The Planning Bill committee held its last session yesterday. Sixteen sessions in all, lasting a total of something like 100 hours. It has, for the last month, dominated my life, some of which I now hope to reclaim.
As it turned out, yesterday was dominated by matters Welsh. The Government had, disgracefully late, tabled a clause giving additional legislative powers to the Welsh Assembly in relation to development plans. Three additional “Matters” were to be added to the devolved competence provisions of the Government of Wales Act.
I tabled amendments to delete two of the Matters. The powers would enable WAG to intervene to an unacceptable extent in the preparation and content of local development plans. This, I told the committee, would undermine local democracy. It wasn’t devolution; it was an attempted power grab by WAG at the expense of local councils.
My stance outraged both Elfyn Llwyd, leader of Plaid Cymru, and Alun Michael, who, readers may recall, was once, in the Pleistocene era, First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly. “Tory splits!” they cried. “Why are you opposing in Parliament a measure that is supported by Conservatives in Cardiff?”
Tory splits nothing. I informed them that Conservatives at Westminster, Cardiff and local government levels were united in their opposition to the sneaky manoeuvre. (I had in fact discussed the issue with the Conservative spokesman in the Assembly shortly before the committee sat.)
Both seemed disappointed, and Alun Michael returned to his scribbling pad at the back of the committee room.
As it turned out, yesterday was dominated by matters Welsh. The Government had, disgracefully late, tabled a clause giving additional legislative powers to the Welsh Assembly in relation to development plans. Three additional “Matters” were to be added to the devolved competence provisions of the Government of Wales Act.
I tabled amendments to delete two of the Matters. The powers would enable WAG to intervene to an unacceptable extent in the preparation and content of local development plans. This, I told the committee, would undermine local democracy. It wasn’t devolution; it was an attempted power grab by WAG at the expense of local councils.
My stance outraged both Elfyn Llwyd, leader of Plaid Cymru, and Alun Michael, who, readers may recall, was once, in the Pleistocene era, First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly. “Tory splits!” they cried. “Why are you opposing in Parliament a measure that is supported by Conservatives in Cardiff?”
Tory splits nothing. I informed them that Conservatives at Westminster, Cardiff and local government levels were united in their opposition to the sneaky manoeuvre. (I had in fact discussed the issue with the Conservative spokesman in the Assembly shortly before the committee sat.)
Both seemed disappointed, and Alun Michael returned to his scribbling pad at the back of the committee room.
2 comments:
"My stance outraged both Elfyn Llwyd, leader of Plaid Cymru"
Why was an Assembly member sitting there?
Should he not have been in Cardiff?
I believe Betty Williams MP, is soon to be renamed Lazarus.
One minute she is on deaths door, next minute she is up and about in running in the commons pancake race.
I'll have a bottle of what she was given please!
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