Comments on: Labour-Plaid energy ambition little reflection on reality

By: David

David — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:56:29 +0000

Jeremy, under the logic that Plaid could of used their “influence” with UK ministers, then why didn’t the Liberal Democrats in government in Scotland and Wales in 2003, use their “influence” to try and put a break on the Iraq war? I know its a silly comparison, but its the same logic – which is also silly.

By: Carl Merry

Carl Merry — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:13:05 +0000

A Shoots Barrage is not the easy fallback option. There are serious sediment and navigational issues that need to be addressed. Of all the workshops I have attended (I am a marine pilot) the stand out fact is that all the modelling done thus far carries a high degreee of uncertainty. That is not acceptable for a multi billion pound project that for 75% of the time will produce precisely zero electricity!

By: Illtyd Luke

Illtyd Luke — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:36:42 +0000

I’m quite sure Plaid do not want to be considered on the side of any of the UK Labour Ministers.

By: Jeremy Townsend

Jeremy Townsend — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:09:13 +0000

Then Plaid must be getting trampled on by Labour! I would imagine that being in a colaition with Labour here would mean that Plaid would have more influence with UK Labour ministers (throught Welsh Labour_) than they would if they were in opposition, but clearly this is not the case.

By: Illtyd Luke

Illtyd Luke — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:49:58 +0000

Quite clearly Plaid Cymru are interested Jeremy seeing as it’s their policy too.

By saying ‘Labour-Plaid’ to tar the whole government you are alienating Plaid, for electoral reasons (Ceredigion etc). The only reason I say this is because if Plaid call for things off UK Labour MInisters, they obviously get ignored!

By: Jeremy Townsend

Jeremy Townsend — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:40:14 +0000

Luke,

Welsh Liberal Democrat policy is for energy developments over 50MW to be devolved to Wales.

When the Planning Act was passed last year (or possibly the year before) it set up an England-and-Wales committee to decide on large scale energy developments. At that time, in Westminster we proposed amendments to the Bill which would have seen these powers transferred to Wales, but it was rejected.

We also raised the issue on numerous occasions in the Assembly, but it apparently fell on deaf ears – the Labour-Plaid government simply wasn’t interested – and made no attempt to use its influence with UK ministers to devolve these powers.

Jeremy

By: Illtyd Luke

Illtyd Luke — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:38:24 +0000

How can Mick Bates, the Lib Dems’ Sustainability Spokesperson, be allowed to issue a statement on energy in Wales without once referring to the fact that energy applications over 50MW are NOT devolved?

If the Welsh Lib Dems support Labour and Plaid’s vision for a completely renewable energy make-up in Wales, they should be demanding Westminster devolve those powers to Wales rather than attacking Ieuan Wyn Jones on nuclear power, which again is not devolved.