In a bizarre turn of events in the National Assembly, the Welsh Conservative Opposition tabled two debates on localism and government policy failure only to have no Welsh Government Minister’s present to respond to the debates.
The occurrence happened due to strike action by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union, which affected business and services at the National Assembly for Wales (20th March). Labour and Plaid Assembly Members refused to cross the picket line so did not take part in curtailed proceedings in the Senedd chamber, which just saw two short debates being led by the Assembly’s Welsh Conservative Group.
Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, spoke during the debate on localism and focused his attention on devolving further powers on energy projects down to local authorities so that decisions are made as close to people as possible.
During his contribution he said:
"It has long been the position of Welsh Conservatives to support devolving competency for energy projects of up to 100MW to Wales.
"However, where I think we differ from the other parties in Wales is that we are not content for those powers to simply reside with Welsh Ministers, we want enhanced energy devolution, which will ensure many key decisions in relation to energy policy are made by local authorities, who are better placed to reflect community views.
"Protestors in Montgomeryshire against the industrialisation of Mid Wales are not nimbys, nor are they unwilling to do their bit to mitigate Climate Change. They are just not prepared to suffer the central imposition of a technology and of infrastructure that is of such a scale that it becomes socially harmful energy or fork out £2.8m to defend that position.
"I believe the localism argument is resonating in Westminster as Energy Minister, John Hayes MP, has said publically that local people and their councils should not feel bullied into accepting proposals they do not want and he is working on proposals to make that happen.
"It’s a shame that the First Minister and his Minister’s are not here today to give us their views."