FMQs Extra : Pembrokeshire, Heathrow & Orgreave

First Minister's Questions....without the First Minister.
(Pic : Wales Online)

As promised, I'm going to return to yesterday's plenary session and cover the four urgent questions asked following FMQs.

I'm going to summarise what was said. I'm not going to name drop everyone or every contribution or I'll be here all day. There was another urgent question asked today on the announcement of 350 job losses at St Merryn's Food in Merthyr Tydfil - but I can only do so much.

Main Port Engineering Goes Bust

(Pic : Central Roofing South Wales)

The company, based at Pembroke Dock, becomes the latest in a growing list of companies who've gone into administration despite Welsh Government financial support. The Wales Audit Office recently agreed to look into grants in more detail, while the Assembly's Public Accounts Committee are also looking at individual cases.

Angela Burns AM (Con, Carms. E & S. Pembs.) wanted an explanation as to why the company – which specialises in services to the energy sector – went into administration over tax debt despite a £650,000 grant from the Welsh Government in March 2015?

One of the company's main customers was the Murco refinery (which was decommissioned in 2014 after a sale fell through). Will the Welsh Government ensure support offered to Murco workers will be extended to Main Port employees? She also asked whether, as the company was putting together a payment plan for HMRC, the company's long-term viability was properly assessed before the grant was awarded?

Economy & Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South), said the grant was awarded to support a capital investment in new premises (pictured). The terms and conditions were fully met at the time, and there was a sense of surprise at the news as the company recorded a profit in 2015. The proper due-diligence procedures were carried out and revealed the company was in good health; an internal review will be carried out to see if there was a proper "deep dive" of the company's books, while the Welsh Government continues to learn lessons from individual cases.

Only 4.9% of companies who've received Welsh Government support over the last five years have entered administration, which is lower than the national business failure rate of around 9%.

Price Waterhouse Cooper are looking to sell the assets – and there's already some interest – with a careers advice event being held for affected workers at 11am on Friday (4^th November). Whether the Welsh Government will see any claw back as a result of any sales depends on where they stand compared to other debtors.

The Secretary called for HMRC to be more responsible in its approach to winding-up orders, particularly in economically challenging areas. The decisions shouldn't be based solely on debt, but the potential of repayment and the impact a winding-up order has on the community.

Paediatric Services at Withybush Hospital

(Pic : Wales Online)

Paul Davies AM (Con, Preseli Pembs.) said a consultant paediatrician is retiring at Haverfordwest's Withybush Hospital and another is about to go on maternity leave. Services have already been downgraded from 24hr cover to 12hrs, and he was concerned that continued downgrades could have a detrimental impact on other services. What reassurances could be given to patients that the Welsh Government will do all it can to support Hywel Dda health board in maintaining services and eventually re-establishing a 24hr service?

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth) was committed to maintaining paediatric care at Withybush and families can be reassured they'll have access to the same services they have now. Interviews for the consultant posts will likely start in December and January but there are problems in recruiting paediatricians across the UK. There's clinical evidence the new service is working well and improving outcomes for women and children, and he doesn't want the current problems to create unnecessary fear.

In response to more positive comments from Joyce Watson AM (Lab, Mid & West Wales), Vaughan believes there was cause for optimism, including the recent successful launch of a doctor recruitment campaign and the fact there are more nurses based at the hospital since the service model changed. There's no point in "overselling" things by saying we want something (24hr cover), without having first considered the clinical evidence on what works.

Third Runway at Heathrow

(Pic : Heathrow Airport)

The UK Government recently announced a third runway will be constructed at Heathrow Airport to meet future air travel demand, rejecting an option of a second runway at Gatwick Airport.

Simon Thomas AM (Plaid, Mid & West Wales) wanted to know how and why the Welsh Government came to support the proposal? A memorandum between Heathrow Airport and the Scottish Government will see an extra £200million in capital expenditure, £10million for development of new air routes over Great Britain and a reduction in landing fees.

The Economy & Infrastructure Secretary welcomed the decision and believes it will benefit Welsh passengers, tourists and exporters. Expansion could also boost the Welsh economy by £6billion and create 8,000 jobs.

In terms of what the Welsh Government got in exchange for support, the answer boiled down to "nothing....yet". Welsh Government officials are working on a memorandum proportionate to what Scotland has been promised, though Wales has already delivered some of the things such as improved tourism promotion. Now the Welsh Government were looking for assurances on a Heathrow rail link, upgrades to the north Wales mainline, abolition of Severn crossing tolls and devolution of air passenger duty – but these will require negotiation with the UK Government, not Heathrow Airport.

In response to a comment from David Rowlands AM (UKIP, South Wales East) on making more of Cardiff Airport, it can never directly compete with an international hub like Heathrow, but can complement Heathrow.

Home Office rejects inquiry into "Battle of Orgreave"

(Pic : The Guardian)

More comment from National Left.

On Monday (31^st October) UK Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, rejected holding a public inquiry into events surrounding an infamous confrontation between miners and the police at Orgreave near Sheffield on June 18th 1984 (during the height of the 1984-85 miners' strike). It happened before I was born, but provided some of the defining images of the dispute, with the police using tactics straight from a medieval battlefield against unarmed civilians.

Almost everyone arrested on the day had their charges dropped, and South Yorkshire Police ended up settling out of court for £425,000 compensation plus £100,000 legal costs. However, no police officer has been reprimanded or disciplined, while the decision-making process that resulted in Game of Thrones tactics being used has never been formally revealed – fuelling calls for a public inquiry.

Lee Waters AM (Lab, Llanelli) said there was clear evidence of wrongful arrests, while many people lost their jobs after the "battle". There was also evidence of perjury and perverting the course of justice, with the police deliberately used for political ends to "crush a lawful strike".

Adam Price AM's (Plaid, Carms. E & Dinefwr) father was there, and men in jeans and t-shirts were on the receiving end of a cavalry charge by police officers in full riot gear. It was a deliberate act of entrapment and collective punishment. He asked whether the four Welsh police forces – and others with archived evidence – could come together and look towards setting up a "people's inquiry" or even seeking a private prosecution for perverting the course of justice and inciting violence?

Huw Irranca-Davies AM (Lab, Ogmore) met with former miners in the Llynfi Valley, who can't forget that a government destroyed a union and regarded the people and communities affected as "collateral damage". There was clear collusion between the state and police, and at the heart of the matter is the question : "Who gave the orders?"

Gareth Bennett AM (UKIP, South Wales Central), decided this was a good time to troll Labour and Plaid Cymru AMs by saying a public inquiry would be a waste of taxpayers' money – "nobody died" and it happened 32 years ago.

Communities Secretary, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside), believes the decision was "deeply disappointing" and an inquiry has the Welsh Government's full support. He rejects any suggestion there's not enough evidence or that it was too long ago as – "if it was wrong then, it's wrong now". He believes there was political interference in the police and compared it to the successful Hillsborough disaster inquiry. Even though policing is non-devolved, he called on the Home Secretary to reconsider her decision.