Senedd Watch - May 2015

• The Electoral Reform Society warned that Wales faced a “turnout time bomb” amongst under-25s due to falling interest in elections. They recommended reforms to how politics is taught in schools, and urgent legislation to extend the voting franchise to 16 year olds in time for the 2016 National Assembly election. It was confirmed on May 14^th that votes for 16 year olds couldn't be introduced in time for the election.
• The Welsh Government introduced the Historic Environment Bill on May 5^th, which sets out measures to improve the protection of monuments and listed buildings, create an advisory panel, as well as enable stronger prosecutions to be taken where monuments are damaged.
• The Welsh Conservatives called for an independent inquiry into the collapse of Pencoed-based IT company Ideoba, after claims a Welsh Government adviser said funding was pulled because the other director, former Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price, was standing in the 2016 National Assembly election. The Welsh Government said the claim was, “frankly ridiculous”.
• The Communities & Local Government Committee said proposed mergers between local authorities need to be “sustainable and enduring” in their Stage 1 report on the Local Government Bill. Committee Chair, Christine Chapman AM (Lab, Cynon Valley), warned that anything less could lead to another reorganisation. The Finance Committee also called for more clarity on the costings of local government mergers.
• Two Conservative Assembly Members – Antoinette Sandbach and Byron Davies – were elected as MPs in the 2015 UK election. Both resigned their Assembly seats. Byron Davies MP was replaced by Altaf Hussain AM (Con, South Wales West), while Antoinette Sandbach MP was replaced by Janet Howarth AM (Con, North Wales).
• The Finance Committee recommended increased powers for the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, legislation giving the Ombudsman more power to investigate complaints independently and an expansion of their jurisdiction to include private healthcare. Committee Chair, Jocelyn Davies AM (Plaid, South Wales East), said, “should (public services) fall short of an individual’s expectations, they need to have the confidence in the Ombudsman to investigate.”
• A leaked report revealed staff in Betsi Cadwaladr Local Health Board believe out-of-hours GP services were “unsafe”, blaming recruitment problems. The First Ministers told AMs he was “determined to make sure it does improve”. Ann Jones AM (Lab, Vale of Clwyd) wrote to the First Minister demanding that the Chief Executive of the health board, Prof. Trevor Purt, be sacked.
• In a separate development, an independent investigation into the treatment of patients on a mental health ward at Glan Clwyd Hospital suggests their human rights may have been breached. Betsi Cadwaladr LHB apologised for “inexcusable and unacceptable” standards of care. Accusations include patients being left unattended, treatment being provided on the floor and improper use of restraints. Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Davies AM (Con, South Wales Central), demanded a full inquiry into the Welsh NHS.
• The Jobs Growth Wales scheme secured a three-year, £25million extension - backed by EU funding. Deputy Minister for Skills, Julie James AM (Lab, Swansea West), said it, “illustrates our ongoing commitment to supporting young people into employment”.
• Opposition AMs criticised the extension. Eluned Parrott AM (Lib Dem, South Wales Central) said Labour need to “stop wasting money on this ineffective scheme and invest in apprenticeships and training” after a review found 37% of the scheme's participants didn't need it to find work.
• Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside), introduced the Environment Bill to the National Assembly on May 12^th. The Bill proposes to set a statutory target for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, protects biodiversity, increases the powers of Natural Resources Wales and give Ministers the power to expand charges for carrier bags to include “bags for life”.
• Anglesey overtook Merthyr Tydfil as the local authority with the highest proportion of obese or overweight children according to the latest Public Health Wales figures. The overall rate remains higher in Wales (26%) than England (23%). Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ruth Hussey, said that while childhood obesity had “levelled off”, there was “still much work to do”.
• The National Assembly approved the Planning Bill on May 19^th by 39 votes to 10. The Planning Act will institute a national development plan and allow strategic plans to be developed across multiple councils. Amendments to the Bill will place a greater consideration on the impact housing developments have on the Welsh language.
• On a visit to Cardiff, US ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun, said the proposed TTIP US-EU free trade agreement was a “big deal....with high standards”. The Welsh Government estimates the deal would be worth £1.5billion to the Welsh economy, but Plaid Cymru in particular have expressed concerns over "back door privatisation" of the NHS.
• Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), launched a public consultation on giving communities a right to bid for, own and run assets transferred from the public and private sectors. She said, “I believe in the power of our communities and I look forward to hearing people’s views on this important topic.”
• The Independent Remuneration Panel for the National Assembly finalised a decision to award AMs an 18% increase in their annual salary to £64,000. The decision has been highly-controversial, with all the main parties expressing reservations. The agreed proposals also include changes to AM pension arrangements and party group funding.
• The RAC Foundation claimed that limited powers over road safety has stalled progress on reducing the number of road deaths, with a 15% fall in Wales compared to 33% and 35% falls in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively – where some powers are devolved. Scotland lowered the legal drink-driving limit in December 2014 and the Liberal Democrats called for Wales to have the power to do the same.
• Plaid Cymru called for a “full feasibility study” into basing Welsh regiments in Wales when not on active service. At the moment, they're based in English bases. They said troops were often away from wider support networks while defence spending in Wales had fallen consistently for 20 years.
• The Chair of the National Assembly's Environment Committee, Alun Ffred Jones AM (Plaid, Arfon), called for the Committee to have a role in the appointment of the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Chair, after widespread concerns over NRW's independence. He said, “Allowing independent scrutiny of the preferred candidate....will offer public reassurance over the eventual appointment.....and, crucially, provide evidence of the candidate's independence of mind."
• At the State Opening of the new UK Parliament session on May 27^th, the Queen announced that the UK Government would introduce a Wales Bill granting Wales extra powers and a reserved powers model - as set out in the St David's Day Agreement - as well as legislation for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, which was introduced on May 28th.
• Welsh Secretary, Stephen Crabb MP, said Wales is a “huge winner” from the EU and he would campaign for the UK to remain in the EU in a future referendum, which could be brought forward to 2016. It comes as Airbus and Deutsche Bank warned it would reconsider UK investments if the UK left the EU – though JCB said there was “nothing to fear” from an EU exit.
• The Welsh Liberal Democrats and SNP called for any EU referendum to be held separately from the 2016 National Assembly/Scottish Parliament elections. Meanwhile, UKIP's leader in Wales, Nathan Gill MEP, called for a same day vote in order to boost turnout and save money.
• A Finance Committee report into the future management of devolved taxes recommended a transitional period to provide stability and build up expertise in the proposed Welsh Revenue Authority. They also recommended that direct accountability and scrutiny be provided through an Assembly committee.

Projects announced in May include : A £6million investment in a combined primary care and sheltered housing complex in Tregaron, Ceredigion; a £3million funding boost to 12 third sector mental health projects; an £18million, three-year research project into several areas of the health service; £27million towards 35 transport projects in 18 local authorities; a £2million one-year action plan to reduce autism diagnostic waiting times; a £108million investment in upgrades to social housing and an extra £7.6million for child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) services.

Results :

(Click to enlarge)

• Following the surprise Conservative victory, Prime Minister David Cameron promised to lead “one nation” - with extra powers for the devolved administrations – pledging to “make Britain greater still”. Stephen Crabb MP (Con, Preseli Pembs.) remained Welsh Secretary.
• Ed Miliband resigned immediately as Labour leader as a result of the election defeat, saying the party needs a chance to “rebuild”. Harriet Harman was appointed temporary leader until a successor is elected.
• First Minister Carwyn Jones said Labour needed to be “pro-business” in the fallout from the election, pointing to what his government have done in Wales. Meanwhile, former Welsh Government minister, Alun Davies AM (Lab, Blaenau Gwent), said Labour had “lost the argument” on the NHS, which contributed to their defeat after being used effectively by the Conservatives during their campaign, saying Labour need to “ensure that people do trust Welsh Labour with the Welsh NHS”.
• Former Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP, resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats, triggering a leadership election. He paid tribute to his party, saying “we had the courage to step up at a time of crisis” whilst admitting the “crushing and unkind” loss of seats and colleagues.
• Nigel Farage MEP “resigned” as UKIP leader after failing to win South Thanet, saying he would take a break to consider whether to stand for the leadership again. On May 11^th he reported his resignation was “rejected” by UKIP's executive board and subsequently “un-resigned”, prompting derision from other parties and various internal squabbles.
• Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood AM (Plaid, South Wales Central), said results in the western valleys laid strong foundations for the 2016 National Assembly election despite failing to gain target seats like Ceredigion and Ynys Môn. However, she later admitted the results had been generally “disappointing”.

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Pirate Party : Hoisting the Jolly Roger above Wales

Bridgend's voters were faced with a unique choice on May 7th.
Maybe, in future, other Welsh voters will have the option too.
(Pic : via Facebook)

I doubt many people reading this will have heard of The Pirate Party.

"Pirate politics" – the umbrella term used for such parties – is often hard to place on the traditional political spectrum. While the left-wing is mainly focused on inequalities and the right-wing on tradition, pirate politics is based around information : how freely you can access it, who it belongs to and how and why it should be used.

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Bridge Over Troubled Water

While the Welsh Government and CBI have said the Newport M4 "Hart Bypass" will boost the economy,
does the Port of Newport - which supports 3,000 jobs - stand to be one of the economic losers?
(Pic : South Wales Argus)

After Friends of the Earth Cymru's recent unsuccessful bid to stall the Newport M4 bypass, you would've thought that would be that. However, projects of this scale will always generate their fair share of problems, and I suspect the hurdles this particular project has to clear (political and physical) are beginning to become more obvious.

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Devolution : Last Stand of the Human Rights Act?

(Pic : via Flickr)

One Conservative manifesto commitment prior to their election victory was the repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and its replacement with a "British Bill of Rights" - possibly including a subsequent full withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if certain demands aren't met. The task has been passed to new Justice Secretary, the shy and retiring Michael Gove.

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Environment Bill introduced

Carrier bags, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity are amongst the areas
targeted by a wide-ranging Environment Bill, which was introduced this week.

Now that the election excitement is dying down, it's time to turn to more mundane matters.

Hot on the heels of the Heritage Bill, Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside) introduced the latest Welsh law. Bill here (pdf), explanatory memorandum here (pdf).

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Westminster 2015 : The Post-Mortem

Why are we looking at five more Tory years when we could've had this?
(Pic : Wales Online)

In one final visit to the 2015 House of Commons election, it's worth looking in more detail at last Thursday's results in Wales - considering why it happened and what can be learned from it.

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Westminster 2015 : The Results

(Pic : Reuters via The Guardian)

First thing's first - I can rip my crap predictions up. Predicting is a mug's game as the polling companies are finding out to their cost. As has been said elsewhere, it's the most surprising result in a UK election since 1992, even 1945.

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Westminster 2015 : Predictions

Um....

Tonight's the night, so it's time for the real fun to begin....

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Senedd/Election Watch - April 2015

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

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

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

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

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Westminster 2015 : The Welsh Battlegrounds

Which Welsh seats are going to be keenly-fought over?
(Pic : BBC)

As we're now into the last fortnight of the 2015 election campaign, it's time to take a closer look at where in Wales the fight for votes might be keenest, and which seats might be more likely to change hands.

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The Abyss Staring Back at Wales

The National Assembly has voted in favour of a moratorium on opencast mining.
Whether there'll actually be a moratorium is a different issue.
(Pic : The Guardian)

• The Parc Slip Monster
• Libraries, Bus Cuts, School Moves & Parc Slip II

As promised on Wednesday, I come back to another members debate, this time on opencast mining, which is a controversial issue in the South Wales Valleys in particular. There's a map of current and former sites available from the Assembly Members Research Service blog (here).

A cross-party motion called for the Welsh Government to :

• Introduce a moratorium on opencast mining to allow for a strategic review into whether current measures are properly protecting communities.
• Respond to research into opencast restoration failures, addressing concerns about MTAN2 (the official guidance) and the recommended 500 metre "buffer zone" between mines and homes.
• Support local authorities that undertake legal action to force restoration.

Lynne Neagle AM (Lab, Torfaen) started by applauding the cross-party support for a moratorium on opencast mining during an election campaign (clip). A pause on opencast mining was needed to give space and time for the Welsh Government to undertake a strategic review on the impact of mining, with the cost of lengthy public inquiries leaving planners "stuck between rock and a hard place".

Lynne mentioned the Varteg proposals, where despite more than a decade of protest, mining companies propose to opencast 100m away from homes and a primary school. Although the original application was rejected, another application (near enough unchanged) has been submitted, so MTAN2 isn't meeting the needs of constituents. Alun Davies AM (Lab, Blaenau Gwent) made a point that the Assembly voted through the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015, and opencast mining was contrary to the spirit of the law.

The Assembly are waiting for a Petitions Committee report into whether MTAN2 should be made law, and although there are disagreements, we can't afford the current confused situation to continue. She cited Garn Lakes near Blaenavon as an example of where restoration has worked, so she didn't want to tar all mining companies with the same brush. However, the "dodgy dealings" have "cast a shadow on the industry", and companies shouldn't be allowed to develop new sites to cover the cost of existing obligations.

William Graham AM (Con, South Wales East) reminded everyone that the motion called for a moratorium, not a ban on opencasting, and a pause will allow time to consider amendments to the Planning Bill (clip). He listed a number of sites in his region - including Ffos-y-fran in Merthyr and Varteg – as well as their controversial planning histories.

William said the 500m buffer zone was agreed by the Assembly, but Welsh Government draft policy proposed a 350m buffer zone; and although the government has said the buffer has to be given appropriate weight in planning applications, words were not enough. He suggested local authorities should be able to reject retrospective applications so developers are aware that the buffer is an absolute condition, not optional. William proposed that sub-standard restoration can be resolved through the use of restoration insurance bonds to prevent companies avoiding their liabilities towards restoration.

William Powell AM (Lib Dem, Mid & West Wales) started by paying tribute to the United Valleys Action Group (clip). It was vital to see a "consistency of approach" in planning, particularly technical advice notes, and proposals that breach planning conditions need to be properly justified. The market conditions for coal have changed, leaving "colossal" shortfalls in funding for restoration, meaning companies are "unable to finish projects they've started".

He called for greater public consultation with regard mine closures and their after-use, listing come of the common knock-on impacts nearby residents face such as poor air quality, noise, and declining property prices. He ended by saying the motion consistent with commitments to develop renewable energy.

Gwenda Thomas AM (Lab, Neath) said her constituency was built on coal, and it defines the area's past, but if carbon capture technology is proven viable, coal could have a future (clip). She doesn't oppose responsible mining but supports the motion anyway. Gwenda previously called for a presumption against new mining applications unless communities are properly protected, and subsequent events reinforced her views.

Gwenda described the legal actions between cash-strapped local authorities and mining companies - who can afford £250,000 for a single barrister's view - as a David vs Goliath battle. The people of Cwmllynfell, which borders East Pit, have been promised restoration for three generations, but now they're told "there's no money" and they must have a lake, which involves constructing a wall to hold back tens of thousands of cubic metres of water.

Celtic Energy and Oak Regeneration have made a string of promises relating to
restoration of former mines - like East Pit above - but they've all fallen flat.
(Pic : Wales Online)

David Rees AM (Lab, Aberavon) also acknowledged the historical and current importance of coal, though despite providing jobs, it contradicts carbon reduction policies (clip). He described how Parc Slip has been off limits since 1947 (technically incorrect as the eastern half has been restored), and how the ownership transferred from British Coal to Celtic Energy in 1997, who in turn transferred ownership to offshore company, Oak Regeneration, which has caused more problems in trying to recover costs. David also questioned what has happened to levies raised from coal privatisation?

Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside), accepted that opencast was an "emotive issue", acknowledging the context of a moratorium (clip). Although he was sympathetic, he said it wouldn't resolve the situation or secure restoration. Opencast isn't a new industry, unlike fracking, and is "deeply embedded in communities" with live planning applications.

The Minister placed the blame on "market-driven" privatisation of the coal industry, which was rushed through with no consideration given to the effect it would have on communities. Companies retain the rights of a state-owned company but with none of the obligations. Peter Black AM (Lib Dem, South Wales West) said Scotland was pursuing the UK Government for restoration funds, and Carl agreed that the UK Government can't shirk its responsibilities.

He praised some aspects of MTAN2,  described as "wide-ranging" in a number of factors, including taking the track record of the company and future restoration plans into consideration with regard planning applications. David Rees intervened to say he believed there had to be upfront guarantees of restoration, as Parc Slip was more expensive to restore than was predicted.

Carl said the Welsh Government couldn't take action which "results in restoration solutions being taken off the table" simply because people live in close proximity to the mines. He did confirm that the Welsh Government will support councils taking legal action, and that he would host a summit with "stakeholders" on the future of opencast.

In reply, Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid, South Wales West) called for a "fit for purpose system" that's made in Wales, rejecting comparisons with Scotland as Welsh communities generally live closer to pits (clip). The findings from Welsh Government research were imperfect but its call to strengthen MTAN should be enacted, even if the report "pities developers" and doesn't address communities.

In terms of policy proposals, Bethan suggested creating a mineral planning centre of excellence, ex-miner liason panels to provide technical assistance unavailable to planners and compel local authorities to retain minerals planning officers – despite having four mines, Neath Port Talbot has no expert planners. In the longer-term, workers should be retrained in renewables, saying Plaid Cymru would support creating a Green Skills College.

On specific cases, in particular Parc Slip, she said companies should own the land they mine as it's hard to hold an offshore company like Oak Regeneration to account, with Celtic Energy only acting as an operator and subsequently refusing to take responsibility. Bethan also said the exceptions in MTAN2 are too broad, like "economic development", which could mean anything to anyone.

Although welcoming the proposed summit, Bethan revealed that a FOI request (I presume it's this - pdf) showed there has been no correspondence between the UK and Welsh governments on opencast mine restoration for five years.

The motion was agreed by 36 votes to none with 16 abstentions from the Labour frontbench and some backbenchers (recorded vote here).

Where next?

If you went to the Parc Slip nature reserve today, you wouldn't believe you were walking
on a former opencast mine. When you reach the other end of the reserve, you see this.

It's a non-binding vote. The Assembly agrees that a moratorium should happen, but the Welsh Government isn't obliged to follow through with that - just as there were premature celebrations over a fracking moratorium earlier this year. As William Graham said, it's right to remember that the motion called for a temporary pause on opencasting to allow for a review, not an outright ban, which would be a knee-jerk reaction.

Nevertheless there's a serious issue here that's failed to be addressed adequately by local authorities, Welsh and UK governments. The mining companies have them by the proverbial balls, and with so many tricks and loopholes, they've done them up like kippers.

It's highly likely Parc Slip will never be restored to how it was. The stark contrast between Parc Slip nature reserve and the void tens of metres away serves as a perfect historical artifact, marking the difference between state-ownership and regulation of the mining industry, and privatisation, where companies have figuratively "f**ked 'n' chucked" the land.

If the mining companies had a good track record of restoring sites, boundaries were properly enforced and the law was robust enough to ensure all that happened, opencasting would be less controversial. Now, it's not unreasonable to say opencast mining deserves to die out in Wales.

The remaining problem is that we still need coal. Wales and the UK retain coal-fired power stations and everyone except David Rees and Bethan Jenkins forgot that coal is a vital ingredient in steel-making (Assembly takes a ride on Heavy Metal) – Parc Slip supplied Port Talbot steelworks; Ffos-y-fran, Cwmgrwach and Tower supply Aberthaw power station and the steel industry.

As Bethan was also keen to point out on Twitter, only a fraction of the coal Port Talbot steelworks is obtained via opencast, the rest is imported (along with iron ore etc.)

The best hope for opponents is closure of Aberthaw power station and replacement with a renewable scheme (like a second tidal lagoon in Cardiff Bay) or something like gas or biomass. I'm also sure none of the AMs advocate closing steelworks, but if you want to "keep coal in the ground" permanently, that's what has to happen.

Digging coal up safely, locally and moving it by rail is better than importing it, which just shifts the problem elsewhere and increases the carbon footprint. Despite improvements to mining techniques and underground safety, I doubt anyone other than reactionary socialists want to see a return of shaft mining either.

This issue could turn out to be an important milestone in the decarbonisation of the Welsh
economy, but politicians should be honest about the hit Wales would take as a result.
(Pic : © Copyright Robin Drayton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)

So which way are we going to go? It would be a mistake to rely wholly on the green economy to replace jobs lost during the de-carbonisation of Wales.

Even though the numbers employed in opencast are a fraction of those employed in deep mining, very few forms of renewable energy are as labour intensive as fossil fuels or heavy industries like steel-making or chemicals. You put up a wind turbine, fit solar panels, insulate a home or build a tidal lagoon and apart from routine maintenance that's it – job done. The same goes for nuclear. The number of jobs required to run a station are a fraction of those needed to build it.

One of the reasons deep mining collapsed is because while demand for coal was holding up, the industry employed so many people it became uneconomical. Green technology has the opposite problem in that it employs too few people and often requires government subsidy.

Although its true to say opencast costs jobs too - in agriculture/land management (obviously), and more abstract cases like the Richards & Appleby cosmetics factory in the Rhymney valley - politicians should at least be honest and say that the main goal of renewables is clean energy production and energy efficiency, not long-term mass job creation or traditional economic growth. How they sell that is their problem.

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Westminster 2015 : The ITV Wales Debate

(Pic : ITV Wales)

Another week, another debate; this time from ITV Wales, hosted by Sharp End's Adrian Masters in Cardiff. For some reason it's not available online (though I watched it online), so you'll just have to take my word for it, although the ITV Wales website has a running commentary on what was said on their website.

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Flying Doctors set to take to the sky

It's happened! It's actually happened! A common sense, practical
idea on ambulance services from the Welsh Government.
(Pic : EMRTS Cymru)

After a longer than usual Easter recess, the National Assembly has returned for summer term. Although the election will be on everyone's minds, it's important to remember that AMs still exist, and I'm sure many of you are as bored of the election as I am by now.

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Westminster 2015 : The Manifestos Part II

• Westminster 2015 : The Manifestos I (Conservatives, Greens, Labour)

Following yesterday's look at the party manifestos (linked above), today it's the turn of the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and UKIP.

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Westminster 2015 : The Manifestos Part I

The following two posts are the most important of the lot this election campaign : What are we voting for in May? Or, more accurately, what might be on the table during negotiations in the event of a hung parliament?

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Westminster 2015 : The BBC Challengers Debate

(Pic : The Mirror)

The second of the main TV debates of Election 2015 was held last night, this time consisting of the opposition party leaders – so no David Cameron bwark-bwark-bwark-bwaaaark or Nick Clegg, which damaged the legitimacy a little bit.

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Westminster 2015 : The Key Issues in Wales

What are likely to be the main issues for Welsh voters?
(Pic : Click on Wales)

The first debate's out of the way, I've given my verdict on the Coalition and the manifestos are going to be released over the next few weeks (I'll look at them in more detail once their all out, though UKIP are dragging their heels by the looks of it) - which means it's time to focus on some of the issues that might be fought over in Wales.

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Westminster 2015 : The ITV Leaders Debate

The big debate has been held, and here's a run down of how the leaders did.
(Pic : ITV)

I'll only count this and the BBC opposition debate on on 16^th April as "debates" because they're....actual debates. I'm not going to count the Question Time and Daily Politics specials or the interviews. I don't know if there are Wales-only debates planned over the next few weeks (as 2010), but if there are I'll cover them too.

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