July

July
Glyn Davies

06/07/06

GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES CAMERON CAUTION ON NUCLEAR POWER

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed David Cameron's speech to the Local Government Association about the Labour Government's drive for more nuclear power. In the speech today the Conservative Leader said "There must be a level playing field for renewable and decentralised energy to compete on equal terms with nuclear power" and that he regards new nuclear power generating capacity as the 'last resort'. In a speech last week to the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Glyn Davies warned that following the Government's failure to tackle the increases in carbon emissions it may prove inevitable that new nuclear power stations will have to be built. He also said that both supporters and opponents of nuclear power stations should focus their minds, with great urgency, on what to do with radioactive waste.

Commenting on David Cameron's speech Glyn Davies, who is also chair of the National Assembly's Environment Planning and Countryside Committee, said:

"It is absolutely right that nuclear power stations should be regarded as a 'last resort' - but there always has to be a contingency plan which prepares the ground for last resorts. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the Labour Government intends to give a green light to new nuclear power stations and has created a situation where they may already have become inevitable. The major worry is that we have absolutely no idea what to do about nuclear waste and are leaving a serious problem for future generations to clear up. There must be a clear and settled policy on dealing with radioactive waste before we decide to build any further nuclear power stations.

We also need much greater urgency in the drive for renewable energy. Since the Assembly Government published it's planning guidelines for new energy generation proposals (TAN8) in 2005, with its single minded focus on onshore wind turbines, I have called for its immediate withdrawal and redrafting. It is a document that undermines local democracy and has turned people against renewable energy. Its contempt for local opinion and for the Welsh landscape has given a huge boost to the nuclear energy industry.

I have never been opposed to wind farms where the local community welcomes them and we need new planning guidelines - a redrafted TAN 8 - which gives local planning authorities the power to decide. We also need much greater emphasis on the full range of renewables, including solar power, tidal power and micro-generation. Even if we have to build more nuclear power stations we should limit the number as far as possible"

07/07/06

RHODRI MORGAN'S TALK OF RESIGNATION SIGNALS TIME TO 'LEAVE THE STAGE' SAYS TORY AM

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed Rhodri Morgan's promise last night on the BBC programme, Dragon's Eye, that he would know it was time to leave the stage if Labour was defeated at next years Assembly Elections. Previously, he had announced that he intended to stand down in 2009 but it is now clear that he is contemplating standing down as Labour leader next year

The First Minister was being interviewed about the 'Annual Report' on his Assembly Government's performance over the last year.

Commenting on Rhodri Morgan's interview Glyn Davies said:

"Over recent months Rhodri Morgan has looked increasingly unsettled and become consistently bad-tempered. Where once there was humour and the 'catchy' one-liner, there is now only bitterness and disengagement. He knows his time as First Minister is almost up. He realises that he has lost the support of the people of Wales and is clearly contemplating retirement in 10 months time. The recent Blaenau Gwent by-election has shown that traditional Labour voters have turned against the First Minister and that they are desperate for a change. Rhodri Morgan's readiness to openly admit that he will leave the stage if his leadership contributes to Labour's defeat next May is the opening paragraph of the last chapter of his autobiography. I truly believe that Rhodri Morgan has delivered his last Annual Report.

The challenge for my own party is to take advantage of the huge disillusionment that people feel with Labour. We Conservatives have a popular new leader in David Cameron and a wonderfully committed Shadow Secretary of State in Cheryl Gillan. If we show responsible constructive opposition over the next year and talk only of our vision for the future of Wales and our commitment to the people of Wales we can go a long way towards our goal of winning more Assembly seats than Labour."

07/07/06

TORY AM ACCUSES PETER HAIN OF A TOTAL U-TURN ON NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has accused Peter Hain of doing a massive u-turn on his attitude towards new nuclear power generation in Wales. He has also accused Mr Hain's own Government of creating the situation in which his u-turn was unavoidable.

Next Tuesday, it is expected that the UK Government will announce a series of new nuclear power stations across Britain, including one in Wales, which has left the Secretary of State for Wales in an impossible position where his choice was a total U-turn or resignation.

Commenting on the Hain U-turn Glyn Davies, who is also Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, said:

"Labour's total failure to get a grip on energy supply policy has left the UK in severe threat of the 'lights going out' and may well have made new nuclear power stations inevitable. Like Peter Hain, I am no supporter of Nuclear power and see it only as the 'last resort' - but it is clear that the Secretary of State for Wales believes that we have already reached this 'last resort'. He is backing nuclear power while there remains no Government policy on dealing with nuclear waste. The Secretary of State has performed perhaps the biggest U-turn of his life - which is becoming something of a 'political slalom'

I can well understand why Peter Hain's is embarrassed and is trying to divert attention onto those who are resisting his wish to destroy parts of the Welsh landscape with wind farms - as ever the master of diversionary tactics. This embarrassment is what was behind his 'smokescreen' call for a Severn Barrage. After all he has said about nuclear power in the past his conversion to new power stations must be the biggest u-turn since he jumped from one political party to another. Peter has jumped from being a Liberal protester to being a Labour 'apparatchik', changed from a man who fought for democracy in South Africa to gerrymander-in-chief in respect of the new Government of Wales Bill and has now jumped from CND to being pro nuclear. He should be made the official Government spokesman for U-turns."

10/07/06

"ALARM BELLS ARE CLANGING" SAYS GLYN DAVIES AM, FOLLOWING ELEVENTH HOUR DELAY TO SHROPSHIRE HOSPITALS CONSULTATION

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has expressed his deep concern about the implications of the cancellation of this week's launch of the Formal Consultation on proposals regarding Acute Hospital Services in Shropshire. The launch, which was expected on 10th July, was to have outlined how the NHS Trust which runs Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals was going to repay the 34 million pounds of debt which has built up over recent years. The recovery plan will inevitable have major implications for the provision of hospital services in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Commenting on the delay Glyn Davies, who met with the Chief Executive of the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Hospital Trust after the delay was announced, said:

"For several months we have known that the finances of the NHS Trust that manages the acute hospitals in Shrewsbury and Telford are in a desperate state following years of financial mismanagement and significant underfunding. We have been waiting for the 'Formal Consultation' on how the new Chair and Chief Executive intend to sort out the mess with much trepidation about the healthcare services on which Mid Wales depends. The last minute cancellation of the launch of the 'Formal Consultation' is deeply worrying, particularly since we are told that it is because the new West Midlands Strategic Health Authority now intend to conduct its own review before the launch can go ahead.

The plan, when it finally appears will consider where in-patient services are to be located, how the historic debt is to be repaid and, most worryingly whether an 'acute' hospital in Shrewsbury is clinically viable. The stakes for Mid Wales healthcare could not be higher. I have already discussed the position with the senior management of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust and will do what I can to give my support. It would be disastrous for Mid Wales if the financial mismanagement over recent years and the long term underfunding led to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital being declared clinically unviable."

13/07/06

GLYN DAVIES BEGS GOVERNMENT TO HELP MACHYNLLETH AFTER NEW ECONOMY BLOW

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has asked the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, to help the economy of Machynlleth following its removal from the Wales Assisted Area Map. Glyn Davies was speaking in the Assembly this week following a statement by the First Minister outlining changes to Assisted Area status which will take place from the beginning of next year.

In his questioning of Rhodri Morgan Glyn Davies said:

"Over recent years Machynlleth has suffered a series of economic knocks. The decision by the Labour Assembly Government to move its offices and staff out of Machynlleth was particularly damaging. And now we have the town removed from the map of Wales which qualifies for Assisted Area status and financial help for businesses considering locating to the town.

I have the asked the County Council to do everything possible over the next few months to have this decision reversed. In the 1980's Machynlleth was a town on the up - with genuine prospects of economic success. Today Machynlleth has been undermined by a lack of commitment to Mid Wales in general and to the town in particular. I really do believe there should be a much greater effort to regenerate the economy of Machynlleth and that Rhodri Morgan should change the dismissive negative attitude which was a feature of his responses to my questions this week."

14/07/06

RED TAPE AND COSTS TO ROCKET IN HOUSING MARKET

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed this week's launch of the of the Conservative Party 'Scrap the Pack' campaign against Home Information Packs. The packs have to be prepared by anyone intending to put their houses on the market. The Government believe that these packs will give buyers more confidence to enter the housing market while the Conservative Party claim they are a recipe for increased house prices and could lead to the stagnation in the house market as sellers become discouraged by extra costs and form filling.

Commenting on today's launch Glyn Davies, who is also Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, said:

"These Home Information Packs will put up the cost of selling a house, increase the amount of red tape for buyers and sellers alike. They will create more problems than they solve. The Government is not properly prepared for this scheme, not enough people have been trained to produce the packs and there is no guarantee that the packs will provide reliable information. Home owners could be forced to pay upwards of a £1,000 simply to sell their house

This red tape scheme has not been properly thought through. People on low incomes and those forced to sell because of financial problems will not be able to find the money to put these packs together. When a property doesn't sell quickly, the pack content will become outdated and house sellers will be forced to pay out for further unnecessary packs. Even worse, there will be no guarantee that the Home Information Packs will be accurate and there will be all sorts of legal wrangles about incorrect information

These packs could threaten the stability of the housing market and drive up prices to even higher levels. The scheme should be abandoned."

17/07/06

"DIRTY DEALING AT WESTMINSTER WILL DELIVER UNPREDICTABLE CONSTITUTION FOR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY" SAYS TORY AM

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales expects the Government of Wales Bill to be passed in the next few days. It will be returned to the House of Lords in a form which will persuade some of their Lordships to end their resistance to the passage of the Bill. Glyn Davies believes it will remain a deeply flawed Bill which has been designed to satisfy anti-devolution Labour MPs and will be passed only after some rather unprincipled 'dirty dealing' behind the scenes.

During previous consideration in the House of Lords, the Government of Wales Bill has suffered several defeats and was significantly changed for the better. As a result of shadowy dealing it is anticipated that some of the changes will not be reversed by the Commons before the Bill's return to the Lords this week - in return for a 'nod and a wink' that the amended Bill will be allowed to go through.

Commenting on the current position Glyn Davies, who supports the principle of granting of law making powers to the National Assembly but is opposed to the gerrymandering of the electoral system which is part of the current Bill, said:

"I fully expect the Government of Wales Bill to be passed by both Houses of Parliament this week. Principle and integrity will go out through the window - as the fixers and dirty dealers come in through the door. The shady arrangements that have been agreed behind the scenes will deliver a deeply flawed, compromise constitution for the National Assembly, which sometime in the future will have to be put right. It will take a huge amount of goodwill and political skill to make this 'camel' of a constitution work in practice.

I fully expect the new Assembly constitution to include Labour's partisan proposal to fiddle the electoral system by banning 'list' candidates from fighting constituency seats - an act for which they will pay an electoral price at next year's Assembly election. Voters will not like being cheated. I could never have voted for this electoral fiddle- on principle - no matter what pressure or blackmail that Labour leaders were willing to stoop to. I am very disappointed that others are willing to give in to this pressure.

But a new 'Second Constitution' there will be, and its effect could well be to give the National Assembly the Law making power that it should have had in the first place - and which it needs to become a worthwhile governing body. If I am returned at next year's election I will do all I can to make it a success. However, I do believe that a future Conservative Government will have to revisit the matter of how Wales is governed to make the system more accountable and more understandable to the voters. There will have to be a 'Third Constitution' within 10 years to put right what Labour in putting wrong this week.

18/07/06

CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS DESERVE SPECIAL STATUS' SAYS TORY AM, GLYN DAVIES

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has met with leaders of the Cambrian Mountains Society to discuss ways of giving greater protection to the landscapes of Central Wales. The meeting took place at the Elan Valley Visitors Centre under the shadow of the famous Elan Valley Dam.

Following the meeting Glyn Davies, who is Chair of the Assembly's environment, Planning and Countryside Committee and who also became a member of the Cambrian Mountains Society soon after it was established said:

"The Cambrian Mountains offer us a wondrous landscape which merits designation as a very special place - and we need to remember that farmers have played a major part in maintaining these mountains in all their glory. We need to find a way of making sure that the farming which has maintained the Cambrian Mountains is itself maintained into the future by payments within the reformed Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). Designation of the Cambrian Mountains as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) could create the backdrop for some form of agri-environment payment. I hope that local Councils, AM's and MP's will consider the case for special designation over the next few weeks. Also, I have not the slightest doubt the name, 'The Cambrian Mountains' evoke an image with the potential to greatly strengthen the local economy through tourism.

Special designations have to be very carefully considered. I would not support creating a new National Park with its inevitable bureaucracy and inflexible control of development - but it may be that farmers and councils will welcome designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Cambrian Mountains give us landscapes of such splendour that I would support serious consideration and formal consultation by the Assembly Government on the establishment of a Cambrian Mountains AONB. Let us find out what the people who live and work in the Cambrian Mountains think."

21/07/06

'JUSTICE IN MONTGOMERYSHIRE DEMANDS A NEW COURT' SAYS CONSERVATIVE AM, GLYN DAVIES

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales spent the morning of Thursday this week in court at Welshpool. He was being shown around the newly established Court at the Mansion House which has been converted into a temporary facility following the recent closure of the Welshpool Town Hall Courtroom, the only Court left to dispense justice in the old county of Montgomeryshire.

Commenting after his visit Glyn Davies said:

"The newly converted Mansion House in Welshpool is now the only court left in Montgomeryshire - but it must be seen as only be a temporary arrangement until a new purpose built court is provided somewhere else in the County. There are four cells and two courtrooms which are satisfactory - but the rest of the building is just not acceptable in this century. It is ridiculous that witnesses, the public and the accused are piled together into a pokey little waiting room or just left in corridors. Justice is being provided 'on the cheap' in Montgomeryshire.

There has been discussion about a new court to serve Montgomeryshire for decades and a specific proposal in Newtown has been under consideration for years - but without any definite funding arrangements. Decision makers have been dithering for years as the various courts in Montgomeryshire have closed and we are left with just one inadequate facility at the Mansion House. It is past time for a final concrete decision to be taken about what is to be done.

I intend to raise this issue with Edwina Hart, the Social Services Minister in the National Assembly and also with the official opposition at Westminster. The current position is just not good enough. A decent society needs a decent justice system."

25/07/06

'LET US MAKE THIS NEW DEVOLUTION ACT WORK WELL FOR WALES' SAYS TORY AM

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has called on everyone involved in the governance of Wales to strive to ensure that the new Government of Wales Act works effectively for the benefit of Wales and the people of Wales.

Conservatives have described the new Act as a 'curates egg' and as a 'missed opportunity' and Glyn Davies has been deeply critical of aspects of the Government of Wales Bill as is has gone through its tortuous path to Royal Assent.

Adopting his usual pragmatic approach to politics Glyn Davies said:

"We have a new devolution settlement for Wales and everyone who cares about our nation must be committed to making it a success. I very much hope that I am re-elected next May so that I can play my part in moulding a new and better system of Government for the Welsh people in our National Assembly.

I have been deeply disappointed that the Labour Party has used its electoral advantage to force through deeply partisan changes to the electoral system under the cover of this Act. I also believe a more straightforward Act giving the National Assembly the same law making powers as Scotland - backed up by a referendum - would have been more honest and would have delivered better government. But it is not to be. We are taking but a stuttering step forward rather than a confident stride. Constitutional 'common sense' will have to wait for another day and a Conservative Government.

At present the National Assembly does not represent 'good value for money' for the people of Wales - because the fetters of the existing devolution settlement have trussed it up into a timid and colourless 'talking shop'. Today the fetters have been loosened a little but not cast aside. The challenge under our new devolution settlement will be for the Assembly Members and MP's, operating within the constraints deliberately and strategically placed in our path, to make this new Act work well for Wales."

28/07/06

GLYN DAVIES SAYS "TORY PARTY MUST BE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING WALES 'SECOND DEVOLVED CONSTITUTION' WORK WELL FOR WALES"

In a speech at this year's Royal Welsh Show, Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales, has called on Assembly Members from all political parties to move on from the arguments about the Government of Wales Act. He believes that everyone involved with devolved government in Wales must concentrate on making the National Assembly an effective as possible.

Glyn Davies was speaking at a well-attended reception held on the National Assembly Stand which he co-hosted with Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, the Assembly's Presiding Officer.

During his speech, Glyn Davies who is Chair of the Assembly's Environment, Planning and Environment Committee, said:

"It is now time to put the arguments about the National Assembly's 'second devolved constitution' behind us. From May next year the National Assembly will have the potential to pass its own new laws - albeit with the umbilical cord still temporarily attached to the Westminster Parliament. It is now time for Assembly Members to rise to this new challenge and raise their game to a new level. We must not let our people down.

I have been disappointed that the Labour Government insisted on using the necessary constitutional change to slip in a devious and partisan change to the electoral system which favours the Labour Party - and I would also have preferred the new devolved settlement to be more straightforward, transparent and accountable. However, the deed is done and the voters will adjudicate on these arguments next May. Parliamentarians must move on and concentrate on making sure this new devolved constitution works well for the people of Wales. Poor generals fight old battles while good generals stake out tomorrow's high ground.

Since Wales voted in favour of devolution in a referendum in 1997, I personally have been convinced that the National Assembly for Wales should have the same power and influence in Wales as the Scottish Parliament has in Scotland - and if the Conservative Party win the next Westminster Election I hope that a Cameron Government will look again at strengthening and clarifying Wales' devolution arrangements."

28/07/06

GLYN DAVIES CALLS FOR WELSH LANGUAGE BOARD TO BE RETAINED - AND WITH INCREASED POWERS

In a speech on the Welsh Language Board stand at this year's Royal Welsh Show Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales, has committed his support for the retention of the Welsh Language Board and has called for its powers to be increased.

He was speaking at a reception held by the Welsh Language Board to launch its strategy to encourage the involvement of the private sector in promoting the use of the Welsh Language at work.

Speaking in a personal capacity to the well attended reception at the Boards stand Glyn Davies, who has learned to speak Welsh since becoming an AM, said:

"I believe that the Welsh Language Board has done a great job promoting our very special language and through its very existence has taken the heat and spite out of the debate about how to protect and promote our language. I am very pleased that the Assembly Minister was forced to put off his final decision to abolish the Board until after next May's Assembly Elections. I fervently believe that the Welsh Language Board should be retained. The election next May gives the Welsh people the chance to save the Board. I will do all I can to persuade the newly-elected Assembly Government, post May 2007, to retain the Welsh Language Board.

I also believe that the Language Board should be given greater powers to intervene in some situations, - such as when a Local Authority does not act in accordance with its own Welsh Language plans. There is currently much talk about the creation of a 'Dyfarnydd' or a 'Commissioner'. However I cannot see the point in creating a new bureaucracy when there is already in existence a purpose built vehicle for the job. When an effective body is already up and running, with a good track record, there is no point in creating another organisation.

I am also particularly pleased to support the Welsh Language Board's new strategy to engage the private sector in promoting the language - yet another good initiative from a public body that I fervently believe should not be abolished."

28/07/06

GLYN DAVIES GUEST SPEAKER FOR NATIONAL TRUST AT ROYAL WELSH SHOW

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales was the guest speaker at the annual National Trust reception at this year's Royal Welsh show at Llanelwedd. He based his speech on the National Trust's theme for 2006 which is to promote the idea that 'History Matters'. Glyn Davies also used his speech to thank and congratulate the National Trust on the great success it is currently achieving - and he made special mention of the commitment of its Chair, Richard Cuthbertson.

During his speech, Glyn Davies who is a long standing member of the National Trust, said:

"The National Trust is working in partnership with several other bodies to celebrate and promote the idea that 'History Matters'. Many people's mental image of history is of turgid books, packed with dates and lying unread with dusty covers. They could not be more wrong. I have always been fascinated by history, its changes and its lessons and I am enthused by the National Trust's campaign to connect people with their past through celebration of history.

History is all about change and it is everywhere around us. The shape of Wales has its own mysterious history, when great subterranean movements created the mountains and valleys that we so cherish and which great extremes of weather sculpted to make the Wales we know today. And the clothes that these mountains and valleys wear has changed constantly throughout history to create the landscapes that so many of us love and want to protect from the ravages of insensitive man today. Recent history teaches us all too clearly that our landscapes are constantly facing new threats - whether this be blanket coniferous afforestation or widespread wind farms.

Through history, people have made huge mistakes which have created massive damage to our environment, wiped out entire civilisations and caused countless forms of life to disappear forever. Every lesson there is to learn is buried somewhere in our history. The National Trust is right. Of course 'History Matters'."

31/07/06

'RADIOACTIVE WASTE REPORT IS ONLY A SMALL STEP FORWARD' SAYS GLYN DAVIES

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed today's Final Report of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM). The Report is being presented to the Assembly Government today as well as the Westminster Government. However, Glyn Davies who is Chair of the Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, has described it as only an interim and relatively small step forward in dealing with the issue of radioactive waste disposal.

CoRWM was established by the Westminster Government in 2003 to make recommendations on how radioactive waste, including nuclear waste, is to be disposed of. CoRWM has made presentations to the National Assembly on two occasions during the last year.

Commenting on CoRWM's final report Glyn Davies, who has always been sceptical about the long-term safety of nuclear power, said:

"The main reason I am cautious about nuclear powers is that no one has any idea of how the radioactive waste is going to be dealt with. After three years of intensive and comprehensive study, today's Final Report to Government by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management does not take us much further forward. I welcome the admission by CoRWM that their preferred 'end state' option of deep burial may not be viable for several decades (if at all) and that an intermediate strategy for interim secure storage must be put in place with urgency.

I particularly welcome the idea that local communities should not have nuclear waste forced on them against their will - but that any decision to bury should be taken in agreement with the 'host' community. I accept there is a danger that Government will be tempted to use taxpayer's money to 'persuade' local communities to take nuclear waste by means of 'financial inducement'. Even so, I believe it is possible that no site for burial will ever be found - which will make the interim storage option, in reality, the long-term permanent option. Unfortunately, there remains just the same degree of uncertainty about how to manage nuclear waste after this Final Report as before - which is why I cannot see how it can be reasonably described as a 'final' Report. There will have to be some form of radioactive waste management body established to continue the work that has taken no more than a small step forward today.,"

31/07/06

GLYN DAVIES CONCERNED BY ROYAL SOCIETY CALL FOR 'URGENT' BURIAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE

Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has expressed his concern about today's publication of calls by the Royal Society that nuclear radioactive waste should be buried with 'Urgency'. He has also expressed surprise that the Liberal Democrats are supporting the Royal Society's position.

The Royal Society were commenting on the same day the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) published its recommendations to the Governments both in Westminster and Cardiff that geological disposal should only go ahead where local communities support it.

Glyn Davies, who is Chair of the National Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, has welcomed CoRWM's Final Report but has described it as only a small step in dealing with the controversial issue of radioactive waste disposal.

Commenting on the policy stances being adopted by the Royal Society and the Liberal Democrats Glyn Davies said:

"The Committee on radioactive waste management has given good advice to the Government. Burying nuclear waste may be the best option but it is not acceptable to force disposal sites on local communities against their will. CoRWM have been realistic and pragmatic in their advice that it could take several decades to identify disposal sites - if they can be identified at all.

Fundamental to these calls for 'Urgent' geological disposal is an acceptance that local communities should be forced to accept nuclear waste disposal sites - which is not acceptable to me. I am disappointed that the Royal Society wants to go down this road with its unspoken commitment to compulsion. This policy has been tried before and it failed.

The UK is a democracy and Government should work in partnership with the people. I am very surprised that the Liberal Democrats want to travel along the same road of 'Urgent' nuclear waste burial - which inevitably means compulsion if it means anything at all. I hope that the Liberal Democrats will recognise that its policy position is not well thought through and will reconsider its position. Disposal of nuclear waste is a difficult issue and I hope we can build a political consensus about the way forward."