May
Glyn Davies
|
|
|
03/05/06 GLYN DAVIES PLEASED WITH SUPPORT IN MID AND WEST WALES REGIONAL LIST RANKING Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has been placed second on the Conservative Party's Regional List for Mid and West Wales for next years Assembly Elections. After the vote of all Mid and West Wales Conservative Party Members were counted today Nick Bourne was placed at 1 on the list, Glyn Davies at 2, Lisa Francis at 3 and O J Williams at 4. The positions are the same as they were in 1999 and 2003. Commenting on the result Glyn Davies said: "I am really pleased that the Conservative members in Mid and West Wales have once again given me such a lot of support. Over the last seven years I have given my best to represent the area well and I hope to carry on for several years into the future. Last week I decided that I wanted to spend some time as a Conservative backbencher in the Assembly concentrating my attention on Chairing the Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee and on issues that matter to my constituency of Mid and West Wales. I am also looking forward to the freedom that the backbench will give me to speak on a wide range of subjects from a personal perspective."
04/05/06 GLYN DAVIES WELCOMES END OF BEEF EXPORT BAN BUT SAYS THERE SHOULD BE ASSEMBLY DEBATE ABOUT LIVE CALF EXPORTS Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed the decision of the Assembly Government to use the executive procedure to ensure that the ban on the export of British beef was lifted on the same day as England and Scotland. The executive procedure was used by the Minister because the debate on the new regulations which was to have taken place on 2nd May was cancelled along with all other business of the day as a mark of respect to the late Peter Law. Commenting on the lifting of the beef export ban Glyn Davies, who is also Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, said: "I totally accept that the Assembly Government was correct to use the emergency procedure to ensure that the beef export ban was lifted on 2nd May, the same day as it was lifted in England and Scotland. We must now do all that we can to recover the huge beef export market which was lost in 1996 when the ban was first imposed following the announcement that there may have been a link between BSE in cattle and CJD in humans. However, I am concerned that there was no opportunity for those AM's who are opposed to the resumption of live calf exports to have their say. There should always be opportunity in the National Assembly to debate controversial issues. I hope that there will be discussion on the resumption of live export of calves either in Committee or in Plenary session at an early date. I personally, am prepared to accept that live calf exports should be allowed - but only under the highest welfare standards. And there must also be assurance that high welfare standards exist on the veal units to which the calves are being exported. Welsh farmers are concerned about the welfare of their animals and we must have systems in place to prevent any rogue transporters or veal farmers from damaging the farming industry's reputation."
08/05/06 'RESPONSIBLE OPPOSITION' WILL BRING TORY SUCCESS AT 2007 ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS SAYS MID AND WEST TORY AM Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales told a Conservative Party Policy Forum in Cardigan on Saturday that David Cameron's focus on environment issues will bring electoral success for the Conservatives at next year's Assembly elections. Glyn Davies has a personal life-long interest in environmental issues and is the current Chair of the National Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee. In a wide ranging speech on environment and countryside issues Glyn Davies said the key to persuading voters that Conservatives are serious about power is 'responsible opposition' and taking up policy positions that are realistic and achievable if the Party was to win power. He outlined his support for cross party agreements on 'unpopular' actions needed to tackle climate change. He also used his speech as a ringing endorsement of David Cameron's leadership of the Conservative Party. Commenting after his speech Glyn Davies said: "I fully support David Cameron's drive to make the Conservative Party the 'Party of the Environment'. Opposing the Labour Government with the environment always in mind is truly 'responsible opposition'. I accept that there are doubters but a policy agenda aimed at protecting the environment is morally right, internationally responsible and in the long term will be politically rewarding for David Cameron and the Conservative Party. The environment and reducing the impact of climate change is more important than partisan politics. I have said that I will back the Government on unpopular measures - if they are right by the environment. This is my idea of 'responsible opposition'. When we ask people to 'Vote Blue - Go Green' we shouldn't mean some weak pea shade of green that will fade under pressure - and it shouldn't be for just one election. I hope we can reach the stage in Wales that when voters think 'Environment' they think 'Conservative'. Our Assembly Election Manifesto should be painted in a rich, vibrant and indelible green."
15/05/06 GLYN DAVIES QUESTIONS MINISTERS DECISION TO END BOVINE TB SURVEY OF BADGERS FOUND DEAD Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has questioned the surprising decision announced at last week's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee meeting by the Minister, Carwyn Jones, to end the Assembly Government bovine Tb survey of badgers found dead. The Minister announced the decision during discussions about Bovine Tb eradication policy after Glyn Davies had sought clarification of when the Minister would be reporting on test results. The purpose of the survey was to establish what correlation exists between the geographical spread of Bovine Tb in cattle and in badgers. Commenting on the Ministers decision, Glyn Davies, who is also Chair of the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, said: "Last year the Minister told us that 400 dead badgers would have to be found and tested to provide an adequate evidence base on which to base a judgement about the link between Bovine Tb in badgers and the disease in cattle. While a sample of 400 may be adequate, there is no doubt that the science would be stronger if the scale of testing carried on for much longer. The Minister is correct to produce an early report on the lessons derived from the tests on the 500 badger carcasses found so far. I want the report to be thoroughly researched and prepared and I am content that the end of September is the right time to review the position in the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee. But this does not mean that the testing programme has to stop. Bovine Tb is devastating the Welsh cattle herds and the Government must tackle this terrible disease. Bovine Tb has been allowed to run out of control. Over recent years we have seen too much of Government Ministers finding ways to avoid facing up to the problem. No one wants to cull badgers but if the evidence shows that targeted culling can help bring Bovine Tb under control the Minister will have to take the very tough decision to proceed with a cull. "
19/05/06 TORY AM WELCOMES RE-THINK ON POLICE MERGER Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has welcomed comments by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain which confirm that the costs relating to the merger of Welsh Police Forces will be met by the Home Office. He has also welcomed suggestions that the speed at which the merger is to go ahead by is to be slowed down allowing for further consideration. Speaking to the Rotary Club of Welshpool last night Glyn Davies said: "People in Mid Wales are deeply concerned about the merger of Dyfed Powys Police Force into an All Wales Police Force. They are deeply concerned about the diversion of the policing budget from rural mid Wales to urban areas - crimes such as terrorism and drug misuse have a much higher profile than rural crime. I welcome the change of tone from the Government following the appointment of John Reid as Home Secretary. We still hope he will take much more time over such a major decision and even reconsider the merger of the Welsh police forces. We have been concerned about the effect of restructuring on council tax bills and I am relieved that the Government has been forced to agree that the costs are to be met by the Home Office."
22/05/06 TORY AM UNDERGOES AN 'MOT' ON HIS DRIVING SKILLS Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has undergone an assessment of his driving skills by IAM (Institute of Advanced Motoring), Britain's leading dedicated road safety organisation. The hour long MOT, called DriveCheck, was carried out by one of IAM's team of hand picked and trained observers. IAM have over 200 groups across the UK. Commenting after his DriveCheck experience Glyn Davies said: "DriveCheck is a brilliant idea which I recommend. Driving cars is a potentially dangerous activity and it makes absolute sense that we should find out how we can make ourselves safer at the wheel - for our own sakes and everyone's else's safety. People are willing to spend a fortune improving their skill at driving a golf ball but put no effort whatsoever into improving their skill at driving a car. Every car has to have an MOT to make sure it is roadworthy and every driver should think about having their own MOT as well. However, I admit that my DriveCheck was a double blow to my self-esteem. Not only did I discover that my driving is only very average - but I am also forced to admit that my wife has been right all along when she has been telling me so. If I'd had a regular DriveCheck every 5 years I might have saved the cost in reduced speeding fines and have been less of a risk to my fellow road users. So my message to all drivers is 'Be safe, Get checked, Drive better'."
22/05/06 TORY AM SAYS ASSEMBLY WILL FAIL WALES UNLESS IT IS REFORMED Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales has backed comments made yesterday by Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis Thomas. The Presiding Officer has strongly condemned the 'horrendous time wasting' and 'worthless process' of the current Assembly. He also said that Welsh people are not getting value for money. Speaking on radio programmes this morning Glyn Davies, who is an Assembly Committee Chair, has joined the Presiding Officer with his own personal criticisms. "As it stands, the National Assembly is simply not doing the job and does not justify the massive cost involved in running it. There is far too much childish points scoring and so-called debate where we all agree before we start. The whole shooting match reminds me of 30 rugby players 'going through the motions' in an end of season fixture when all the spectators have gone home. And to make matters worse, whenever there is a really important issue at stake such as the scrapping of the Quangos, Rhodri Morgan behaves like a Third World dictator, totally bypasses the National Assembly, treating it with total contempt - and not one of the Labour AM's displays any spark of independence because the First Minister has such power of preferment. Since I was forced to accept the reality of a National Assembly for Wales in the 1997 referendum, I have personally believed that the body must have the same law making powers as the Scottish Parliament. Until this happens I fear that the Assembly may well continue to waste time and continue to be a democratic sham where pursuit of position is more important than the pursuit of principle. There will be constitutional changes from 2007 which may improve the position - or they may not. In the meantime we owe it to the people of Wales to give them a better deal. I agree with the suggestion that the plenary sessions should last longer - but in my view this does mean transferring some of the Committee work to the plenary sessions. My personal view is that Labours refusal to put the Richard Commission proposals before the people in a referendum is a total self interested disgrace. Labour's Government of Wales Bill has got nothing to do with improving Assembly Government and everything to do with giving Labour, both in Wales and Westminster, power without accountability."
25/05/06 TORY AM SAYS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MUST START TO MANAGE THE SEA PROPERLY Glyn Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales, who also Chairs the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee says that the National Assembly must take a more active role in managing the seas around Wales. Commenting after a wide ranging discussion, at this weeks Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee, between AM's and Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, Wales Coastal and Maritime Partnership and WWF Cymru, Glyn Davies said: "Management of the seas around Wales is a complete shambles which needs to be sorted out. Our coasts and seas need an effective management body, a vision for the future and co-ordinated licensing arrangements. The sea is particularly important to Wales and I want to see marine management devolved to the National Assembly as far as possible. In particular there must be proper recognition of marine diversity and never again should we allow a government to treat our seas with the casual disregard the First Minister and the Secretary of State showed when proposing a new Severn Barrage without any assessment of the impact on the marine environment. Next month I hope the National Assembly will decide what changes it wants to see included in a proposed Marine Bill which will bring about the biggest ever changes to how we manage our seas."
|