Freedom Central » Mark Williams

Wales Office back Williams rural rebate call

Freedom Central — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 05:44:32 +0000

Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has welcomed the news that the Wales Office has written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, asking for rural parts of Wales to be included within the rural fuel rebate, after quizzing Minister David Jones during Welsh Questions.

Mark Williams wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the issue in January, and has long campaigned for a rural fuel rebate in areas such as Ceredigion, where the price of fuel is often higher despite there being fewer public transport options.

The Government has announced that they will pursue a rebate scheme, which would apply in the Highlands, the Northern Isles, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Islands of the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly.

During today’s Welsh questions session, Mark Williams pointed out the difficulties many in rural Wales are experiencing due to the current high cost of fuel, and asked for the Wales Office to urge the Treasury to include parts of Wales in the scheme. In response, David Jones confirmed that the Wales Office had written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Commenting, Mark Williams said:

“The Government should be congratulated on their plans to introduce a scheme to help make rural fuel affordable, when the previous Labour Government claimed this was impossible.

“However, it is important that that help should be available to other similar communities, and I would argue that much of rural Wales would meet the criteria on remoteness and sparseness.

“This is a very good scheme, which is why the Liberal Democrats have been arguing for it for many years, but it needs to apply in all extremely rural and sparsely populated areas, so that we are not paying more for our petrol.”

St. David’s Day success for Welsh Liberal Democrats before Welsh Conference

Freedom Central — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:25:26 +0000

Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has today welcomed the news that the UK Government will consult with the Welsh Assembly over giving them the power to decide whether or not to move the Early May Bank holiday to coincide with St David’s Day on 1st March.

Welsh Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for St David’s Day to be a bank holiday so that the people of Wales can celebrate their culture and heritage. Mark Williams Welsh Liberal Democrat MP held a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday arguing that the Welsh Assembly should be given the power to designate St David’s Day as a public holiday.

In 2000, the Welsh Assembly voted unanimously in favour of making St David’s Day a public holiday, but the Labour Government in Westminster would not give the Assembly Government the power to designate a public holiday on 1st March. The Scottish Parliament voted to make St Andrew’s Day a public holiday in 2006.

Kirsty Williams said:

“This is great news for Wales. A St David’s Day holiday would be a great opportunity to showcase our culture and heritage, making it a global festival of all things Welsh and a showcase for investment and tourism as well as a celebration of our national day. This will be a day to celebrate our culture and promote economic activity like the Irish do.

“I have been pushing very hard for this with the UK Government. Labour had 13 years to deliver this but never did.

“There is a great deal of support for an extra bank holiday, and I hope that in Wales we will soon be able to follow Scotland in making our national saint’s day a public holiday.”

Mark Williams, Ceredigion Welsh Liberal Democrat MP added:

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for a bank holiday on St. David’s Day for a long time and I am very happy that the UK Government is going to consult with the National Assembly over giving them the power to decide whether or not to move the Early May Bank holiday to coincide with St David’s Day on 1st March.

“Kirsty Williams and I have been lobbying the UK Government and I am very happy that they have listened to us. It is now up to the Assembly to make their representations so that we can ensure that next year we can celebrate our patron saint’s day the way we ought to.”

Williams secures debate on St David’s Day public holiday

Freedom Central — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:08:41 +0000

Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams will argue for St David’s Day to be designated as a public holiday in Wales after securing a Westminster debate.

There has been a long-running campaign for St David’s Day to be made a public holiday in Wales, which has support from all of the major parties in Wales.

In 2000 the Welsh Assembly voted unanimously in favour of making St David’s Day a public holiday, but the Labour Government in Westminster would not give the Assembly Government the power to designate a public holiday on 1st March. The Scottish Parliament voted to make St Andrew’s Day a public holiday in 2006, and St Patrick’s Day has been a public holiday in Ireland since 1903.

Mark Williams’s debate will take place on 2nd March in Westminster Hall.

Commenting, Mark Williams said:

“St David’s Day has massive cultural and historical significance in Wales, and there have been calls for a public holiday for many years, so it is a real honour to be able to make the case directly to the Government.

“My party have long believed that St David’s Day should be a public holiday, and there is cross-party agreement on this matter in Wales, with the Assembly previously voting unanimously in favour.

“A St David’s Day holiday would be a great opportunity to showcase our culture and heritage, and could provide a real boost to tourism.

“There is a great deal of support for an extra bank holiday, and I hope that in Wales we will soon be able to follow Scotland in making our national saint’s day a public holiday.”

Out and about in Wales

Kirsty Williams — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:45:18 +0000

As summer arrives in Wales, much of the political world decamps to two key events – the Royal Welsh Show, celebrating our agricultural heritage and the National Eisteddfod, which celebrates our cultural heritage. I have attended both and was pleased to see our AMs, MPs and candidates visit as well.

The events are crucial, not just because they celebrate Welsh culture but because they allow us to show off what Wales offers to the world. The Royal Welsh is the jewel in the crown of Welsh agriculture and the Eisteddfod showcases Welsh culture in action.

The Royal Welsh Show takes place in my constituency every year and perhaps its most impressive aspects are the size and the liveliness of the show. It was great to see Wyn Williams, who will be fighting the Montgomeryshire seat for the Welsh Liberal Democrats at the crucial Welsh Assembly elections next year. He is striking a real chord with rural voters. A farmer himself, he really understands rural issues and the community he seeks to serve. He is the ideal choice to lead the fight back in Montgomeryshire.

Likewise, I enjoyed spending time with Mark Williams. What an endorsement he received from the voters when he converted a slender 219 majority into a 8,324 winning margin! Many of the people at the Royal Welsh are from his patch and it was difficult to hold a conversation with him without getting interrupted by wellwishers. If we replicate his swing next year, we will take the beautiful Ceredigion seat from the nationalists for the first time since the Welsh Assembly was created.

The Eisteddfod this year visited Ebbw Vale, one of the most deprived constituencies in Wales. It is great to see the interest from the local community in the event – reinforcing the message that the arts are not a preserve of the middle classes.

What is particularly enjoyable about the Eisteddfod is not just the world-class art, singing and dancing that is on display in the iconic pink tent, but that is coupled with political debate. Most of Welsh civic society is in Ebbw Vale and it is a great chance to catch up with thinkers, activists and other politicians to discuss the future of Wales.

One of the big talking points is the timing of the two referenda to take place in Wales in the next year. The first referendum is on allowing Wales to make its own laws, without having to ask permission from Westminster. A reform that I am proud is being delivered by Liberal Democrats in Government. There is cross-party consensus that we cannot hold this vote on the powers of the Assembly on the same day we will be holding a vote on the make up of the Assembly. People need to know what they are voting for.

There has also been debate about the date of the AV referendum. It is a UK-wide poll and holding it on the same day as the Assembly election will save money and increase voter turn out, something that should be welcomed by all political parties. I see no reason why campaigning for the Assembly elections will conflict with campaigning on the referendum for a change in the electoral system.

We cannot justify asking the people of Wales to go to the polls three times in four months.

But the most important poll next year will be the Welsh Assembly elections. I am confident about our chances (although offers of help from the other side of Offa’s Dyke are welcome!) and would relish the opportunity to put the radical policies we are developing into practice after the next election. After the last eight years of drift, Wales needs a strong, Liberal Democrat voice in Government to help ensure a fairer Wales. With your support, we will be fighting tirelessly to achieve a result of which all Liberal Democrats can be proud.

Welsh Lib Dem MPs want VAT rise impact to be assessed

Freedom Central — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:52:16 +0000

Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs Roger Williams and Mark Williams have written to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander asking for the impact of the VAT rise to be assessed and measures to mitigate the effect in some areas to be adopted.

Both MPs put their name to an amendment tabled by St. Ives MP Andrew George calling for an impact assessment of the increase in VAT to 20%, but the amendment was not called.

In particular, they have highlighted the impact on rural areas, where the lack of public transport, which is zero-rated, means that people have no alternative but to use cars, and they will face the effect of a 2.5% VAT increase on the cost of driving.

They also point out the increasing discrepancy between the VAT rate on new build and refurbishment, which will provide an even greater financial incentive to favour new build over refurbishment.

They further highlighted the impact of the rise in VAT on charities, which is expected to cost them around £250 million, at a time when there is a great pressure on the voluntary sector.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire Roger Williams said:

“We know that the Coalition Government faced a tough task in ensuring that we are able to cut the deficit without hitting the poorest, but we are worried about the proposed increase in VAT.

“We are particularly concerned about the impact on the voluntary sector, which is particularly hard-pressed at the moment, and rural areas due to the additional cost of fuel.

“We need to carry out this work so that we can lessen the impact of any increase in VAT.”

Ceredigion MP Mark Williams added:

“Many people are concerned at the impact that this will have on their budget or on their business, and it is absolutely right that the Government should heed those concerns and do what they can to mitigate the impact.

“We recognise that this was a tough budget to deliver, and that Labour left the Government in an impossible position, but the coalition has to be prepared to listen to genuine concerns, and ensure that we do put forward a budget that deals with the deficit while protecting the poorest in our society.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs urge fair funding for Wales

Newswire — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:49:30 +0000

Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs Mark Williams and Roger Williams have today highlighted the need for fair funding for Wales in Treasury Questions, citing the Holtham Commission which found that Wales is underfunded by £300 million every year.

In his question, Mark Williams asked whether the Government accepted the conclusions of Holtham that Wales is underfunded, and asked the Government to commit to fair funding across the UK.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander acknowledged the concerns raised by the Holtham Commission, but reiterated that dealing with the deficit is the Treasury’s priority. He confirmed that a full review would take place after the referendum on further powers.

In response to a question by Mr Williams’s Welsh Liberal Democrat colleague Roger Williams MP, Mr Alexander said that he would look into suggestions that the Barnett Formula could be reformed to provide a reduction in the deficit.

Commenting, Ceredigion MP Mark Williams said:

“I remain clear that we need reform of Barnett, and the new Government’s recognition of Holtham is welcome as is their promise of a full review on Welsh funding.

“We obviously need to tackle the deficit and that is rightly the priority of the Treasury, but at a time when there are going to be cuts, it is even more important that those cuts fall fairly.”

“I do maintain that we can tackle the deficit and put in place a need-based formula to address this issue, and I welcome Danny Alexander’s commitment to look at this possibility.”

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams added:

“A debate in the House of Lords on Monday showed that there was cross-party support for reform of the Barnett formula, including from Lord Barnett, the report’s author.

“It is clear that public finances need to be stabilised given the huge deficit, but it is also possible to reform the Barnett Formula at the same time.

“Reform would not mean providing additional funding but would require funding to be shifted from regions that are receiving more than their fair share to those that are not.”

Mark Williams has the edge in Ceredigion

Peter Black — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:03:09 +0000

Anybody doubting that Mark Williams is on course to retain his Ceredigion seat with an increased majority need only look in this week’s Cambrian News. Acccording to their columnist, Patrick O’Brien Mark was head and shoulders above the other candidates at a recent hustings meeting:

“Even a visitor from Mars would have left the Morlan knowing why the election in Ceredigion is between the Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru and why, on this showing at least, the Lib Dems have a stronger candidate. Mark Williams showed a vigour missing in his rival, left few loose ends than Penri and produced the evening’s only high spot – a punchy introductory speech attacking UK government failings.”

#wldconf the movies

Freedom Central — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:12:26 +0000

Here are four short videos from yesterday’s Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference in Swansea’s Grand Theatre starting with Swansea West Parliamentary Candidate Peter May opening the event:

A thoughtful speech from Welsh Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Brecon and Radnorshire MP, Roger Williams:

A barnstormer from Ceredigion MP, Mark Williams:

And an outstanding contribution from the future MP for Newport East, Ed Townsend:

Pro-Act scheme is hit and miss say Lib Dems

Freedom Central — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:55:51 +0000

Welsh Liberal Democrats have hit out at the patchy and ineffective use of the Welsh Government’s Proact scheme, as the party uncovered figures showing that it has had very little effect in many areas of Wales.

Figures show that in some areas, the scheme, often hailed by Labour and Plaid as an economic golden bullet has helped less than ten people.

In Ceredigion, where the scheme has been repeatedly praised by Plaid Cymru, the scheme has only helped eight people, while in Conwy only seven employees have been supported.

Welsh Lib Dem MP for Ceredigion, Mark Williams said: “Plaid and Labour have been a one trick pony on the economy, repeatedly claiming that Proact was some sort of magic bullet.

“These shocking figures show that while hundreds of people have lost their jobs across Ceredigion, the Government’s flagship scheme has only support a tiny handful of workers.

“The people of Ceredigion have been badly let down by both Governments. Labour and Plaid have done virtually nothing to help struggling families in my constituency, at a time when they needed help.

Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Economy Minister, Jenny Randerson AM added:

“I have had suspicions for some time that the Government’s scheme has lacked the flexibility needed to support families in all parts of Wales.

“People in places like Ceredigion, Conwy and the Vale of Glamorgan have been badly let down by a Government that are all spin and no action.

”We need a fairer economy, with fair taxes and genuinely flexible economic support. These figures show that the Government’s programme is not flexible enough to help many areas.”

On-line VAT plans defy belief

Freedom Central — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:58:36 +0000

Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has branded plans to force new businesses and businesses with an annual turnover of £100,000 to submit and pay their VAT online as ‘bonkers’.

The new rules will apply from April 2010, and could cause considerable difficulty to businesses without access to a reliable broadband connection or computer expertise.

Mark has written to Stephen Timms, the Minister with responsibility for HMRC to ask him to reconsider the decision.

Commenting, Mark Williams said:

“This decision really is astonishingly poorly thought out and ignores the many who do not have a reliable broadband connection, or are not computer literate.

“Filling in online forms can be virtually impossible with an unreliable connection, and there will be many businesses that would simply prefer to fill in their return by hand.

“If completing returns online reduces the cost to HMRC they should do everything they can to encourage increased take-up, and indeed it might be more convenient for some businesses that haven’t considered the possibility of online returns.

“But to force businesses online when it is effectively impossible for them to do so, or to expect them to pay someone else to do it is bonkers. We should be concentrating on helping businesses, and giving them choices, not on making life easier for HMRC’s admin.”