Welsh Political News

Here’s a response to a question that was posed to me by the Carmarthen Journal recently
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Everyone’s talking Green issues: What do you think?

The environment and more specifically the issue of climate change is the biggest challenge facing the world today. That is why the naivety shown by New Labour through the recent comments by Rhodri Morgan is so shocking. To claim that climate change will benefit welsh tourism through increased temperatures demonstrates the lack of understanding and commitment in which this Government views this issue, perhaps that is why under Labour carbon emissions have actually increased. Wales needs positive and proactive polices not a Government that has committed to nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

The environment and more specifically the issue of climate change is the biggest challenge facing the world today. That is why the naivety shown by New Labour through the recent comments by Rhodri Morgan is so shocking. To claim that climate change will benefit welsh tourism through increased temperatures demonstrates the lack of understanding and commitment in which this Government views this issue, perhaps that is why under Labour carbon emissions have actually increased. Wales needs positive and proactive polices not a Government that has committed to nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

When there has been one the warmest January’s on record followed by snow in February it is clear this is an issue the Government can no longer ignore. In tackling climate change, saving energy is easier than finding more. Energy conservation and efficiency is the cheapest, quickest and most practical way of cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions. One of our seven for ’07 pledges is a clear energy plan for Wales. A Plaid Government will cut energy use by 10% - saving you money and saving the environment. To help meet our target of a 3% a year reduction in CO₂ emissions we will create a national Energy Saving Plan with non-means tested energy efficiency grants of up to 50% of the costs of insulation – with more available for low-income groups and the elderly and in disadvantaged areas. There will be a similar business energy saving scheme. We will promote a national campaign to phase out the incandescent light-bulb. We will develop a reward scheme for people who cut their energy usage.

The choice at this election can not be any clearer. Inaction and incompetence from Labour - or a radical plan of action by Plaid aimed at ensuring that Wales plays its role in meeting the major challenge of our time.

Yr wyf wrth fy  modd bod prynwr bellach wedi’i sicrhau ar gyfer ffatri DANSCO. Mae cwmni Saputo o Ganada wedi buddsoddi yn y ffatri. Gobeithiwn y bydd yn golygu y gwelwn ehangiad yn adnoddau’r ffatri a dyfodol disglair i ffermwyr llaeth yng Ngorllewin Cymru.
 Rwyf yn falch fy mod i wedi bod yn rhan o’r broses o geisio helpu datblygiad i gymryd lle. Yr wyf wedi bod yn cydlynu gyda’r rheiny sydd ynghlwm gyda’r mater er mwyn sicrhau bod y cytundeb yn medru mynd ei flaen.. rhaid rhoi clod i’r grwpiau ffermwyr, gweithwyr a’r ymgynghorwyr sydd wedi bod yn ddiflino yn ei hymdrechion a’i gwaith er mwyn sicrhau dyfodol i’r ffatri brosesu yn yr ardal hon.
 

Gobeithiaf y bydd y cytundeb hwn nid yn unig yn cynnig dyfodol i’r ffatri brosesu ond yn ddatblygiad a fydd yn golygu gweld ffyniant mewn diwydiant yng Nghastell Newydd Emlyn.
 Rwy’n siwr gyda llinell gynhyrchu sefydlog, gweithwyr a rheolwr lleol y bydd y diwydiant llaeth yng Ngorllewin Cymru yn parhau i fynd o nerth i nerth. Hoffwn gymryd y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i bawb a fu’n rhan o’r gwaith o sicrhau’r canlyniad bositif i’r problemau a gafwyd yng Nghastell Newydd Emlyn.
 

I am delighted that progress has been made and a buyer has been secured for the Dansco Factory.  Canadian company Saputo have invested in the plant in what I hope will lead to an expansion of the facilities and a bright future for dairy farmers in West Wales. 
 

I have been delighted to play my role in helping this development take place.  I have been liaising with those involved to ensure that this deal is able to go ahead but credit must be given to the farming groups, workers and consultants who have worked tirelessly to ensure a future for the processing plant in this part of Wales.
  I am hoping this deal means not only a future for the plant but a development of the workings that can provide a prosperous industry for the people of Newcastle Emlyn. 
 I am sure that with an established production line, experienced workers and managers locally based the dairy industry in the county can go from strength to strength.  I would like to thank everyone who helped ensure there was a positive outcome to the problems in Newcastle Emlyn.

Last week I hosted a performance by National Eisteddfod Winners Bridgend Male Choir at the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff Bay. The lunchtime concert, which took place on Tuesday, 20 March 2007, was organised in recognition of the Choir’s competition successes at the National Eisteddfod and the Cheltenham Cup. The Choir has also reached the final of S4C’s Cor Cymru to be held in Aberystwyth on 31st

It is quite right that we should remember the abhorrent slave trade. We should also remember that British democracy abolished it and that the Royal Navy enforced abolition at the cost of many British lives. I support groups like Amnesty International which are using the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery to raise awareness of people smuggling but I cannot join the self-righteous politically correct “apologies” for slavery which are being demanded by and from people who had nothing to do with it.

Why not demand that modern day Germans make an annual apology for Hitler? Or that the French apologise for Napolean and Louis the 14th? Meanwhile present day Turkey could apologise to most of Eastern Europe for the Ottoman Empire and perhaps the North Africans to the Spanish for Andalusia. Not least of all various Africans – the present day descendents of those who sold slaves to British traders, should also be apologising, though to whom I am not sure.

It would all be too ridiculous for words if it were not for the fact that many African governments, and their western apologists, are playing on this collective outburst of false guilt to try and divert attention from the fact that Africa’s current diabolical state is not due to slavery, but to corrupt dictatorial nature of its present day leaders.

Fe gynhelir ocsiwn nos yfory mewn arhydedd I Gwynfor Evans. Rwyf wrth fy modd bod achlysur fel hwn yn gael ei gynnal. Mae gan bobl lleol atgofion melys o Gwynfor, ac am yr hyn a gyflawnodd i’r Blaid, ac rwy’n siwr y byddant yn falch o gael y cyfle I fwynhau noson mewn cof amdano. Mae yna nifer o eitemau diddorol yn y catalog ocsiwn, yn cynnwys areithiau, a deunyddiau ymgyrchu o gyfnod Gwynfor. Rwy’n siwr bydd y noson yn un cyffrous gyda gymaint o fywiogrwydd a chyfarfodydd a gynhaliwyd gan Gwynfor yn ystod ei dymor etholiedig.

An auction will be held tomorrow night in honour of Gwynfor Evans. I am delighted there is going to be an occasion like this. People locally have great memories of Gwynfor and what he achieved for the party and I am sure they will be very keen to enjoy a night in his memory. There are a number of very interesting items on the auction list, including speeches and campaign materials from Gwynfor’s time. I am sure it will have all the excitement that was generated at rallies Gwynfor held.

 

Pictured (l-r) Win Griffiths, Chair of Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust, myself, Janice Gregory and First Minister Rhodri Morgan. On Friday 16th March, the new Delivery and Support Unit at the Princess of Wales Hospital was officially opened by First Minister Rhodri Morgan. The £2m investment is a clear example of the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to modernise and improve the health service in