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26/03/07
ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT CHAIR MEETS SPANISH LOCAL
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Glyn Davies, AM for Mid and West Wales, has met with a group of Spanish
Government officials who are on a fact finding mission to Wales to learn and
share information about renewable energy and waste management.
The officials were from the Castilla-La-Mancha region of Central Spain and are
visiting Cardiff, Swansea and Lampeter between Sunday and Wednesday of this
week. The group had sought a meeting with Glyn Davies in his capacity
as Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National
Assembly.
Commenting after the meeting Glyn Davies, said:
"The challenge of protecting our environment crosses international borders and
nations can learn best practice from each other. Spain has to comply with EU
Directives in the same way as Wales does - and both of our countries have major
challenges to face - including how to increase renewable energy and how to
reduce the way in which we waste natural resources.
Wales cannot hope to match Spain's success in harnessing the power of the sun or
the capacity to grow sunflower seeds. However, Wales has access to tidal, wind,
biomass and micro generation sources which are often rather
better than Spain's.
One of the biggest challenges facing Wales and Spain at present is the need to
stop dumping so much rubbish in landfill sites. Both our countries have to take
radical and controversial steps to waste less and recycle more. We
can help each other if we talk through our ideas and the lessons we learn - and
that is exactly what we have been doing."
21/03/07
ASSEMBLY SCORES MEMORABLE VICTORY OVER WESTMINSTER
The National Assembly for Wales rugby XV pulled off a great victory over the
House of Commons/House of Lords Parliamentary XV at Glamorgan Wanderers ground
last Saturday. After a see-saw match the Assembly team ran out
36-24 winners.
Commenting on the game Glyn Davies said:
"The honour of our nation was at stake and we carried the flag of Wales to
glorious victory. The Parliamentary XV took the pitch with a powerful
bullocking pack but by playing the 'Welsh way' we ran the ball like gazelles and
tore their backs to shreds. All their great hulking forwards saw were our
flying shirt tails and clean pairs of heels. There was a spell when they
managed to deprive us of ball and bulldozed through for a couple of scores - but
the 'Welsh way' prevailed.
I was particularly pleased that our great victory at midday inspired our
national team to turn over the English three hours later. I have no doubt that
the boy Hook modelled his game on the performance of our James who orchestrated
our victory with a dominating performance at stand off. I hope that the
Presiding Officer arranges for an open top bus tour around Cardiff Bay to
recognise the Assembly Team's exploits on behalf of our nation."
20/03/07
GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES PROGRESS ON SUPERMARKET TALKS
AT WELSHPOOL
Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales, has welcomed progress
in discussions between developers J Ross Developments and Powys Council planners
concerning a comprehensive development of Welshpool,
involving a new supermarket and a new livestock market.
The Council has asked the developers to prepare a Traffic Management Scheme,
which would involve taking some traffic away from the centre of the town and
also to link the new developments to the existing town centre.
Commenting on the latest position Glyn Davies said:
"Welshpool is the entry town into Mid Wales and its position as a key livestock
market centre depends on reaching a comprehensive agreement on how to link the
proposed major new supermarket, which is to be located on the
old livestock market, to the existing town centre. I accept that the
development must incorporate a new supermarket if the finance needed to pay for
a new livestock market is to be realised. However every effort must be made to
ensure that the new development should be designed in a way which minimises
traffic problems and maximises linkage with the existing town centre.
I am particularly pleased that the developers and planning authority are still
working together on this and progressing towards a satisfactory conclusion. I
hope we don't reach the same position as recently happened in Newtown when the
Council found itself forced to take hasty decisions that many councillors did
not believe to be in the best interests of the town."
16/03/07
ENVIRONMENT PLANNING AND COUNTRYSIDE COMMITTEE TO
LOBBY GOVERNMENT OVER DAIRY STRATEGY
The Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of the National assembly
decided this week to respond to the Assembly Government's consultation on a
Dairy Strategy. Over recent weeks the Committee has discussed the Assembly
Government's 'draft' strategy with Sainsbury's, the supermarket company, and
both Welsh Farming Unions. Following a discussion this week, the Committee
agreed a draft response.
Commenting on the Committee's decision to respond to the Draft Dairy Strategy,
Committee Chair Glyn Davies said:
"The Welsh dairy sector continues to struggle under severe financial pressure.
Over 1,000 dairy farmers have given up over recent years and the Assembly
Government expects another 1,000 to go out of business over the next 3 years.
We believe that the Assembly Government should make representations to the
Competition Commission about the financial problems facing Welsh dairy farmers.
We also believe that the Assembly Government should reconsider
its plans to support the processing sector because of its importance in adding
value to the basic milk product.
We were particularly interested in the farming industry's suggestion that the
various bodies charged with developing the dairy industry in Wales could be
brought together into one umbrella organisation, rather like Bord Bia in Ireland
- and we recommend that the Assembly Government considers this suggestion.
Milk production remains an extremely important sector of the farming industry in
Wales. We must do what we can to make the sector competitive within the UK and
internationally.
15/03/07
GLYN DAVIES SUPPORTS NEW CATTLE COMPENSATION RULES
Glyn Davies, Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales is backing new stricter
rules which are being introduced to prevent the over valuation of cattle which
have to culled as a Bovine Tb control measure.
The new controls, proposed by the Carwyn Jones, the EPC Minister, were discussed
at this week's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee and received
cross party support.
Commenting on the changes, Glyn Davies, who Chairs the Committee, said:
"Over the last few years the overvaluation of cattle, which have been culled as
a Bovine Tb control measure, has proved a difficult problem to resolve - and
remains so today. We have to put a stop to over valuation as soon as
possible.
There can be no possible justification for expecting tax payers to meet the cost
of anything but a 'fair' valuation. I have resisted some of the ideas that the
Minister has brought forward in the past, but I fully support the proposal to
introduce a tough regime on valuers. Where valuers put an 'enhanced' value on
culled animals they should be removed from the approved list of valuers.
There is no reason why a valuation system should not be made to work - just as
there is no justification for a switch to an unfair 'tabular' valuation system,
which had previously been the Ministers 'preferred option'. I will also support
any further tightening up of the system in the future. We must make the
compensation system work fairly and efficiently - in the interests of both
farmers and taxpayers alike."
15/03/07
GLYN DAVIES SUPPORTS CONTINUATION OF Tb ACTION GROUP
Glyn Davies, Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales, is supporting the
continuation of the Bovine Tb Action Group, which was set up as an initiative by
EPC Minister, Carwyn Jones which would be assumed to end at the Assembly
Election in May.
At this week's meeting of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee of
the National Assembly, which Glyn Davies Chairs, the future of the Action Group
was discussed. The Committee's view was that the Action Group should continue
into the next Assembly as well.
During the discussions, Committee Chair Glyn Davies said:
"I fully support the principle of a Bovine Tb Action Group, which includes
farming, countryside and wildlife interests. Like many others, I have been
deeply frustrated by the failure to get a grip on Bovine Tb, but I fully accept
that it is a hugely complex and emotive issue with no easy solutions. I also
accept that if the culling of badgers is going to play some part in future
control measures, the case for taking this action must be based on thorough
research and evidence.
I welcome the intention of the Bovine Tb Action Group to visit Ireland to look
at how the incidence of the disease has been reduced and where the culling of
wild life is the preferred method of control. It shows a willingness by the
Action Group to face up to the difficult decisions about wildlife culling that
might be needed.
Bovine Tb is destroying farming business and farmer's lives - and it visits
great misery and pain upon our badger population. We must do all we can to
eradicate this terrible disease. I believe that the Bovine Tb Action Group
can play an important part in bringing this disease under control."
15/03/07
"WE MUST PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE" SAYS TORY AM
Glyn Davies, Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales, is warning that the new
Assembly Government elected on May 3rd will have to become more involved with
preparing for the consequences of climate change.
He was speaking following a video conference session between the Environment,
Planning and Countryside Committee of the National Assembly and Abigail Howells
from the European Commission's DG Environment this week.
Glyn Davies is Chair of the EPC Committee and commented after the video
conference meeting
"There is much attention being given, rightly so, to how we can reduce the speed
of global warming - but not enough attention is being given to the changes we
will need to make to how we live in order to cope with the inevitable
consequences.
In Wales we have already changed planning guidelines to stop any new building on
areas that might become a flood risk over future decades - but we also have to
look at such things as Wales' role in the supply of water to other parts of
Britain, and how land management will have to change to cope with different
weather patterns.
Perhaps the area where least work has been done, is adapting to cope with new
health risks. We are told that the heatwave in 2003 killed about 45,000 people
prematurely, across Europe. As an example, we need to ensure that
residential homes and large shopping areas have adequate ventilation and air
conditioning systems. Climate change 'mitigation' and 'adaptation' are separate
and important issues for the next Assembly Government."
13/03/07
GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES DRAFT CLIMATE CHANGE BILL
Glyn Davies AM for Mid and West Wales, has welcomed the publication of a Draft
Climate Change Bill. He particularly welcomed its form as a ' draft '
bill in that it will give the National Assembly for Wales the opportunity to
influence the Bill which is eventually brought before Parliament.
Commenting on the Draft Bill, Glyn Davies, who is also Chair of the Environment,
Planning and Countryside Committee, said:
"Today's Draft Climate Change Bill is an important milestone on the road to
developing a policy to reduce the impact of global warming.
I particularly welcome the fact that it is a Draft Bill - which will give the
Assembly Government elected in May the opportunity to propose important changes.
However, I am disappointed that the carbon emissions targets are to be based on
periods of time that are too long to be effective. My party will be pressing
for 'rolling' annual carbon emission reduction targets. The Draft Bill proposes
5 year targets which will mean that the problem will always be put off until
another day."
05/03/07
GLYN DAVIES BACKS CONTINUATION OF TAIL DOCKING FOR
'WORKING DOGS'
Glyn Davies, Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales is backing the retention of
tail docking of dogs where a full length tail would interfere with the capacity
of a dog to function to its full potential.
At the EPC Committee at the National Botanical Gardens last week Glyn Davies and
other Committee Members watched a demonstration of a spaniel searching for, and
finding explosives. The Committee took evidence from representatives of the
Police Federation and others about the potential problems of working with dogs
with full tails.
Commenting after the Committee decided to recommend the retention of tail
docking for 'working' dogs Glyn Davies said:
"Cosmetic tail docking of dogs will end in Wales later this month. However, I am
pleased the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee has agreed that a
wide range of 'working dogs' should be exempted from this new law.
I believe it would be unreasonable to ban the tail docking of spaniels, terriers
and other sporting dogs, which have to drive through thorns and scrub as part of
their working lives. Injuries to adult dog's tails are far more painful and
cruel than shortening of the tail by qualified professionals during the first
few days of a puppy's life. Tail injuries
also mean that expensively trained dogs spend more of their working lives unable
to work while recovering from tail injuries.
I accept that there may be an attempt to introduce a complete ban on tail
docking of all dogs, including working dogs, when the regulations go before the
National Assembly latter this month. However, I hope that the full Assembly
will accept the Committees recommendations."
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March 2007
