----------------- ----------------- |  | | Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 March, 2004, 16:39 GMT 17:39 UK |
Wales: First Minister's Questions (31/03/04)
|  Rhodri Morgan rejects the idea of war with the English |
No war on England, the First Minister declared this week. Rhodri Morgan said nothing would please Plaid Cymru more than a declaration of war and a massing of troops on the border at Offa's Dyke. Despite acknowledging there would be great excitement in doing that, Mr Morgan said there was no plans for a war at the moment. He was, of course, referring to the current policy conflict over GM crops. | Rhodri's put-down of the week To Alun Cairns:-
"You are asking us to burn bonfires in a quango and to protect them at the same time. That is ridiculous. Get yourself straightened out, Alun." |
Opposition parties have been keen to show the growing divide between Westminster and Wales over the listing of a particular variety of maize. The Assembly Government has been resisting calls to have the maize grown in Wales, but members fear the UK Government may compel the Assembly Government to grow the crop. Also up for argument this week were what could be called the usual suspects. The future of objective one is still raising heart rates in the chamber. And so too is the recent accusation of cronyism over the appointment of the Assembly's top legal expert. The news on that front is that there now won't be one. Questions Iueun Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru's Group Leader) asked whether west Wales and the Valleys will qualify for Objective One status, and whether the First Minister is backing the Treasury's regional budget rate, or the Commission's.
The first minister said it was unlikely the region would qualify. He said some countries of the EU have levels of poverty not seen in the EU before. But he was looking for the best deal for Wales, regardless of where the money comes from.Ieuan Wyn Jones asked whether his Economic Development Minister's attack on the WDA was cleared with him.
The first minister accused the Leader of the Opposition of being inconsistent for attacking quangos last week.Alun Cairns (Conservative, North Wales) asked why the First Minister has not implemented a bonfire of quangos as promised.
The first minister told him to get himself straightened out before asking to burn quangos and protect them at the same time.Jenny Randerson (Liberal Democrat, Cardiff Central) asked what analysis the first minister had undertaken over how much Wales would lose out on the proposed regional budget rates.
The first minister said the analysis is well on the way to being completed.Jocelyn Davies (Plaid Cymru, South Wales East) asked the first minister to review the homebuy scheme, as house prices in Wales have trebled over 20 years.
The first minister said he has extended the amount of equity loan available under the scheme and will consider extending it in urban areas where house prices are higher.Lorraine Barrett (Labour, Cardiff South & Penarth) asked whether there were any plans to implement a key-worker living programme as in England to help public sector workers in Cardiff.
The first minister said Wales does not have a comparable programme to the proposals for special reserve housing for key public service workers in London.Nick Bourne (Leader of the Welsh Conservatives) asked about the impact of his policies on local government expenditure and accused central government of presiding over a fall in local authority spending, but an increase in council tax.
The first minister said Wales' annual increase in council tax has been around 8.5 per cent, but it average 13 per cent when the Tories were in power. He said the average council tax payer was paying �265 less that in England.Mike German (Liberal Democrat Group Leader) asked whether the first minister agreed with the Welsh Affairs Select Committee report saying that Wales should have the power to borrow to invest in services.
The first minister said the policy has bankrupted many states. He does not see how such an arrangement could benefit Welsh services.Helen Mary Jones asked whether the first minister believes the UK Government will invoke their powers over the Assembly to compel Wales to include the controversial maize type in its list of accepted GM seeds.
The first minister said he was not aware of any hypothetical question being raised.Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru, South West Wales ) asked how the Assembly Government will obtain legal advice without having a Counsel General.
The first minister said they will hire and receive advice from Queen's Counsels using Winston Roddick who is acting counsel.Nick Bourne (Mid & West Wales, Conservative) said this was a fine mess and asked whether Gerard Elias will pursue action in relation to his human rights following the first minister's interference.
The first minister said the Civil Service Commission confirmed his actions were within the rules of the commission's recruitment policy.Jeff Cuthbert (Labour, Caerphilly) asked whether the first minister welcomed the extension of the minimum wage to 16 and 17 year olds.
The first minister said it was important for Wales as the country has a long history of low pay.Denise Idris-Jones (Labour, Conwy) asked the first minister on his plans to move Assembly offices outside of Cardiff and suggested the Hotpoint plant in Conwy.
The first minister said they are in the middle of consultation with staff as to which would be the best group to move outside of Cardiff. He said he would not comment on individual sites as it would adversely affect the Assembly's negotiating position.Janet Ryder (Plaid Cymru, North Wales) asked whether a sizeable department would move to North Wales.
The first minister said he would not be pushed against a wall and he wanted the best possible value for money.Janet Davies (South Wales West, Plaid Cymru) asked why Welsh universities were missing out on extra money when over six per cent of UK students attend Welsh Universities.
The first minister said it was a long standing problem but it is moving in the right direction.David Davies (Conservative, Monmouth) asked whether the first minister had given any thought to what would happen when top-up fees are introduced.
The first minister said they should wait and see what is finally determined in Westminster. But he said Wales could receive an extra �99 million in 2006-07 to cover the fallout from the Higher Education Bill.Laura Ann Jones (Conservative, North Wales) asked the first minister to recognise the vital massive contribution arts and sports projects have in community regeneration.
The first minister said he agreed in principle and has secured money fro the new opportunities fund.Owen John Thomas asked whether there could be a better increase in the next culture budget than the "appallingly low amount" of less than one per cent allocated in the recent budget.
The first minister said he was ignoring schemes such as the free swimming for children and the elderly.You can see First Minister's Questions in full on BBC Parliament from 1500 GMT on Saturday.
| | WATCH AND LISTEN BBC Parliament broadcasts Welsh FMQs
SEE ALSO: 
|
|
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
