February
Glyn Davies

February 28th 2006

TORY AM CALLS ON FIRST MINISTER NOT TO WITHDRAW CONSULTANTS RIGHT TO PRESCRIBE ALZHEIMER RELIEF DRUGS

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has today called on Rhodri Morgan not to confirm a draft proposal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) that consultants should not be able to prescribe drugs which delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

 NICE have proposed that the Anticholinestarase drugs, Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl should only be prescribed for Alzheimer sufferers which have deteriorated to a worse stage of the disease.

 In his questioning of the First Minister Glyn Davies said:

 "Alzheimer's Disease is a cruel illness which destroys people and puts a huge burden on carers.  We should be doing all we can to slow down the advance of the disease.  It would be entirely cruel to prevent consultants prescribing Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl when they believe it would help patients.

 NICE has decided that these drugs should be withdrawn from Alzheimer sufferers who are in the early stages of the disease - but should still be available when their condition has deteriorated.  This strongly discourages early intervention and early diagnosis - and it makes no sense whatsoever to allow people to deteriorate before treatment.

 If NICE confirms its draft proposals, consultants will be under real pressure to assess Alzheimer sufferers as sufficiently severely affected to qualify for the drugs - which will introduce confusion and complexity into what should be straightforward system.

 I hope NICE will change its proposal and make these drugs - Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl - available to all Alzheimer sufferers who their consultants believe would gain benefit."

TORY AM CRITICISES 'SHAMEFUL' WASTE OF COUNCIL TAX PAYERS MONEY FOLLOWING POWYS BUDGET FIASCO

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales and Spokesman on Finance has expressed his utter incredulity at the failure of Dyfed Powys Police Authority to set its budget in time for Powys County Council to set the Council's budget at its full council meeting at Llandrindod Wells yesterday.  As a result another full council meeting will have to be called tomorrow afternoon - which will cost the council tax payers of Powys a sum of £6,800.

 Commenting on the fiasco, Glyn Davies who has been an outspoken critic of high Council Tax levels said:

 "This is a total shambles - but with a £6,800 price tag for Powys Council Tax payers.  I can scarcely believe that the Police Authority is setting its precept one day too late for Powys County Council to set its annual budget at yesterday's meeting called for that specific purpose.

 I have never known anything like it.  It is utterly ludicrous that the Council has been forced to call another full Council meeting just two days after the last one, which had been specifically called to set the annual budget - at a cost to the public purse of £6,800.  The Council Tax payers of Powys are going to be tamping mad when they hear about this wastefulness.  This sort of waste is criminal.

 I hope that the Police Authority come up with a decent explanation.  It is bad enough that people have to pay unaffordable levels of Council Tax - but it becomes a whole lot worse when they see £6,800 of their hard earned money being 'blown' on a totally unnecessary meeting."

February 27th 2006

GLYN DAVIES ACCEPTS THAT POWYS CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS WILL STAY 'INDEPENDENT' IN NEW POWYS POLITICAL STRUCTURE

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has accepted that Powys County Councillors who are also Conservative supporters are likely to remain as 'Independent' Councillors.

 Glyn Davies, who retains close links with many Powys Councillors revealed two weeks ago that Powys would go 'political' and it is expected that Labour will form the first ever political group on Powys Council following today's (Monday) full Council meeting.  He also predicted that the Liberal Democrats will follow Labour and also announce a political group.

 The Conservative AM who was himself an 'Independent' Council Leader in Mid Wales in the 1980's said after hearing of Labour's decision:

 "I am not going to criticise either Labour or Liberal Democrat Councillors if they decide to form political groups - even if I do feel a touch sad at the passing of the last Welsh County Council without any political groups.  It is a matter for them.

 I personally would like the Conservative supporters who serve on the Council to respond by forming a 'Conservative Group' but I accept that at present they prefer to remain 'Independent'.  I will fully respect this decision and intend to work with and support the new 'Independent Group' in the interests of the people of Powys.

 I do believe that political groups are inevitable in the future and I am concerned that the Conservative Party could lose out in the short term to those parties which establish a multi-tier team made up of MP's, AM's and Councillors all working together - but I am very much against trying to force the issue.  The gauntlet is being thrown down before the Conservative Party in Montgomeryshire, Brecknockshire and Radnorshire. We have no choice but pick up the challenge and to put up our own candidates who campaign hard, win seats and want to make a proud declaration of being a Conservative Councillor."

TORY AM CONGRATULATES WELSH POLICE AUTHORITIES FOR REFUSING TO 'ROLL OVER' IN MERGER ROW WITH HOME SECRETARY

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales and Spokesman on Finance has congratulated the four Welsh Police Authorities for standing their ground under severe pressure from Charles Clark, the Home Secretary, and Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary to agree 'voluntarily' to merge into one all Wales Police Authority.  It now seems likely that the Home Secretary will ignore the unanimous view of the Welsh Authorities and force through the merger anyway.

 Commenting on the collective refusal of Welsh Police Authorities to buckle under the Home Secretary's pressure Glyn Davies said:

 "It really is desperately sad that the Home Secretary is refusing to listen to the collective voices of all the Welsh Police Authorities and intends to force through his plan for a 'national' Police Force without any coherent plan, without any agreement and without any clear idea about where the money is going to come from.  This enforced merger is as worrying for our police service as it is for Council Tax payers and as it is destructive of any semblance of democracy.

 In most of Mid and West Wales we are used to the comparatively effective Dyfed Powys Police Force which is now to be abolished.  The merger should not go ahead until our existing Police Authority is satisfied that change will not mean cash being taken away from Dyfed Powys and reassurance that Council Tax payers are not going to be left with even higher bills to pay for it.

 The Home Secretary and the Welsh Secretary thought that a bullying and dictatorial attitude would force Police Authorities to bend to their will - but they have stood their ground and refused to roll over.  Welsh citizens from the southern tip of Pembrokeshire to the northern tip of Powys should be proud of the stand being taken by Dyfed Powys Police Authority.

February 15th 2006

TORY AM TO MEET MINISTER OVER PRESTEIGNE JOBS THREAT

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales will meet Assembly Government Minster Andrew Davies to discuss a strategy to retain jobs in Presteigne following the announcement that J L French UK Ltd is under the control of joint administrators Shagun Dubey, Geoff Kinlan and Kim Rayment partners of B D O Stoy Hayward L L P.

 J L French UK Ltd is owned by J L French Automotive Castings Inc.  The US based parent company has recently agreed a major debt restructuring through a Chapter 11 filing which prevents any further funding of its plant in Presteigne.

 The Administrators are now reviewing the UK businesses of J L French UK ltd hoping to identify ways in which the business can be restructured and allowed to continue trading.

 Commenting on the Administration announcement Glyn Davies, who for many years was involved with establishing businesses in Mid Wales as Chair of the Development Board for Rural Wales, said:

 "I know that trading conditions in the car parts manufacturing business has been very difficult for many years but it still comes as a massive shock to a small town like Presteigne when the survival of such a large employer is threatened.

 Experienced administrators have been brought in and I hope that they hold early discussions with Andrew Davies, the Governments Economic Development Minister to establish what assistance is available to them.

 Attracting jobs to locations in rural Wales like Presteigne is much more difficult than to locations near the M4 or the A55 in the North - which is why this announcement is such a serious blow.  Everything possible must be done to help the administrators save as much of the J L French business in Presteigne as possible."

February 14th 2006

GLYN DAVIES CONCERNED BY BAN ON COUNCILLOR TAKING PART IN WIND FARM PLANNING PERMISSION DEBATES

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has expressed his concern about a letter which has been sent to a Powys County Councillor from the Council's Monitoring Officer warning him that he should not take any part in any discussions on wind farm planning applications.  Councillor Bob Mills of Newtown has been informed in writing that he cannot participate in deciding planning applications as a consequence of his having written a letter to a local newspaper, questioning the efficiency of on shore wind turbines.  He is deemed to have prejudiced his position by making his opinion on wind farms public.

 Commenting on the letter received by Bob Mills (which is attached) Glyn Davies said:

 "I am deeply concerned about how the democratic process is going to deal with the mass of wind farm applications that are coming before planning committees.  If anyone who publicly expresses either their support for or opposition to wind farms is going to be banned from the decision making process, the concept of free speech is dead.  The position is even more worrying in that it forces councillors to 'sit on the fence' and not have any involvement in one of the most difficult issues currently facing rural Wales.

 I have already accepted that because I have been elected Chair of the National Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee that I am unable to publicly express my opinion on wind farms.  I understand Councillor Mills' frustration at receiving what is a gagging order from a Council Official.

February 13th 2006

GLYN DAVIES DISSAPPOINTED BY COUNTY COUNCILLORS MOVE TO POLITICAL 'GROUPS' IN POWYS

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has revealed that Powys County Council is likely to become a 'political' council from next month, with councillors dividing up into political 'groups'.  From March, the Council is likely to be divided up into a Labour Group, a Liberal Democrat Group and a dominant Independent Group.  Powys is the last council in Wales to be run as a non-political local authority and there will be sadness when Powys joins every other Welsh council in being run on 'group' lines.

 Commenting on the impending change, Glyn Davies, who is a former Chair of the Montgomeryshire District Council said:

 "It now seems to me inevitable that the Powys County Council will reform itself into a body run by political groups.  I have an emotional attachment to the idea of a wholly 'independent' council where councillors are answerable to the constituents rather than to their political groups.  It is important to realise that a member of an Independent Group is not the same thing as an 'independent' Councillor.  I will be sad to see the passing of the genuinely 'independent' councillor

 However, I do accept that there would be some advantages if there were to be a genuine 'opposition' to the ruling 'elite' within the Council itself.  The present position is that criticism of and opposition to Council actions come from people such as me, outside of the Council.  This does not lead to thorough and forensic examination of proposals.  At present, any criticism that I make of Council proposals are seen as criticism of all of the councillors - which it is very definitely not.  For example, I genuinely believe that if there had been political groups, the secrecy behind primary school reorganisation would never have been accepted.  I also believe that councillors would become more accountable for policy rather than the officers.

 I have to admit my 'Conservatism' and inherent resistance to change makes me disappointed to see Powys Council going the way of all the others.  However, I do hope that if political groups are formed, the current arrangement where there is a politically balanced 'Management Board' will be abandoned.  If we have this change, the Council should carry it to the logical conclusion of a 'governing group' and an 'opposition'."

MID AND WEST WALES TORY AM CONDEMNS RUSH TO SINGLE WELSH POLICE FORCE

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales and Spokesman on Finance has condemned the decision by Home Secretary, Charles Clark' to merge Wales' four existing Police Forces into one National Police Force.  His condemnation is based on the lack of any clear argument in favour of the change and the likely impact that the change would have on the Council Tax payers of Wales.

 The Conservative's Finance Spokesman has become increasingly concerned following the Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain's admission that he doesn't know how the change will be paid for.

 Commenting on the Home Secretary's proposals Glyn Davies, who has been a constant critic over recent years of large Council Tax rises, said:

 "The case for scrapping the four Welsh Police Forces and creating a National Police Force has not been made, has not been costed and is being rushed through without a proper level of consultation.  I am not at all surprised that two of Wales's police authorities are opposing the change.  Yet again the Westminster Governments attitude towards Wales is dictatorial, undemocratic and totally uncaring about the pain caused by forcing up Council Tax to unaffordable levels.

 I would accept the change if there was clear evidence that it would improve the police service - but there is no such clear evidence.  All we have is a Home Secretary, with little knowledge of Wales, asserting without evidence that there must be change - in the teeth of opposition from the public, the National Assembly and the police authorities themselves.

 The sheer contempt which the Home Secretary has shown towards the National Assembly is as disappointing as it is arrogant.  Despite knowing of Assembly Members concerns and without an assessment of costs (which one police authority has put at 100 million pounds) the Home Secretary has demanded agreement by next week.  This will be yet another massive and unnecessary blow to Welsh Council Tax payers."

TORY AM RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ALONG CANAL THROUGH WELSHPOOL

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales is raising questions about the safety of the public along the stretch of the Montgomery Canal as it passes through Welshpool.  He has contacted the Chief Executive of Powys County Council as a result of an approach from residents of Welshpool following two recent deaths in the in the town.

 Glyn Davies is a long term supporter of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal to narrowboat traffic and is concerned that worries about safety should not be jeopardise future public support for further improvement.

 Commenting after two separate approaches from concerned residents of Welshpool over the weekend Glyn Davies said:

 "I am a great supporter of the project to reopen the Montgomery Canal to much greater use by the public, but I have always accepted that issues regarding public safety and nature conservation must be addressed.  I am very keen to see the Montgomery Canal reconnected with the national canal network - an ambition that can only be met with the general support of the public as well as significant public investment.  We must listen to public concerns about safety following the recent discovery of two bodies in the Canal.

 I am not qualified to make an assessment of public safety or to suggest specific proposals for improvement. It is impossible to totally eliminate risk from an open stretch of deep water and it may well be that the recent deaths linked to the Canal do not have any safety implications.  However, the concern of residents cannot be ignored.  I hope that the local authority will survey the length that passes through the town of Welshpool to make sure that there are no unnecessary risks and dangers."

February 10th 2006

FARMING UNION'S MEETING WITH TESCO 'VERY CONSTRUCTIVE' SAY ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, GLYN DAVIES

 Yesterday's meeting at the National Assembly for Wales between Tesco Stores Ltd, the FUW, NFU Cymru and Hybu Cig Cymru has been described as genuinely constructive by Glyn Davies AM, who chaired the meeting.   The meeting was arranged to discuss issues of common interest to the participants

 Leading the Tesco team was Sean McCurley, the company's Meat, Fish and Poultry Category Director while Gareth Vaughan, Dai Davies and Gwyn Howells led the teams from FUW, NFU Cymru and Hybu Cig Cymru.

 In order to ensure genuinely no holds barred discussion it was agreed that the meeting would be treated as a private meeting.

 Commenting after the meeting on behalf of all participants Glyn Davies said:

 "This meeting between Tesco Stores Ltd and representatives of the farming industry was a genuinely constructive discussion about the problems and financial pressures facing both the production and retailing sectors of the Welsh food business.

 The Tesco team was entirely open and direct about what the international trading market and the company's customers will demand of themselves and of farmers in the future - while the farming unions were equally open and direct about the need for their members to have a fair return.   I firmly believe that farmers and the supermarkets need each other.

 There will inevitably continue to be a normal business tension between retailers and producers but I was greatly encouraged by the recognition on all sides of the interdependence that underpins the relationship between them.  Nobody benefits if this relationship is fraught with constant conflict and poor understanding of each others position.  From time to time a no-holds-barred round table discussion can be beneficial.

 No one pretends that one meeting can resolve the present difficulties facing farming in Wales but we are all sufficiently encouraged to agree that similar meetings should take place in the future."

GREATER FOCUS ON ORGANIC MEAT NEEDED SAYS ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE CHAIR

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has said that there should be a greater focus put on expanding the amount of organic meat produced on Welsh farms.  He has written to Countryside Minister, Carwyn Jones, to outline his concerns.  The gist of his letter follows:

 "Supermarkets confirm that there is a rapidly expanding demand for organic meat - about half of which currently has to be imported.  As the proportion of meat sold as organic increases, the proportion of meat imported will increase unless action is taken to expand home production.  It will be a very serious blow to Welsh agriculture if we were to allow the growing demand for organic meat to be met from Argentina and Brazil.  This is an issue that should be tackled now.

 Many farmers believe that imported organic meat is produced without the same restrictions that are placed on British farmers.  While it is certainly true that the production cost base is lower, supermarkets are adamant that there is no compromise on standards.

February 7th 2006

TORY AM ACCUSES FIRST MINISTER OF 'COMPLETELY LOSING THE PLOT' OVER WDA PENSIONS

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales and Spokesman on Finance has accused the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, of either deliberately misleading the people of Wales or 'completely losing the plot' over the future pension arrangements for WDA staff.  In a few weeks time, all WDA staff will become part of the Civil Service and have been consistently promised as a condition of their new employment that they would transfer into the Civil Service Pension Scheme.  However, under heavy questioning from Glyn Davies, the First Minister was forced to admit:

 "So we are saying to the staff 'You will stay in your existing pension scheme' and it is right to say that there is a kind of convention but I do not think it is in statute that people come into the Civil Service and yes they may have expected it."

 A transcript of the meeting has not been available until today (Tuesday).  Commenting on the First Ministers huge u-turn on this contentious issue Glyn Davies said:

 "Either Rhodri Morgan has completely lost the plot or he is deliberately trying to mislead the people of Wales. 

 I suspect that the First Minister was trying to bury bad news in a low profile meeting being held a long way from Cardiff - where he thought the media wouldn't be looking.  Well unfortunately for Rhodri I was looking and spotted what was going on.  He was trying to get this deeply embarrassing announcement of a massive u-turn 'on the record' without anyone noticing.

 The most worrying aspect of the announcement from Rhodri Morgan which totally undermines his Economic Development Minister and will create a new category of second class civil servant is that our First Minister completely denied it as soon as he realised that he had been found out.

 To make matters worse a Government spokesman has now rushed out a 'clarification' that makes the position even more confused.  It now seems that staff will be able to transfer after all, but on undefined, unfavourable terms.  WDA staff have no idea what's going on and we need an urgent statement to the Assembly to give some genuine clarification.  It's time the First Minister got his act together."

February 1st 2006

AM RECRUITS JONA LOMU TO SUPPORT RUGBY COMEBACK IN AID OF COLON CANCER

 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has decided to come out of retirement and play for a London Welsh XV against a Parliamentary XV in a friendly on the morning of this weeks England v Wales game at Twickenham.

 Glyn Davies retired from rugby about 28 years ago after a brutal career on the playing fields of England and North Wales to concentrate on his second sporting career on the squash courts of Shropshire.

 His return to the rugby field coincides with Colon Cancer awareness week.  Glyn underwent radical surgery 3 years ago to remove a colorectal tumour and seeks to demonstrate that it is possible to live life to the full after cancer.

 Commenting after his training session with Jona Lomu Glyn Davies said:

 "Jona Lomu is my inspiration.  He has faced serious illness and has returned to live life to the full.  I want colon cancer sufferers to know that it is entirely possible to make a full recovery - so I have decided to return to the rugby field and I am grateful to Jona and the Cardiff Blues for helping me with my training.

 It is 28 years since I retired with a wrecked body and I do not expect to play with the same speed and brutality as when I was in my twenty's.  I just want to smell the dressing room and feel ball in hand once again.  I hope Wales beat England on Saturday and I will be willing them on.  But it is important to remember that it is only a game. 

Life is a precious gift - and both Jona Lomu and I know it.  Playing games and staying fit helps make life enjoyable.  Cardiff Blues are doing a wonderful job working with young people and in the community.  If I can help Cardiff in their unsung voluntary work, my comeback will be worthwhile.

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