March
Glyn Davies
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March 30th 2006 MID AND WEST WALES AM SHOCKED BY POWYS COUNCIL LEGAL BILL Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has expressed his astonishment at the size of the increase in the 2005/06 Legal Fees Bill of Powys County Council. In this weeks report to the Children, Families and Lifelong Learning Committee it is reported that there was an overspend on the Legal Costs budget of £254,190 and he believes that this is due to costs incurred in a dispute about property rights at Caersws Primary School. The dispute involved a property transfer deal and easement rights. The Developer had offered the Council £120,000 in negotiation before the dispute began - understood to have been lost by the Council in the final settlement. Commenting on this week's revelation Glyn Davies said: "I have been trying to discover how much the disagreement at Caersws Primary School cost the County Council - particularly since Councillors had been told that the Council had a cast iron case in the dispute. I suspect that this report gives me the answer I have been looking for. I had been expecting a high figure but never in my wildest imagination did I think it would be a quarter of a million pounds. To make matters worse the Council also lost the £120,000 offered by the developer before the dispute began. This is a massive bill which Council Tax payers have been landed with. I also believe the National Assembly incurred similar legal costs that have never been revealed. This week we have learned that Powys Council Tax levels have increased by more than double the rate of inflation - and it is absolutely no surprise when this sort of thing has happened. I suspect that the Councillors will be absolutely livid when they find out the about this. I hope the Council will make a full statement about this expenditure and on whose advice the matter was pursued to the bitter end at what cost. It is no surprise that the Council was so keen to have a 'gagging clause in the final agreement. Now we really know why. This is public money and the Council should not be hiding behind a gagging clause."
March 28th 2006 TORY AM PRAISES AMMAN VALLEY SCHOOL Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has described Amman Valley School in Ammanford as a 'top of the class ' example of 21st century education. He visited the school on Thursday to meet with the Sixth Form and the School Council. The visit was part of a series of visits to schools throughout Mid and West Wales being undertaken by Glyn Davies to encourage an interest amongst students in the political process. Commenting on his visit Glyn Davies said: "The staff at Amman Valley School have every reason to be proud of their school and their students. It was a real pleasure to meet Sixth Form members and the active School Council. Anyone who thinks that our young people do not have an interest in politics would be very pleasantly surprised by what is being achieved at Amman Valley School. The more Schools I visit, the more I realise that in Wales we have many outstanding schools. When I see the way modern comprehensive schools are portrayed in television programmes it seems a million miles from the education system we are lucky to have in Wales. A good education is crucial to young people's appreciation of the opportunities and responsibilities that they will meet in later life. At the Amman Valley School students are getting just the right type of education. The School is a 'Top of the class' example of 21st century"
GLYN DAVIES BACKS CAMERON'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPOSALS Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has given his full backing to new proposals by David Cameron to promote affordable housing and improved accessibility to new housing by young first time buyers. Glyn Davies has long championed the need for greater flexibility in the planning system to enable more houses to be built where local people want them. In support of David Cameron's proposals which were published yesterday, Glyn Davies commented: "Housing policy in England has a huge effect on the affordability of housing in Wales as shortage of housing drives buyers over Offa's Dyke. Over recent years most first time buyers in Wales have been priced out of the market. The position has been made worse by the Assembly Governments ridiculously restrictive planning policies. At the same time, the Chancellors massive increases in Stamp Duty is another crude hike in property prices that has made a deposit on a house completely out of reach of most young people. Rural Wales has long suffered from the imposition upon it of an inappropriate 'urban' planning policy. The stability of rural communities is being undermined because young people are not being allowed to build on family owned land. It is utterly ridiculous to force country people to live in an urban environment. The Assembly Government has talked about easing the problem of shortage of affordable housing by making Forestry Commission land available for development for young people - but it is still just talk. Hopefully David Cameron taking the initiative will stir Government, both at Westminster and in Cardiff Bay into action."
PEMBROKESHIRE ASSEMBLY MEETING A GREAT SUCCESS SAYS COMMITTEE CHAIR Glyn Davies Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has described last weeks meeting of the Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee in Pembrokeshire as a great success, which fully justified the decision to hold meetings away from Cardiff Bay. The meeting was held in the Pembrokeshire County Council Offices, was televised in its entirety and was attended by several Pembrokeshire residents. The meeting considered progress on public bodies buying local food and the development of a biomass industry - both matters where good progress has been made in Pembrokeshire. Commenting after the meeting Glyn Davies said: "I was really pleased that our first meeting in Pembrokeshire went so well. I felt the National Assembly was reaching out to West Wales and helping make devolution a reality throughout Wales. The Committee's next meeting out of Cardiff Bay is likely to be at Bangor in North Wales in early summer. Pembrokeshire County Council have done some really good work on promoting the purchase of local food by public bodies, which I hope will be extended to other parts of Wales. Perhaps the most stimulating debate was about the development of a Welsh biomass industry. Members were so impressed by the evidence submitted by local farmer, Paul Radcliffe, the farming unions and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), that they decided to extend our review. We will be inviting other organisations to give evidence and we will make recommendations to the Assembly Government before the summer about how the biomass sector can be developed."
March 27th 2006 TORY FINANCE SPOKESMAN TELLS ACCOUNTANTS THAT WALES NEEDS A STRONGER REGIONAL POLICY Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales and Spokesman on Finance was the guest speaker at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Annual Dinner at The Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells on Friday night. In a speech about 'How Wales is Governed' Glyn Davies said that Wales needed a stronger regional policy if North, Mid and West Wales is to share in the growing wealth of Wales and the National Assembly to become accepted by every part of Wales. He also strongly criticised the way in which the Assembly Government has handled the incorporation of the Welsh Development Agency and other public bodies, During his speech he said: "If the National Assembly is to be accepted as an 'all Wales' body there will have to be a much stronger focus on North, Mid and West Wales than we have seen in the first seven years. At present the National Assembly is seen by many as a body principally serving Cardiff and the Eastern ends of the M4 and A55 corridors. The very existence of the National Assembly is in itself a huge economic attraction to Cardiff and its surrounding areas from the rest of Wales. There must be a strong regional policy within Wales to ensure that economic benefits are shared throughout the nation. Conservative policy is suspicious of precise economic targets as too prescriptive and likely to lead to stupid target-driven decisions - but there must be a genuine commitment by the Assembly Government to boosting the economies of North, Mid and West Wales. The National Assembly will never be accepted as truly 'national' until North, Mid and West Wales get a fairer slice of the action than it does at present."
EPC CHAIR WELCOMES DATE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BEEF EXPORTS Glyn Davies Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has welcomed the announcement by Carwyn Jones at last Thursdays Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee that the Export Ban on British Beef is likely to be lifted on 14th April. The Committee supported the Minister's suggestion that the normal Assembly procedure for dealing with secondary legislation should be disapplied so that Wales could adopt the new regulations on the same day as the rest of the United Kingdom. Commenting on the announcement of a definite date for lifting the Beef Ban Glyn Davies said: "Following 10 years during which British farmers have been banned from exporting beef, it comes as a great relief to learn that the export ban is to be lifted on April 14th. It would have been deeply confusing and have given out the wrong message if Wales had not been in a position to begin exporting on the same day as every other part of the UK. I fully support the Minister's decision to use emergency procedures to introduce the necessary regulations so that exporting from Wales can begin on April 14th. The decision on this definite date draws a line under one of the most damaging blows ever to hit British livestock farming. April 14th will be a red letter day in Welsh cattle farmers' calendar. The task before us now is to recover the huge export market that was lost when the ban was introduced in 1996"
ASSEMBLY CHAIR HIGHLIGHTS WELSH GOVERNMENTS GOOD PERFORMANCE IN PAYING OUT SINGLE FARM PAYMENT - WHEN COMPARED WITH ENGLAND Glyn Davies Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has highlighted the difference in the payment schedule of the Single Farm Payment (SFP) between England and Wales. The SFP replaces various other support schemes and underpins the profitability and existence of many farms throughout England and Wales. Most of the payments were made in Wales soon after the opening date for payment of December 2005 - while most English farms have yet to receive their money. After discussions with farmers at Welshpool Livestock Market today following news that many farmers in England will be waiting until the summer for payment, Glyn Davies said: "People sometimes, justifiably, criticise the National Assembly when something goes wrong - but we should be just as ready to applaud the National Assembly when something goes particularly well. Many farmers will have depended on early receipt of their Single Farm Payment for their very survival - and in Wales most received their cheques before Christmas - in the first week payment was possible. In England, less than 15% of farmers had been paid by last week and there are fears that many will be waiting until the summer. The head of the paying agency in England has just been sacked and Ministers in England are refusing any longer to set any firm dates for payment. Farmers in Wales can be grateful to the civil servants in the National Assembly who have managed a complex system and delivered a hugely better service than has been the case in England. It is important that we acknowledge that, in this instance, devolution has delivered a much better service for the farming community in Wales than would otherwise be the case."
March 23rd 2006 GLYN DAVIES MEETS IRISH TB EXPERT TO PREPARE FOR COMMITTEE VISIT TO IRELAND Glyn Davies Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has met with James O'Keefe, the Irish Government's expert on the relationship between Bovine Tb and wildlife. Mr O'Keefe met with Glyn Davies at the National Assembly in Cardiff this week. The EPC Committee leaves for Ireland for two days of meetings with Government, industry and wildlife groups next Thursday. Commenting after his meeting Glyn Davies said: "The incidence of Bovine Tb in Ireland has been greatly reduced over recent years and we need to know how this has been achieved. It is obvious that there has been and entirely different strategy to tackle the disease which warrants detailed consideration this side of the Irish Sea. There is a much closer relationship between the agriculture industry and Government in Ireland and a Bovine Tb strategy has been agreed between all interests through a formal Social Partnership. I find it extremely worrying that pre-movement testing is being introduced in the UK as the foundation stone on which a control strategy is being built when it has been dismissed in Ireland as ineffective. In Ireland, annual testing for Bovine Tb is seen as the foundation stone for strategy and this is not being considered in the UK. It is also a fact that in Ireland, where there are serious Bovine Tb breakdowns which cannot be attributed to cattle to cattle transfer, there has been a programme of badger culling, which is seen as a 'healthy badgers' measure as much as a 'healthy cattle' measure. The remorseless advance of Bovine Tb, which is decimating Welsh herds and costing the Government very large sums of money, needs to be brought under control. We should be prepared to learn from what is happening in Ireland and consider whether the same strategy could have relevance in Wales as well."
March 20th 2006 LORDS SHOULD THROW OUT GOVERNMENT OF WALES BILL SAYS TORY AM Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has said that the House of Lords should throw out the Government of Wales Bill when it comes before the upper house. The Bill will give greater involvement in law making to the Assembly and will separate the Assembly 'Government' from the Assembly as a whole. However it also introduces controversial changes to the election system and prescribes exactly how Assembly committees must be constituted in the future to benefit Labour - changes which make the Bill unacceptable to all except the Labour Party. Commenting before the House of Lords debate Glyn Davies said: "The Government of Wales Bill contains clauses which are a blatant and totally discredited attempt by Peter Hain and Rhodri Morgan to fiddle Britain's system of Government for the electoral benefit of the Labour Party. It has now become impossible for Labour's apologists for this Bill to look anything but shifty in the extreme when they defend it. It is sad and depressing to see some respectable Labour people sacrificing their reputations through misguided loyalty to this 'gerrymandering' Bill. I fully accept that Labour made a manifesto commitment to increase the powers of the National Assembly and so has a mandate for change - but this cannot extend to blatant 'fixing' of the voting system to benefit Labour. While the Bill retains its clauses to fiddle the voting system in favour of Labour and also give Labour a majority on every Assembly Committee for the foreseeable future, even those who are content to see Assembly's powers increased will be forced to oppose it. Virtually everyone outside Labour condemns this iniquitous Bill. Even Peter Hain recognises the partisan nature of his position when he publicly declares that he has no interest in 'independent' opinion or judgement on the issue. We are witnessing a Labour Party which was born out of a desire for fairness a century ago sinking into a cesspit of vote fixing which will pollute its reputation for years to come. . I plead with the House of Lords to throw this Bill out and force the Labour Government to use the Parliament Act. The Government of Wales Bill will eventually be seen by all as a disgraceful abuse of power and a scar on the reputation of everyone associated with it. I just hope that Labour has not sold enough peerages to force this poisonous Bill through the Upper House as well." PEMBROKESHIRE PEOPLE INVITED TO MEET WITH ASSEMBLY'S ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND COUNTRYSIDE COMMITTEE IN HAVERFORDWEST Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly is inviting people from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to meet members of the National Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee in the Council Offices, Haverfordwest after the meeting of the Committee which is to be held on Thursday 23rd March. The formal meeting of the Committee will take place between 2.15 and 5.15pm. Commenting on his decision to hold the informal public meeting Glyn Davies said: "I am committed to taking the National Assembly out of Cardiff to other regions of Wales on a regular basis and this week the Committee will be meeting in Haverfordwest in Pembrokshire. The main item on our agenda will be the potential for development of a Welsh bio-crops industry where there is already some pioneering work being done in Pembrokeshire. I hope that anyone interested in how the Assembly operates will come along to listen to the several presentations and discussion. However, I realise that some people may want to express opinions and ask questions of Committee Members which cannot happen during the formal meeting. So I am arranging an informal discussion with the public, immediately after the formal business is completed at 5.00. Constituents have told me that Pembrokeshire sometimes feels left out of National Assembly considerations. I want to reduce this sense of isolation by taking the Committee to West Wales and giving anyone interested the opportunity to have their say. I want Pembrokeshire's voice to be heard in the National Assembly." ASSEMBLY'S ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND COUNTRYSIDE CHAIR TAKES COMMITTEE ON BOVINE TB FACT FINDING VISIT TO IRELAND Next week Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly, is to take the Committee to Ireland to discuss the ways in which Bovine Tb is being managed in the Republic. The Committee will meet with Irish MP's, Government officials, the Irish Farmers Union and Badger Watch. Commenting on the fact finding visit, which will take place over Thursday and Friday, Glyn Davies said: "Bovine Tb is devastating the cattle industry across much of Wales and beyond. Over 20,000 cattle have been killed in Wales over the last five years, the Assembly Government is spending approximately 10 million pounds every year in compensation alone and farming families lives across Wales are being ruined by this unpredictable disease which is currently running out of control. Many people believe badgers are, at least, part of the reason that Bovine Tb is still spreading. It is certainly the case that the number of badgers has greatly increased over recent years and that badgers both carry and suffer from Bovine Tb - but it is frustrating that no hard scientific evidence about the precise role played by badgers has been put before the Committee. It is vital that we search for empirical evidence and there is no better place that Ireland where badger culling is reported to have brought the disease under control. We need to hear the evidence first hand. Absolutely no one wants to cull a single badger unless it would help bring about better control of Bovine Tb and help create a healthy population of Tb free badgers. The Committee cannot demand culling of badgers without real evidence that it would make a difference. I will do what I can to bring any available evidence into the public debate in Wales on this issue."
TORY AM TELLS CANCER SUFFERERS IN SOUTH EAST ENGLAND TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales travelled to Sidcup in Kent over the weekend to speak at the Annual Meeting of the South East of England Ileostomy Association. The audience was made up of about 100 people who have had all or part of their bowel removed during treatment for cancer or colitis problems together with the stoma nurses who care for them. Glyn Davies himself lost part of his bowel in 2002 in an operation after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He has made a full recovery following treatment. During his speech Glyn Davies said: "There is absolutely no reason why the removal of a person's bowel should prevent them from living a full and active life - as long as the diagnosis is early, the treatment is successful and they listen to their stoma nurse. I personally have refused to make any concessions whatsoever to my colostomy and it has made me more determined and more ambitious than I ever was before. It is easy to let serious illness dominate your life but I want to inspire other people with colostomies to live life to the full - every day! I am willing to travel the country to speak to people who have had to face the shock and trauma involved in the removal of a diseased colon - because I know what it is like. I meet so many wonderful special people, nurses and volunteers, who give over their lives to help others and I hope that I can help them - they truly inspire me and this weekend was no exception. The political world is riddled with disloyalty, deception and shallowness which is so far removed from the generosity of spirit which exists amongst people who have often had to face up to the prospect of an early death. I want to encourage every person who has a colostomy, for whatever reason to refuse to give up on their lifestyles and ambitions - and make the most of every day."
March 15th 2006 TORY ENVIRONMENT CHAIR TELLS AGENCY LEADERS THAT ENVIRONMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICS Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has spent today (Wednesday) visiting the Environment Agency Headquarters in Cardiff where presentations and discussions focussed on 'Waste, Water and Climate Change'. The three hour visit concentrated on the increasingly important role that the Environment Agency has across a wide range of issues involved with mitigating environmental damage and adaptation to the consequences of environmental change. New Agency Director Chris Mills also participated in the day's programme. Commenting after his visit Glyn Davies said: "Successive Governments have not acted with the responsibility and urgency that they should have in respect of environmental issues. There must be a step change in our actions and attitudes, particularly in our response to the climate change threat. Governments the world over are failing their peoples. I hope that political parties in Wales can agree to take some 'environment' issues out of the political arena. Many of the actions that we need to take with urgency will be so unpopular and open to populist opportunism that they would be politically undeliverable - for example reducing the collection of non-recyclable waste to fortnightly and ending the exemption from fuel taxes on aviation fuel. The Conservative Party at Westminster is taking an important lead in taking party points scoring out of the climate change debate. This responsible approach will bring a new respect for politics, especially amongst young people who have largely turned their backs in disgust at all the play acting that currently occurs. It would be easy to dismiss action at the Wales level as so insignificant in a global context that action is not worthwhile. I totally disagree. Setting an example internationally and developing technology solutions can make a major difference at the international level. Responding to Climate Change is the occasion to take some of the pointless finger pointing and pseudo anger out of politics and to engage with our people in a responsible, grown up way.
March 14th 2006 GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES BROADBAND ANNOUNCEMENT Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed the announcement by Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport, that the BT Group has been selected to connect the remaining exchange areas currently unable to receive Broadband service. The Regional Innovative Broadband Support (RIBS) will mean that the approximately 10,000 households currently unable to access Broadband will be connected. Commenting on the announcement Glyn Davies, who lives near Castle Caereinion, which is one of the exchanges currently not connected, said: "I welcome the announcement that the remaining communities in Wales currently not able to be connected to Broadband should be able to access a minimum 512kbps to 2mbps services at a comparable price to urban areas. The exchange at Castle Caereinion, near my home, will be one of those to be connected as a result of this announcement and the households and businesses in the area will no longer be out in the IT wilderness. This announcement has been a long time coming. I hope that BT will now get on with the connections." March 13th 2006 GLYN DAVIES REPEATS HIS CALL FOR PART OF THE HUNTING WITH DOGS BAN TO BE DEVOLVED TO THE ASSEMBLY Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has repeated his long standing calls for elements of the Hunting with Dogs Act to be devolved from Westminster to the National Assembly. He made his call in response to the launch of a questionnaire by all the major farming organisations to collect evidence which is expected to show that the ban on hunting with dogs is preventing sheep farmers from protecting their animals. In particular Glyn Davies wants the part of the Act which regulates the forms of hunting which are 'exempt' from the ban. Since the Act was passed it has been the consistent policy of the Conservative Party in Wales that the secondary legislation dealing with the issue should be devolved to the Assembly. Commenting on the questionnaire Glyn Davies, who has been a long term opponent of the Hunting ban, said: "I strongly disagreed with the ban on hunting with dogs but I do accept that it is the law and we must search for ways of making the Act work as reasonably as possible. Across Wales hunts have complied with this badly drafted Act and so far have been able to carry on enjoying days out on horseback by using an artificial scent rather than chasing a fox. It is ironic that the public support being given to the old tradition of hunting is today stronger than ever. The biggest weakness in the Act is the restriction it puts on the number of dogs that can be used to flush out to guns a rogue fox which is taking young lambs At present only 2 dogs can be used in Welsh forests which can be hundreds of acres in size. The Act is simply not working in this respect and needs changing. In Wales, there are more sheep, more forests and more foxes than in any other part of the UK. It would be better if the rules regulating fox control measures, such as the appropriate number of dogs used to flush out the fox were to be devolved to the Assembly. I hope that the Unions and other farming organisations will come in behind my long standing calls for the Assembly to be given this responsibility."
HOME SECRETARYS CONTEMPT FOR WELSH COUNCIL TAX PAYERS OVER PRICE HIKE IS SHAMEFUL SAYS TORY AM Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales and Spokesman on Finance is backing Assembly Government Minister, Edwina Hart, in her objections to the enforced merger of Wales four Police Authorities without any clear idea of how much the change is going to cost Welsh Council Tax payers. Last Friday afternoon Edwina Hart issued a public statement outlining her concerns. In backing Edwina Hart's resistance to the uncosted, imposed police force merger, Glyn Davies said: "Police restructuring is becoming a major constitutional scandal. The Home Secretary has decided to ignore virtually everyone in Wales, including the Police Authorities and the Assembly Government and impose a single National Police Force - without telling us how it will be paid for or how much extra is going to be piled onto Council Tax bills. I fully understand why Edwina Hart, the Assembly Minister for Social Justice, has lost patience and issued a public statement outlining her concern. It is clear that there is a major breakdown in the relationship between the Labour Assembly Government in Cardiff and the Home Office on this issue. On this issue I am four square on the side of Edwina Hart. We must be told how much the merger is going to cost and where the finance is coming from. The Home Secretary's attitude is arrogant in the extreme. He seems to think that all he needs to do is make a statement, without any supporting evidence and everyone in Wales will simply roll over and say 'Yes Mr Clarke Sir'. But the feudal system of Government, when a Government Minister in London can just impose an unwanted expensive reorganisation on the Welsh people and expect us to pay for it via our Council Tax bills have gone. It is past time for this arrogant, bullying Home Secretary to start listening and explaining."
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SEEKS CLARITY ON NEW SHEEP DIP RULES Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has called for greater clarity about the use and sale of sheep dips, the marketing of which was suddenly banned last week by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) amid fears about the potentially damaging impact of dips such as Cypermethrin on the environment. Concerns have grown over recent years and there have been incidents where very small amounts of dip have caused very serious damage to aquatic life. Commenting after the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee meeting Glyn Davies said: "The Committee accepts that Cypermethrin is potentially devastating to aquatic life and understands why the Government decided to ban its use, pending more research into its impact on the environment. However, we are concerned about the effects of this sudden decision, particularly in the absence of an acceptable alternative control for sheep scab. I, personally would not want to make any recommendation that sheep owners return to organo phosphorous dips because of questions about threats to human health. Sheep scab is a serious animal health problem and the sheep industry is reasonably looking to the Government for guidance in how to tackle it. In particular, the Committee wants greater clarity about what is going to happen to exiting stocks held by the trade in preparation for the dipping season and whether the Government intends to recall all of the stocks of Cypermethrin which are currently held. My view is that if the product is deemed not suitable for use, it is safer if it is totally removed from the marketing chain rather than just left to lie in store. We want to see increased research into a non OP replacement dip for Cypermethrin and a determined campaign to eradicate sheep scab from the national flock. I also believe that sheep scab will have to be made a notifiable disease if control is to be successful."
"PEMBROKE SCHOOL SIXTH FORM ARE NATURAL POLITICIANS" SAYS TORY AM Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has spent an hour with Pembroke School Sixth Form discussing politics and why young people should become involved in politics. Glyn Davies is visiting several schools in Mid and West Wales to promote political engagement amongst young people and next week will be visiting Amman Valley School. Commenting after his meeting with the students Glyn Davies said: "We are lucky to live in a stable liberal democracy but as a nation we have become dangerously complacent about our politics. We have allowed political 'spin' and straightforward deception to undermine our politics with the result that most young people have opted out of the democratic process. I want to do what I can to change young peoples attitudes by going into schools to engage with students directly through being totally open and straight in the way I talk to them. I was really encouraged by the sixth formers of Pembroke School. Once they got started there was no stopping them. They were firing questions and opinions at me from all directions. It was like being in a Siberian hailstorm. I was saved by the bell! Well done to the school for tackling the issue of student disinterest in politics and well done to the sixth formers for getting to grips with this visiting politician so quickly. Pembroke School Sixth Form are natural politicians. I hope we can build on my visit by arranging for the students to visit the National Assembly." ASSEMBLY CHAIR VISITS SOUTH HOOK LNG SITE AT MILFORD HAVEN Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has spent a day touring the South Hook Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) site at Milford Haven. The development is taking place on the old disused Esso Refinery on the North side of the Haven and involves bringing 2 shipping berths back into service, completely refurbishing the old Esso jetty, building 5 massive holding tanks, building a new plant to turn the liquid back into gas and a pipeline to transport the gas from Pembrokeshire to England. The project is already well advanced and will begin operating next year. Commenting after his tour of the development Glyn Davies said: "The South Hook LNG project is the most impressive development I have ever seen. The sheer scale and innovation of the South Hook project is truly stunning. The billion dollar investment is well advanced and will bring major economic benefit to Pembrokeshire. The main reason for my visit to one of the two LNG sites at Milford Haven was to understand the reasons why some people living around the Haven are concerned about health and safety issues. I can only say that I was deeply impressed by the 'openness' of the project developers and by the thoroughness of monitoring and regulation being carried out by the Environment Agency and safety authorities. The LNG projects will transform South Pembrokeshire in that it will probably lead to a new gas fired power station being built, new housing developments and a huge injection of spending power into the local economy. The area is about to witness a welcome boost to its economy and its prosperity. I have confidence that the Pembrokeshire County Council and the National Park will ensure that all the new development will not have a negative impact on one of the loveliest counties in Britain. I was greatly reassured that the South Hook LNG plant, which is so crucial to the energy needs of Britain, is being developed with the greatest possible care and sympathy for the people of Pembrokeshire." March 10th 2006 Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales is supporting efforts being made by CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader and District) to secure funding from Birmingham City Council to build a museum charting the impact of the flooding of the Elan Valley to supply Birmingham with water a century ago. Commenting on the efforts of CARAD and its Chair Peter Cox Glyn Davies said: "A century ago the rights of landowners in Wales were simply trampled underfoot in a way that could never happen today. Last year we saw Liverpool City Council apologise for the way the people of Treweryn were treated. It would be an entirely appropriate gesture if Birmingham City Council acknowledged the way that the local population were pushed out of the way in the Elan Valley by offering financial support for a museum in the area. The people of Birmingham have made it clear, via polls for their own local radio station, that they believe some financial support should be given. I will press the Birmingham City Council to reconsider their refusal to help. I have also been disappointed by the blunt refusal of Severn Trent Water to consider helping - but not altogether surprised. My personal experience of Severn Trent Water is of refusal to help projects of this sort. A museum to chart the development of the Elan Valley reservoirs will be an important tourist attraction and I want to support the local campaign to make it a reality."
GLYN DAVIES CALLS AGAIN FOR GREATER FUNDING FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has repeated his calls for greater funding for the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Last year he held extensive discussions with the leaders of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and concluded that the root of all the problems was longstanding underfunding of the Service. Also last year the Mid and West Wales AM spent a day with the Staffordshire Ambulance Service and concluded that there was much to be learned from Staffordshire - in particular a focus on greater use of paramedics. Commenting on reports that ambulance targets have not been met Glyn Davies said: "The performance of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust is simply not good enough and one of the main reasons is that not enough money is being invested in the service in Wales. Last summer I spent a day in Staffordshire with Roger Thayne, who has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, because of that services reputation for quick response times. I was deeply impressed with his drive and initiative and I hope he will be able to bring the same level of inspiration to Wales. There is no doubt that a much greater focus on enhanced paramedics is the future for the Welsh Ambulance Service and I would like to see faster development of First Responder Groups. Roger Thayne faces a major challenge meeting targets but I have already seen the effects of his inspirational leadership in Staffordshire. I hope the Minister will allocate him more resources to bring speedy improvement."
GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES MINISTERS DECISION TO DISCUSS PLANS TO SCRAP UPLAND FARM SUPPORT SCHEME WITH OPPOSITION PARTIES Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has welcomed the decision by Carwyn Jones, Minister for EPC, to open discussions with the Spokespersons from the 3 main opposition parties on his decision to scrap Tir Mynydd, the upland farm support scheme. The meeting will take place next week (Tuesday) and it follows strong opposition to the Ministers plans from across Wales, including a big protest outside the National Assembly last Wednesday and a meeting between the protest organisers and the Minister. Commenting on the forthcoming meeting Glyn Davies said: "I am relieved that the Minister intends to discuss the future of Tir Mynydd, the upland farm support scheme, on a cross party basis. I have never known the farming industry be so angry and disappointed by a decision. I accept that the Minister has the power to scrap the existing arrangements but I have been disappointed that alternative arrangements were not already in place before he took a decision which would scrap a funding system which had underpinned upland farming for many decades. It may be that it will not be possible to find agreement across parties on the best way forward - but at least there is now going to be cross party dialogue. This is yet another example of devolved government being more sensitive to the opinions of the people affected by policy change March 9th 2006 GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES FORMAL 'REFERENCE' OF SUPERMARKETS TO THE COMPETITION COMMISSION Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has welcomed the decision by the Office of Fair Trading to formally 'refer' supermarkets to the Competition Commission in order that a full inquiry can take place. In its reference the OFT has expressed concern about planning conditions and the difficulties faced by competitors of the big supermarkets to open new stores. Glyn Davies, who has recently brokered meetings between Welsh farming leaders and supermarkets, added that he hoped the treatment of suppliers would also be looked at by the Competition Commission. Commenting after the OFT reference was announced today, Glyn Davies said: "I have been calling for the major supermarkets to be referred to the Competition Commission for several months. The four main supermarket chains have become so dominant in the food retail market that there must be periodic reviews to ensure that this dominance is not being abused. This reference to the Commission is overdue. Supermarkets have told me that they welcome independent review of their activities and while I strongly disapprove of ritualistic, ill informed attacks on supermarkets I do believe that their power must be controlled. I am particularly concerned about the ability of 'aggressive' supermarkets to but up land banks of sites with retail potential simply to 'hoard' it and prevent competition. If this is happening it must be stamped out. I also hope that the way supermarkets treat suppliers will be looked at. My recent meeting which I brokered with farmers and supermarkets fostered a degree of understanding of each others position which I believe will be helped by this reference. The decision should be welcomed by customers, competitors, suppliers and the big four supermarkets themselves" ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE CHAIR WELCOMES END TO BEEF EXPORT BAN Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly has welcomed the unanimous decision by member states of the European Union to begin the process which will lead to the resumption of exports of British beef in a few weeks time. Commenting on the decision Glyn Davies, who is a partner in a farming business which was badly affected by BSE in the 1990's, said: "BSE has been the worst disease problem to hit farming in my lifetime. The Government announcement in Feb 1996 that there was a likely link between BSE and the terrible disease CJD which brought a slow and certain death to many young people caused understandable fears throughout the world. It is a massive relief that the disease has been defeated. British beef has long had a good worldwide reputation and the export market was hugely successful and growing when BSE struck and led to the deeply damaging beef export ban. Every effort must be made to re-establish confidence in British beef and to rebuild this market - and it is important that the Assembly Government and the Welsh farming industry makes a determined effort to develop the distinctive 'Welsh' brand. I am pleased that all of the EU countries have backed the lifting of the ban. It must have been tempting for some countries to try to protect their own export and internal markets from British competition. However, all of our EU partners have recognised that there is no longer any justification to ban British exports. We can now draw a line under the terrible nightmare for British farming that BSE has been."
GLYN DAVIES ON SMALL FARMS SURVIVAL INVESTIGATION TO IRELAND Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly is spending 2 days visiting small farms on both sides of the border in Ireland, meeting Government representatives from the Irish Parliament and farming union leaders. He will be joined by 5 members of the Irish Parliament. The Committee was established as part of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and further visits will be made to Poland and Scotland later this spring. A Report will be prepared for the British and Irish Governments in the summer. Commenting on the visit Glyn Davies, who is a partner in a farming business in Mid Wales, said: "Small farms have been the backbone of rural life for centuries and have given stability to culture, language and community. The whole structure is falling apart across Europe as small farms become unviable and are amalgamated with other farm businesses which are becoming ever larger. European Governments must understand what is happening and what the impact of this change will be. Later this year, our Committee, which is made up of Members of the Westminster, Scottish and Irish Parliaments as well as myself representing Wales will publish our report. It already seems inevitable to us that the process of losing full time small farms will continue. If we want to retain small farms it will only be with the help of diversification or through work off the farm by a member of the farmer's family. The two farms visited were at Ballyconnell in the Irish Republic and Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.
March 7th 2006 COMMITTEE CHAIR CONCERNED ABOUT TIR MYNNYDD PROTESTS Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly will meet with farmers from all over Wales who intend to protest outside the National Assembly tomorrow. The protest follows the decision by the EPC Minister, Carwyn Jones, to end Tir Mynnydd, a payment scheme for upland farms. A consultation document has been issued by the Minister which includes 2 options, both of them closing Tir Mynnyd within 2 years. Commenting before the meeting with the protesters, Glyn Davies, who himself a partner in an upland farming business, said: "I have never known the farmers of Wales and their unions be as angry as they are about scrapping of Tir Mynnydd, the grant scheme, which together with its predecessor the Hill Livestock Compensation Scheme (HCLA) has underpinned upland farming for generations. I personally disagree with the Ministers decision to end Tir Mynnydd but I accept that he is the Minister and has the power to do this. My main concern is about the reason given for ending Tir Mynnydd. My committee was told that the European Commission would be unlikely to any longer accept Tir Mynnydd, which is in reality a socio-economic scheme. The Minister explained that the money would have to be directed into a different scheme which matched more closely the Government's and European Union objectives. It has come as a shock to me to learn that the other three countries in the UK might be retaining their versions of Tir Mynnydd. I hope to discuss this matter with Carwyn Jones asking for an explanation why he thinks a socio-economic support scheme for upland farming would fall foul of the EU in Wales, while his equivalent Ministers in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland think it won't."
EX BOXER AM CONGRATULATES JOE CALZAGHE ON HIS BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has written to Joe Calzaghe following his defeat of Jeff Lacy in Manchester last Sunday morning. The fight was Joe Calzaghe 19th successful defence of his WBO title and a unification fight for the IBF and IBO title. Following the fight, Glyn Davies, who before taking up a rugby career, trained and boxed as a cruiserweight himself, said: "Joe's performance was the best Welsh performance I've seen since Howard Winstone took on Vincente Saldivar in the 1960's. There will never again be any question marks about Joe Calzaghe's talent. He already deserves to be 2006 Sports Personality of the Year. Joe's performance reminded me of Howard Winstone, based on ring craft, hand speed and combination punching. He made the younger, more powerful American look like a carthorse and beat him for speed to the punch throughout the fight. The bench of legendary Welsh sports stars like Gareth Edwards and the late John Charles will have to be extended. Joe Calzaghe has won a permanent place in the Welsh hall of fame."
March 6th 2006 GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES GILLAN DEVOLUTION COMMITMENT Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed a commitment by Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan that the next Conservative Government at Westminster will not oppose giving the National Assembly more powers - if that is what the people of Wales show that is what they want in a referendum. Glyn Davies, who was opposed to establishing the National Assembly before Sept 18th 1997 has consistently argued since the referendum YES vote in 1997 that there is no longer any sensible or constitutionally sound alternative to giving Wales the same devolved powers as Scotland. Commenting on Cheryl Gillan's conference speech Glyn Davies said: "Since the referendum in 1997, which led to the creation of a National Assembly for Wales, I have accepted that devolution is here to stay - and that the only constitutionally sensible option for Wales is that the Assembly should have the same level of devolved power as the Scottish Parliament. Unsurprisingly, many individual Conservatives remain doubtful about devolution - but is now settled party policy that we are committed to making a success of our National Assembly. We also believe that the Assembly should have greater powers if the people of Wales show that they want them through a referendum. Most important of all we are now clearly ready and willing to take power in Wales. Last weekend's Llandudno Conference was the platform for a genuine Tory revival in Wales. In David Cameron and Cheryl Gillan we have two leaders at Westminster who accept the reality of devolution and also accept that the Welsh Conservative Party can develop policy for Wales that is right for the people of Wales. It is an exciting time to be a Conservative in Wales - particularly as Labour politicians seem to be in a phase of putting the electoral interests of the Labour Party before those of our nation.
March 3rd 2006 GLYN DAVIES TELLS CONFERENCE THAT TORIES MUST PUT THE ENVIRONMENT AS FIRST PRIORITY Glyn Davies, Conservative Chairman of the Environment and Countryside Committee in the National Assembly will tell Welsh Conservative members at their Party Conference at Llandudno this weekend that the environment must take first priority in the Party’s Assembly Election Manifesto over every other issue. The Assembly Member for Mid & West Wales has welcomed the emphasis that David Cameron has put on environmental issues and wants the Party in Wales to do the same. He will be speaking at 12 noon on Saturday morning in a session which includes Shadow Chancellor George Osborne. Commenting before his speech Glyn Davies said: “David Cameron has rightly put the environment and the impact of climate change as the most important challenge facing any British Government of any Party in the future. I believe this issue should also become first priority for the Conservative Party in Wales. It is increasingly clear that mankind’s activities are destroying the world as we know it. There must be a step change in our campaign to cut greenhouse gas emissions. This matter is more important than health or education or any of the other National Assembly for Wales’s other responsibilities. Our current attitude towards the legacy we leave to the next generation is a national disgrace. The main responsibility lies with the Chancellor to change the taxation system so that the British genius for technological invention is released, but the National Assembly for Wales has a role to play as well – through such steps as a commitment to developing a biomass, to developing tidal and solar power, to more recycling and less packaging. There is an opportunity for much more all party agreement about the actions that are needed. On Environmental issues I want the Conservative Party to lead the drive for a political consensus. Our environment is more important than politics.”
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