Mid & West
Wales) said the Welsh Government had <i>“lost credibility” </i>after
failing to follow through with fines for two years in a row.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Figures
revealed to BBC Wales showed there were 123 women treated for female
genital mutilation (FGM) in 2016. Most of the cases were recorded in
south Wales, but Welsh Women's Aid said the numbers were <i>“only the
tip of the iceberg”</i> with an estimated 2,000 women living with
FGM.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Youth organisations called for<i> “urgent help”</i> after it
was revealed up to 30% faced closure due to lack of funding. The
Welsh Government have commissioned a review of youth services, but
more than 100 groups have disappeared over the last four
years.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Qatar Airways announced they would launch flights between Doha and Cardiff
Airport in 2018. Passengers will then be able fly to China,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand and south east Asia via connecting flights, potentially
adding an additional 1 million passengers a year flying to and from
Cardiff. The First Minister said,<i> “</i></span><i>it is more important than
ever before to sell Wales to the world."</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
Unite union announced a ballot on industrial action would take place
at the Ford engine plant in Bridgend in May, following ongoing
concerns about the future of the plant beyond 2021. Ford's management
said the ballot was <i>“premature”</i> and talks would continue.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The
Wales Audit Office said there were<i> “serious shortcomings”</i> in the
award of £9.3million in public funds to the company behind the
proposed Circuit of Wales development in Blaenau Gwent. Their report
criticised the lack of investigation into the background of the
companies involved and the Welsh Government <i>“did not explain (to
our satisfaction)”</i> why the money was awarded.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Economy &
Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates (<span style="color: red;">Lab</span>, Clwyd South), shortlisted
12 locations for new railway stations from 46 as part of a new
transport plan. They will go forward for further scrutiny and include
locations in Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Newport, St Clears and
Llangefni.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Assembly Commission launched a public
consultation on creating a Youth Parliament for Wales. It follows the
closure of Funky Dragon in 2014. The Llywydd, Elin Jones (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>,
Ceredigion), said <i>“We must provide support for them (young people)
to discuss issues they care about....we must listen.”</i></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"><br />Projects
announced in April include: £400,000 to cut smoking rates; an increase
in savings people entering residential care can keep
to £30,000 (from £25,000); a £24million EU-backed grant scheme to
boost rural tourism; a £13million dementia research centre at
Cardiff University and a three-year trial of HIV preventative drug,
PrEP.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QwXKZeinv2VeOXjfLwChyx9w592Xu-nmVev7yeRImd1H4gPDVFBhj5kji4NYwxnk38yxkN57JpJpOjox3dL0EtdAWqzCd31EzoBwPDzufSsLb1aqdyi9AYJnZqUtb9JvYDCRTbgw1Ew/s1600/election2017graphic.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QwXKZeinv2VeOXjfLwChyx9w592Xu-nmVev7yeRImd1H4gPDVFBhj5kji4NYwxnk38yxkN57JpJpOjox3dL0EtdAWqzCd31EzoBwPDzufSsLb1aqdyi9AYJnZqUtb9JvYDCRTbgw1Ew/s1600/election2017graphic.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">UK Prime Minister, Theresa May,
announced a UK General Election will take place on June 8</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">,
citing <i>“political game-playing” </i>by opposition parties in
Westminster ahead of Brexit negotiations. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">On April 19</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">,
The UK House of Commons voted to hold an election - as stipulated in
the the Fixed Term Parliaments Act - by 522 votes to 13. All 40
sitting Welsh MPs will defend their seats.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The First Minister
criticised the decision to call an election during a local election
campaign as <i>“odd”</i> and <i>“not in the national interest”</i>, saying
the economy and Brexit should be prioritised – later challenging
the Prime Minister to a debate. There was more enthusiasm from the
Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru, both of whom welcomed the
announcement.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">UK Chancellor, Philip Hammond, refused to rule
out including tax increases or scrapping the triple lock on state pensions
in the forthcoming Conservative manifesto. The Prime Minister also pledged to
maintain overseas aid budgets at 0.7% of GDP.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">At a rally in
Cardiff, UK Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, called for voters to join
him on a journey of <i>“hope and excitement”</i>. He criticised cuts to
the Welsh budget, and said he would maintain the <i>“triple lock” </i>on
state pensions and seek to close tax loopholes for big companies.
Labour also announced they would make the national days of the Home
Nations bank holidays.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">UK Lib Dems leader, Tim Farron, ruled
out forming a coalition with either the Conservatives or Labour after
the election, saying voting for the Lib Dems was the only way to
prevent a <i>“Hard Brexit”</i>, saying they would hold a second
referendum once any deal with the EU is finalised.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid Cymru
launched their election campaign on April 25</span><sup><span lang="en-GB">th</span></sup><span lang="en-GB">
in Bangor, saying their party offered a<i> “ray of hope”</i> as an
emboldened Conservative government was a threat to public
services.</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (<span style="color: lime;">Plaid</span>, Rhondda)
ruled out standing for the Rhondda seat after <i>“much consideration”
</i>and media speculation. She said she was sure the party will put up a
strong candidate and winning the seat from Labour's Chris Bryant was
<i>“do-able”</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Former Plaid Cymru leader and Deputy First
Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, was selected to fight Ynys M</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"><span class="st">ô</span>n for the
party. Polling suggests the seat, currently held by Labour's Albert Owen, is considered a three-way marginal between Plaid,
Labour and the Conservatives.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">The Prime Minister told
activists at a campaign event in Bridgend she wanted to open new
markets to Welsh businesses post-Brexit with the<i> “best possible
trading deal”</i>. The First Minister criticised the visit to his
Assembly constituency as <i>“a stunt”</i> and warned voters to <i>“see
the Tories for what they are.”</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Jeremy Corbyn called for
people to register to vote saying the young in particular were <i>“being
held back”. </i>He said a <i>“fairer Britain”</i> should bend over
backwards to help people who are struggling to reach their
potential.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-72588397736066512942017-04-11T17:45:00.000+01:002017-04-11T17:45:38.995+01:00Reckless Abandon?<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR9s3SQSac45k9MzYMbX7OdmkDRFhD_XZgu6AK_dYTR8RGN9yfceLDBQDAYlTKdwt9MPd2LQcJF7skt433NNmq6qkopTpnQgIp2bc7M_xAAHzL5V4u8zm-0eEJd8QmbJi-HdIDd6gQqU/s1600/laugh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR9s3SQSac45k9MzYMbX7OdmkDRFhD_XZgu6AK_dYTR8RGN9yfceLDBQDAYlTKdwt9MPd2LQcJF7skt433NNmq6qkopTpnQgIp2bc7M_xAAHzL5V4u8zm-0eEJd8QmbJi-HdIDd6gQqU/s1600/laugh.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The last day of term in
the Senedd always seems to throw up curve balls, and just before AMs
broke for Easter recess came the news – after a day of rumours and
counter-rumours – that Mark Reckless had left UKIP to join the
Conservative group.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />He became the third AM (fourth if you
include the temporary suspension of Neil McEvoy) to leave their party
and/or party group in the space of a year (see also: <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2016/08/done-up-like-kipper.html"><i>Done up like a kipper?</i></a>; <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2016/10/dic-sion-dafydd.html"><i>Dic Sion Dafydd</i>?</a>).<br /><br />Within days of the <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2016/05/election-2016-report-ukip.html">election result last May</a>, I said:<br /></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"....the chances of UKIP
remaining a seven-member group through the entire course of the Fifth
Assembly are looking pretty slim....I'd be amazed if they last
through to 2021 as they are. I'd expect the defections and
resignations to start by the end of this year (2016)....it's a proud
track record in any place where there are sizable number of UKIP
members." </span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />After Neil Hamilton usurped Nathan Gill as
group leader, Mark Reckless would've been top of my list of potential
defectors along with Caroline Jones (who's since pledged her
loyalty).<br /><br />So this was predictable, although a few weeks
ago Mark Reckless said UKIP <i>"<a href="http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2017-03-04/wales-ukip-reckless/">speaks for Wales</a>"</i> and called
for unity within UKIP. How quickly things change, eh?<br /><br />It's
unbelievable something so simple could turn out so complicated, but
as the days have gone by it's developing into a crisis of Andrew
Davies' making (more from <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2017-04-09/wales-conservatives-davies-reckless/">ITV Wales' Adrian Masters</a>).<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><br />What
do we know so far?</b></u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Impact on the Senedd<br /><br /></b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Mark Reckless
will join the Conservative Assembly group as an Independent AM. My
understanding is he'll be subject to the Tory whip (have to vote the
same way as Tory AMs) and for all intents and purposes would be
considered a Tory for Assembly business, but <i>won't </i>take part in any
group meetings and won't have a shadow portfolio.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">With 12 members
the Conservatives are the largest opposition group. Subsequently,
Andrew Davies is Leader of the Opposition and party spokespeople are
now shadow ministers. In practical terms this means a £1,000 salary
bump for Andrew Davies, an additional ~£20,300 a year for the
Conservative group (<a href="http://senedd.assembly.wales/documents/s50154/Determination%20on%20Members%20Pay%20and%20Allowances%20-%20May%202016.pdf">pdf</a> - p42) and the Tories will have a bigger say in Assembly
business. The opposite is the case for UKIP (£1,000 pay cut for Neil Hamilton, lose £20,300 a year, less say).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Mark Reckless has
lost his position (and £13,000 a year) as Chair of the Environment
Committee – he reportedly wanted to keep it. It was said elsewhere that
Plaid Cymru will have to concede a Chair to the Tories (I'm not sure. I
suspect the now vacant Environment Committee chair will be given to the
Tories instead, which hints at David Melding being in line to take
over as he's a member of that committee).</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Internal
Disagreements<br /><br /></b></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Mark Reckless is a deeply divisive figure within
the Conservative party since his defection to UKIP in 2014 and it's
clear many MPs, and the central party, aren't happy with the
decision, suggestions being that all sitting Tory AMs could face
de-selection.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Conservative rules mean any member of the
Conservative group needs to be a member of the party, but it's
presently unclear whether Tory AMs voted to suspend their rules to
allow Mark Reckless to join – Andrew Davies denies it, saying the
meeting was minuted and all AMs agreed to let him join.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">There's confusion over
whether this <i>was</i> a unanimous decision, with reports over the weekend
that once it became clear the central party may not support the move,
3 AMs voted against suspending the rules.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Nick Ramsay AM (<span style="color: blue;">Con</span>,
Monmouth) <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-39544071">broke ranks on Sunday</a> to say there were <i>"major
concerns" </i>over the move and he was now unclear of his own status
– something anonymous Conservative sources described as
<i>"opportunism" </i>and an attempt to re-run his unsuccessful
2011 leadership bid.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Why this happened and the slow
disintegration of UKIP are topics for another time. I don't think
it's a coincidence Mark left UKIP within weeks of his other employer,
Douglas Carswell MP, for whom he moonlights as a parliamentary
researcher. It's still unclear whether he'll be allowed to keep that
role, but you assume he would've been given the OK.<br /><br />I'm very,
very surprised Tory AMs are OK with this and you've got to wonder if
doing it for the sake of opposition titles (which are, in practical
terms, meaningless) and a modest funding boost is worth the hassle. <br /><br />I'm
in no doubt Mark pines for a return to that Hogwarts for
Adults laughably called a parliament in London, so I don't see him
sticking in Wales for the long haul. I also wonder how long it'll be before Nathan Gill is offered/seeks something similar.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>The Other Big
Questions</b></u></span><br /><br />This defection raises questions over the the
Alternative Member System (AMS) used to elect regional list members,
whether by-elections should be called when AMs <i>"cross the floor"</i>
as well as recall of AMs (see also: <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/11/total-recall.html"><i>Total Recall</i></a>).<br /><br />Twenty AMs
are elected regionally, whereby you vote for a party not a candidate
and the seats are distributed based on the strength of the party vote
and how many first-past-the-post seats the parties have already
won.<br /><br />Parties decide which candidates are ranked #1, #2 etc.
and the system's been used to ensure gender balance and/or to ensure
candidates who would struggle to get elected in a constituency stand
a chance of an Assembly seat....like Mark Reckless, who has no ties
to Wales and for whom the rules were bent to make sure he could get
on the UKIP list in the first place.<br /><br />It's happened before of
course – Mohammad Asghar's defection from Plaid to the
Conservatives in 2009. No by-election or resignations then either.
<br /><br />Mark Reckless was elected using UKIP resources and UKIP
finances because people in South Wales East voted UKIP. I never
thought I'd say this, but I can understand UKIP's anger
here and have a smidgen of sympathy for them.<br /><br />There's nothing in the rules that says he can't walk
away from that and keep his seat, as resigning would defeat the
purpose of defecting and there are no by-elections for regional list
seats (because of how incredibly expensive it would be to run a
by-election across a whole region and because of how list seats are
calculated).<br /><br />Even in first-past-the-post seats, it's
ultimately a matter of conscience whether defecting members trigger a
by-election, but they don't have to – Dafydd Elis Thomas being a
case in point.<br /><br />Under the Wales Act 2017 the Senedd has
responsibility for its electoral arrangements, including the voting
system. An expert group has been established to look at that in more
detail.<br /><br />If Wales introduced a system like single transferable
vote (STV), then you get a proportional result in a constituency and voters get to
choose who to elect from each party, not the party themselves.
However, it still means defecting AMs wouldn't be<i> compelled</i> to force
a by-election. <br /><br />A solution to that problem (if Wales
eventually adopts STV) is altering the Senedd's Standing Orders so
that if someone wants to leaves one party group to join another party
group (as opposed to simply becoming an Independent, being
suspended or entering a formal coalition agreement) they have to resign within 30 days and trigger a
by-election, or a by-election is triggered automatically. <br /><br />Or, even under the current electoral system, if
AMs leave a party they could be subject to a
<i>"cooling-off period"</i> before they can join another
party/party group – perhaps 2 years - forcing them to sit as a <i>"proper"</i> Independent.<br /><br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3566608350707334311.post-58257970297289865072017-04-10T17:27:00.000+01:002017-04-10T17:27:40.554+01:00A Welcoming Wales?: Realities of Refugees Lives<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZziGyIbuB3alJnQJMRyMnDQUUMOMMcjo_D4gJtpb9qTmt8EgeU_Cs59opF0LZ7ntWvNHcbJLgLoD3EXT7FY9uFqaHaXGe-PbTU7r6wDXeeB1y2XdQEN3sfGxpfmGoiN13n_5TtpIHv4/s1600/RCT-Refugees-Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZziGyIbuB3alJnQJMRyMnDQUUMOMMcjo_D4gJtpb9qTmt8EgeU_Cs59opF0LZ7ntWvNHcbJLgLoD3EXT7FY9uFqaHaXGe-PbTU7r6wDXeeB1y2XdQEN3sfGxpfmGoiN13n_5TtpIHv4/s320/RCT-Refugees-Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : Wales Online)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Europe is currently
going through its worst migration crisis since the end of the Second
World War, and Wales is doing its part to shelter those fleeing the
Syria in particular.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Although the refugee crisis isn't getting
the same coverage as 2015, last week the Communities Committee
published its report into refugees and asylum seekers
(<a href="http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11012/cr-ld11012-e.pdf">pdf</a>).<br /><b><br />Immigration is non-devolved, but the Welsh Government
are responsible for essential services provided to refugees and asylum-seekers like
education, health and other forms of support. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>There are estimates there could be anything between 6,000-10,000 refugees settled in Wales - equivalent to a town the size of Caernarfon.<br /><br /></b></span></b>A report in today's <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/its-a-shambles-data-shows-most-asylum-seekers-put-in-poorest-parts-of-britain"><i>Guardian</i></a> suggests <b>five-times more asylum-seekers are dispersed to poorer areas of the UK than wealthier areas, while both Cardiff and Swansea rank in the top 10 local authorities housing asylum-seekers.</b> So it's not a case of Wales <i>"doing more"</i> - we're clearly pulling, if not exceeding, our weight on this without any extra resources from Westminster. <b><br /><br /></b>I can't say I
agree with<i> all</i> of the report's recommendations – public sector internships
and treating asylum seekers and refugees as home students for
instance. However, even if the report is out of step with the
electorate's opinion on immigration, as is the case with any discussion of the subject it's brought out the worst in people despite the report itself being on mainly solid ground. <br /><br />The
Committee made 19 recommendations. In summary: <br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government should recover (from the UK Home Office) any additional
costs resulting from the Immigration Act 2016.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh
Government should <i>"dispel myths and inaccuracies"</i> about
refugees and asylum-seekers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Some services should be improved, or
extended to, refugees and asylum-seekers including: concessionary
bus travel, English language lessons, access to higher and further
education, access to legal advice, housing complaints procedures,
mental health services for unaccompanied children.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Urgent
negotiations should take place with the UK Home Office on asylum
accommodation reforms before contracts are renewed in 2019. Also,
asylum landlords should be covered by the Rent Smart Wales
registration scheme.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Welsh Government should<i> "do more"</i>
(no specifics) to find suitable housing for those awarded refugee status, and should
discuss extending the 28 day<i> "move-on"</i> period for refugees
(after their status has been granted) to 56 days.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A Guardianship
Service should be established for unaccompanied child refugees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Wales
should aim to become a <i>"Nation of Sanctuary"</i>.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><br />How
the Asylum & Refugee System Works</b></u></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmATzCXlTw762tXDP0xdvMH5J5YgMXC3fetCvyaei3iN9FIZiHd7TDSS-9s5h2znpro_AIzP6wRuxdT-SOclUPGvzXNx_HS2XtAoPUORVti6wFXgj6PHZC06jO7hUd2n8EqC98qElm6XI/s1600/asylum.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmATzCXlTw762tXDP0xdvMH5J5YgMXC3fetCvyaei3iN9FIZiHd7TDSS-9s5h2znpro_AIzP6wRuxdT-SOclUPGvzXNx_HS2XtAoPUORVti6wFXgj6PHZC06jO7hUd2n8EqC98qElm6XI/s1600/asylum.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : National Assembly of Wales)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b>Once somebody arrives in
the UK and claims asylum they're moved to nominated asylum
accommodation and receive £36.95 a week </b>(Section 95 support). <b>They
can't claim benefits but they can't work either.</b><br /><br /><b>If their
claim is accepted, they gain refugee status and have 28 days to find
their own accommodation, get a National Insurance number and either
apply for benefits or find work. </b><br /><br /><b>If their claim is rejected,
they have to leave the UK. </b>They can apply for accommodation and
£35.39 a week in financial support (Section 4 support) if they face
hardships, but still have to prove they're trying to leave. It's also
a criminal offence for landlords to rent to someone who's been denied
leave to remain.<br /><br /><b>The system for<i> "vulnerable"</i> people
fleeing Syria is much less hassle in comparison to <i>"mainstream"</i>
asylum-seekers. People entering under this scheme have protected
status for five years </b>and are immediately eligible for services like
education and employment. 397 people have been resettled in Wales
under the Syrian scheme - per-head this is higher than England but
lower than Scotland and Northern Ireland.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This <i>"two-tier"</i>
asylum system – a bespoke one for Syrians, another for the rest -
was criticised, with a belief it causes tensions between immigrant
communities.<br /><br /><b>Although there's praise for how the Welsh
Government responded to the refugee crisis, there's been criticism
that refugee plans aren't fit for purpose. </b>Swansea Council even went
so far as to describe it as <i>"weak"</i>, while there was also
criticism of the emphasis on providing direct support to refugees,
instead of supporting the communities they're resettled in.<br /><br />The
Committee were impressed by measures taken by the Scottish
Government, which includes funding integration, extending youth
concessionary schemes to young refugees and provide extra support for
professionals.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Integration</b></u></span><br /><br />Community cohesion (English:
good relations between immigrants and residents) are vital for any
new group, but particularly refugees and asylum-seekers. The Welsh
Government have a cohesion strategy, but it was felt it was too
focused on Cardiff and reacting to hate crime instead of addressing
root causes.<br /><br />An important part is understanding what
immigrants can offer Welsh society. <b>There are no skills audits of
refugees, nor any strategy for refugees to acquire new skills.
Nonetheless, the <i>"Welcome to Wales" </i>pack offered to new
arrivals is well-received.</b><br /><br /><b>Community cohesion is hampered by a
lack of access to services, particularly transport.</b> An example was
given of refugees and asylum-seekers in Newport being keen to
volunteer, but unable to afford to travel. <br /><br /><b>Language barriers
are another issue, with English classes over-subscribed and only run
in certain areas, often by volunteers for a few hours a week.
</b>Meanwhile, there were worries over how refugees and asylum-seekers
were depicted in the media, with immigration <a href="http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2016/06/brexit-why-did-wales-vote-leave.html">a major issue in the EU referendum</a> and the subsequent rise in hate crimes.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Life
through (and after) the Asylum Process</b></u></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jN4TRCSlCK8Q8NrB4wlI7tKw1uf_25jyEiBlErGI79awyxxg1oDk0cH_d8CGY9N-3kCRSrmFcTrKbUNZXGukp6CDPjJ_ELsu-VvMYnLSHMuUMjRRJMSRI8GIKI-LWQy-o74QVJCz6PE/s1600/_87906929_wns_240116_asylum_seekers_bands_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jN4TRCSlCK8Q8NrB4wlI7tKw1uf_25jyEiBlErGI79awyxxg1oDk0cH_d8CGY9N-3kCRSrmFcTrKbUNZXGukp6CDPjJ_ELsu-VvMYnLSHMuUMjRRJMSRI8GIKI-LWQy-o74QVJCz6PE/s320/_87906929_wns_240116_asylum_seekers_bands_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pic : BBC Wales)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />One of the big concerns
arising from the inquiry was the standard of asylum housing. Clearsprings
Ready Homes have a five-year, £119million contract with the UK Home
Office to provide asylum accommodation in Wales, but <b>the quality of
the housing provided and ineffective complaints procedures have been
condemned, with some asylum-seekers said to be worried that
complaining could prejudice their asylum applications. </b><br /><b><br />There
were calls for any new asylum housing contract to be awarded in Wales</b>
and the Committee believed the <i>"complex relationship"</i>
between Welsh and UK governments on asylum housing was leading to a
lack of responsibility.<br /><br /><b>Not all asylum-seekers go through
health screenings after arrival, meaning those with long-term
conditions being dispersed without knowing what their medical needs
are. </b>Some third sector bodies argued that legal advice should be
offered <i>"from day one" </i>too, with services impacted by cuts
to legal aid and general asylum support.<br /><br />As mentioned earlier,
once an asylum-seeker has their refugee status confirmed (unless
they're entering via the vulnerable Syrian scheme) they have 28 days
to support themselves (<i>"move-on period"</i>), or have to leave
if their claim is rejected. More than 1,000 people in Newport and
Cardiff have become destitute as a result, turning to the likes of
the Red Cross for support.<br /><br /><b>There were calls for the Welsh
Government to expand eligibility criteria for their discretionary
crisis fund to include destitute asylum-seekers – as in Northern
Ireland – while local authorities should class all new refugees as
<i>"vulnerable"</i> to access housing</b> (currently only a few
councils in Wales do). As a result, the <i>"move-on period"
</i>should match the statutory period for councils to find accommodation
for the homeless in Wales – 56 days.<br /><br /><b>Asylum-seekers aren't
allowed to work, but refugees are. Evidence suggests the skills of
refugees aren't properly recognised by Job Centre Plus, and refugees
should be encouraged to get any qualifications they've achieved
abroad recognised in Wales and the UK. </b>Similarly, refugees are
treated as international students which, due to costs, places
barriers on attending higher education – though specialist training
programmes are provided for refugees who are doctors to meet English
language standards to practice medicine in the UK.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b>Child
Refugees</b></u></span><br /><br /><b>There are reportedly only 27 unaccompanied child
refugees in Wales</b>, though many will be moved elsewhere to be reunited
with family members. The relatively low number was said to be due to
the UK Home Office's dispersal method.<br /><br /><b>Witnesses want Wales to
establish a Guardianship Service to provide independent support and
advocacy services to child refugees which, based on a Scottish
example, could cost £200,000 a year for every 200 children </b>– but this
could save money on services elsewhere. The Welsh Government cut
funding for an existing refugee child advocacy service (<a href="http://www.trosgynnal.org.uk/index.php">Tros Gynnal</a>),
with a new service reportedly set to be launched this month
(....minus details).<br /><br /><b>For young people who arrive without
documentation, the immigration authorities need to determine how old
they are as children are eligible for additional protections.</b> There
are 84 pages of guidance for age determination and it was said to be
<i>"totally unrealistic"</i> for social workers to use that to
undertake assessments. <br /><br /><b>Child refugees are also likely to have
suffered serious mental stress. </b>This is often due to sexual assault,
with a study of unaccompanied children suggesting 50% had
sexually-transmitted diseases. <br /><br />In order to uphold the UN
Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC), there were calls to
properly assess the mental health of child refugees after they arrive
and provide training and resources for foster carers and health
professionals who may work with them.<br /><br /></span></div>
Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04347494808853759106noreply@blogger.com0