Energy & The Environment
 |
| Click to enlarge |
While control over large scale energy projects remains a reserved matter for Westminster, Wales cannot truly take advantage of its resources to the same extent Scotland has. Each of the parties has some sort of support for devolving big energy projects. Labour and the Conservatives state up to 100MW, while Plaid want to devolve all natural resources.
The Conservatives have a very good, practical, pledge to create "blue belts" to prevent building on flood plains. This is long overdue. Aiming for 100% renewables by 2025 is laudable, but not achievable under the current devolution settlement. If Wales doesn't have enough of a say in how energy is generated, what's to stop more non-renewable energy schemes being "forced" on us? Insulating every home in Wales is another excellent, but definitely achievable, pledge. Increasing penalties for environmental crimes is pointless without the legal jurisdiction to back it up. The Conservatives definitely show their green credentials this time.
Labour have a good track record on the environment in Welsh government. Their aim for a "one planet" Wales is ambitious, but perhaps a little pie in the sky. Marine conservation zones are not really exciting, but could make a big difference in places like Cardigan Bay. Merging the relevant environmental agencies is a rational pledge, and it would serve Wales better to have a single environment agency with sharper teeth. "Supporting action against climate change" is hollow, if welcome. All in all Labour have a decent set of proposals.
The Lib Dems have some novel policies, such as publishing a "carbon budget", which would make it a lot easier to see if the Welsh Government are practicing what they preach. Doubling money to fight fuel poverty is a little boring, but essential, and likely achievable. Generating energy closer to where it's needed seems to be a core aim, and to a large extent I think it's a good idea. Whether some communities, for example, those seeing a "quiet life", would appreciate community power generation is another matter. Not bad at all.
Plaid aim to reduce carbon emissions by 40% in devolved areas. A realistic target, and past Welsh governments have certainly worked towards it. Carbon budgeting in the public sector is a related pledge and would likely help achieve it, if not better it. Plaid also have a pledge on micro generation and home insulation, covering ground already trodden by the Conservative. Another practical pledge. "Expanding carbon zones" is a bit more of that policy wonk speech creeping in, I'm not sure if it could really make a difference other than prove they are "doing something". Their stand out pledge is the devolution of all natural resources and energy. If we want parity with Scotland it's essential, but I don't see Westminster agreeing seeing how much of Wales' energy is exported to England. What lets them down, are the obvious contradictions on nuclear power "policy", explored in more detail on Syniadau.
This is perhaps the first section where all of the parties have made impressive pitches in their manifestos in an attempt to "out-Green" each other. I think though, in balance, Labour have both the track record and best policies to deliver. If they can combine their ambition with Plaid's pledge to devolve natural resources and energy then they're on to a winner.
Rural Affairs
 |
| Click to enlarge |
The Conservatives run with the theme of "giving power back to communities". They want to ensure that rural areas receive adequate access to public services and give communities the opportunity to run their facilities. Not bad, but the whole "Big Society" thing is becoming a damp squib. Protecting access to woodland isn't exciting, but it's welcome that the Welsh Conservatives don't want to go down the same road the UK Government tried to follow. "River user licensing" makes sense but it's fairly bland, as is maintaining CAP payments. No real reforms then?
Rural affairs isn't Labour's strong point as you might expect. Many of their pledges are vacant promises with no real way to know if they are being delivered or not. For example "improving access to rural services", "continuing to support less favourable areas", and "supporting Welsh food producers". All fine enough, but with no indication of how they'd deliver them. Another commitment to better broadband in rural areas is made, but we've heard that before.
The Lib Dems do, on the surface of it, seem to "get" rural areas. Wanting to reform Glastir and focusing on diversification of farms and rural businesses is good, if uninspiring. However well-intentioned a "Community Bill of Rights" to arrest rural decline is, if people don't want to live there, people will move. No bit of paper is going to make that all better. Reviewing the cost of service delivery in rural areas is needed, and perhaps overdue, but it could well produce an answer the Lib Dems don't want. Considering their "war on waste" theme, the Lib Dems seem very keen to unleash the bureaucrats on bean counting exercises and audits. How much would that cost?
This is fairly natural Plaid territory. Elin Jones's stance on Bovine TB eradication may well ruffle a few feathers, but probably not farmers, likewise maintaining direct payments. It's all practical stuff, not revolutionary. Increasing the number of young people in farming is vital if the rural economy is to thrive, I'd still like to hear more on how that would come about. Overhauling the planning system to encourage sustainable rural communities is a good idea, and beats making vacant promises or "Bills of Rights". Their best pledge is the catchy, if glib "square meal, square mile" pledge. They don't want to go as far as the Greens in localising the food chain, but public sector backing of locally produced food could help spur local producers to better things.
It's no surprise that Plaid appear to be on top here, though I don't think any of the parties have been radical enough when it comes to rural affairs. Things like high fuel prices and farming subsidies are more UK and EU matters than Welsh Assembly, no matter what the Welsh parties may promise.
Part Four looks at "Our Communities"; the parties policies on social justice, heritage & culture and local government, regeneration and planning.
0 comments:
Post a Comment