Senedd Watch - July 2016

• The First Minister believed the vote to leave the EU could lead to a federal UK, adding that he wanted to avoid Wales becoming “an annexe to England”. At an extraordinary meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff on July 22^nd, the First Minister said any future EU withdrawal deal should be ratified by the four UK parliaments, saying they needed to “work together to map out a successful way forward”.
• Local government leaders called for the Welsh Government to bring forward infrastructure projects in case the UK withdraws from the EU before the current round of EU structural funds ends in 2020. Up to £1.1billion is available, with criticism that the Wales European Funding Office (WEFO) works too slowly to distribute it.
• The charity Gofal warned that mental health services remain inconsistent despite the coming into force of the the Mental Health Measure in 2012. Their report criticised a lack of empathy and long waiting times for assessments.
• A UK Government minister said the Severn crossings would be run as a not-for-profit when they transfer to public ownership in 2017/2018, also confirming they wouldn't be transferred to the Welsh Government.
• The Public Services Ombudsman said a 50% increase in NHS complaints in five years was a “real concern”, calling for fresh legislation to “end cycles of poor service delivery”.
• Sir John Chilcot published the Iraq Inquiry report on July 6^th. It concluded the Iraq War (2003-2011) was not the “last resort” it was portrayed as, with “no imminent threat” posed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The invasion was based on “flawed intelligence” while the occupation was poorly planned for. 14 Welsh soldiers were killed in the conflict out of 179 UK fatalities.
• Families of service personnel killed in the war praised the report. Reg Keys, father of LCpl Thomas Keys of Bala, Gwynedd, said the report “done the families proud”, describing it as “thorough and incisive”.
• Plaid Cymru – which opposed the war – said former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, should be “held to account” for his actions. The Liberal Democrats said their opposition to the conflict was vindicated after The Sun described former leader Charles Kennedy as “spineless”. The Scottish National Party believed the war was an “indelible stain on Britain's standing in the world”.
• Tony Blair believed the report clearly states there were no lies or deception, but accepted the “real and material concerns” regarding preparation, planning, process of the conflict as well as UK relations with the United States.
• Wales needed to “cash in” on the success of the men's national football team – who reached the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championship in France – with the First Minister saying the “sort of profile....it's given us has been incredible". A homecoming celebration was held in Cardiff on July 8^th.
• An independent review into a case of an 8 year old Pembrokeshire boy who died of scurvy recommended a register of home-schooled children due to the potential for children becoming "invisible" as a result of a lack of information.
• On July 8^th, Tata Steel announced they would consider merging the Port Talbot plants operations with German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp after freezing the sales process for their UK steel-making business. Shadow Economy Minister, Adam Price AM (Plaid, Carms. E & Dinefwr), called for the government to reject the proposal and nationalise the business temporarily, fearing it could lead to the closure of the Port Talbot plant if steel-making were concentrated in the Netherlands.
• Former Home Secretary, Theresa May MP, was elected unopposed as leader of the UK Conservative Party after the sole other candidate, Andrea Leadsom MP, withdrew from the leadership contest on July 11^th.
• May was appointed UK Prime Minister on July 13^th following David Cameron's formal resignation. She said her government would work in the interests of everyone, not "the privileged few", also highlighting the "precious bond" of the Union amidst growing support for Scottish independence.
• Key appointments in the new UK cabinet included Philip Hammond MP replacing George Osborne as Chancellor of the Exchequer; Boris Johnson MP was appointed Foreign Secretary, while Amber Rudd MP was appointed Home Secretary. Alun Cairns MP (Con, Vale of Glamorgan) retained his position as Welsh Secretary, but Stephen Crabb MP (Con, Preseli Pembs.) resigned as Work & Pensions Secretary on July 14^th.
• On the new Prime Minister's first visit to Wales on July 18^th, she said the Welsh Government should be "involved and engaged" in EU exit negotiations. The steel crisis was also discussed. The First Minister reportedly said Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – which triggers a two year negotiating period for EU withdrawal – should be activated before summer 2017.
• Owen Smith MP (Lab, Pontypridd) launched a bid to become leader of the UK Labour Party amidst a "civil war" between supporters of Jeremy Corbyn – who lost a no-confidence motion amongst Labour MPs in June 2016 – and more than 100 members of the Labour parliamentary group. On July 19^th he became the sole challenger to Corbyn's leadership.
• A UK Climate Change Risk Assessment recommended the Welsh Government do more to plan for climate change, including flood defences, building adaptions and sea defences. The Welsh Government welcomed the report, believing they had already strengthened measures via the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015.
• The South Wales Metro project could be reworked and take longer to deliver because of uncertainty caused by EU withdrawal according to the First Minister, who called for the UK Government to guarantee EU funding that would've been used for the project. Conservative leader, Andrew Davies AM, accused him of using Brexit as “a smokescreen”.
• The formal tendering process to provide Metro services and Wales & Border Franchise rail services from 2018 – worth £5billion over 15 years - was officially launched on 18^th July.
• Economy Secretary, Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South), said further work was required before the Welsh Government are prepared to underwrite finance for the Circuit of Wales motorsports project in Blaenau Gwent, after rejecting the first proposal in April 2016. The Welsh Conservatives warned that further delays could be “disastrous”.
• The Welsh Conservatives claimed a “disproportionate” number of rural schools had been closed since September 2006, with 57% of school closures happening in nine rural authorities. Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor), stated a law would be introduced to protect rural education by reviewing the emphasis on surplus places when evaluating school closures.
• It was revealed Welsh Government procurement credit cards had been used by civil servants to make “fraudulent” purchases, including lingerie, IKEA furniture and toys. £7.5million has been spent on the cards since 2011. Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Nick Ramsay AM (Con, Monmouth), said the public needed confidence the system wouldn't be abused, describing some of the purchases as “eye-watering”.
• Nathan Gill AM (UKIP, North Wales) was threatened with deselection for refusing to stand down as a “double-jobbing” MEP, while some UKIP staff members were rebuked after they criticised proposals for the Assembly to pay residential costs for members who live in England. Those eligible include UKIP Assembly leader, Neil Hamilton AM (UKIP, Mid & West Wales).
• The Economy Secretary announced Wales would not bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, citing an estimated £1.5billion cost and financial uncertainty following the Brexit vote; a review of sports facilities would continue despite the decision. Adam Price AM criticised the decision saying now was the time for an “engine of investment”, while the Welsh Conservatives said it was a “sad day for Welsh sport”.

Projects announced in July include : A task-force to address serious economic and living standards problems in the south Wales valleys; a £6.4million Welsh Government-EU project to research mobile technologies; an £80million new/innovative treatment fund for life-threatening diseases; a £5.75million investment in recycling services for five local authorities and the launch of unlimited all-day tickets for the long distance TrawsCymru bus network.