Politics

WG votes down another rights Bill

Published

7 years ago

January 29, 2019

THE WELSH Government has voted down a second Private Members Bill in a week, leading to an angry reaction from the Welsh Conservative Party.

Welsh Conservative AM – Darren Millar – slammed the Welsh Governments ‘tribalism’ as a key contributor to its failings in Wales, and described its rigid approach to politics as ‘comparative of an authoritarian regime’.

Last week, The Herald reported on opposition AMs’ fury that the Welsh Government voted against Assembly Member Paul Davies’ private bill which aimed to ensure increased support for autistic people of all ages, by addressing issues such as health and social services, educational outcomes, access to housing, and employment and providing rights of statutory redress when services fail.

The Older People’s Rights Bill was proposed by Mr Millar, and designed to ensure that older people in Wales were protected, promoted and respected by public sector decision makers.

The Bill was backed by the Older People’s Commissioner, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Age Cymru, Age Connects, and the Cymru Older People’s Alliance, amongst others.

Proposals for Mr Millar’s Bill had previously received cross-party support, and the Welsh Government supported a motion which was agreed by the National Assembly for Wales on 12th January 2016 to bring forward legislation to protect and promote the rights of older people.

GOVERNMENT REJECTS STATUTORY RIGHTS

Notwithstanding the Welsh Government’s previous position, it once again waved the shroud of wanting to deal with issues in a holistic way without resorting to legislation ‘at this stage’.

Fear is growing that the Welsh Government is fearful of enacting legislation that confers rights to individuals, preferring instead to listen to service providers whose services might not withstand close scrutiny and a rights-based approach to ensuring compliance with standards.

Speaking in the Assembly, Darren Millar said: “The purpose of the Bill is to build on Wales’s excellent track record to date by embedding a rights-based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services that affect older people in Wales.

“If given permission, I will seek to consult with stakeholders to develop a Bill that will further enshrine the rights of older people within Welsh law, by placing a duty on Welsh Ministers to have regard to the United Nations Principles for Older Persons when making decisions that may impact upon older people in Wales; that will provide for the ability to extend that due-regard duty to local authorities, health boards and other Welsh public authorities; that will place a duty on Welsh Ministers to promote knowledge of and understanding of the UN Principles for Older Persons; and that will require Welsh Ministers to publish annual reports on their compliance with their older people’s rights schemes—something that doesn’t happen at the moment.”

The proposed legislation was very similar to the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011. A Bill which passed the Assembly with little controversy.

Mr Millar continued: “We embarked upon this journey a number of years ago and we can deliver and pioneer a new rights-based approach for older people’s rights here in Wales. We’ve got an opportunity to develop legislation that will result in practical improvements in the decision making and delivery of public services, that will raise awareness of older people’s rights and give them recognition and status, and that will empower those hundreds of thousands of older people across Wales to access those rights.”

THE TIME IS NOT RIGHT

Responding on behalf of the Welsh Government, Minister for Local Government Julie James suggested that older persons’ rights are already sufficiently protected by a range of Welsh Government measures, including its totemic Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

In any event, the Welsh Government did not regard the time had yet come for legislation – rather ignoring the point that the current First Minister supported such legislation when he was Health Minister.

Ms James concluded: “While I strongly support the sentiments behind this Bill, the time is not right for this particular bit of legislation. When we do legislate, we should do that holistically for the whole of society and in a way that identifies the needs of all disadvantaged groups.”

Supporting Darren Millar’s bill and suggesting that it should progress to the next stage so elements of it could be incorporated into future Welsh Government legislation, Plaid Cymru’s Helen Mary Jones pointed out: “Unless individuals have mechanisms they can use which don’t depend on the Government and that do not depend on an independent commissioner, but that they can use themselves to enforce those rights, those rights at their very end may not be enforced.”

David Rowlands (UKIP) said: “It is incumbent on statutory authorities to ensure that the core mainstream services are available to older residents in the same way that they are for other people… If children are protected in law, why not the other most vulnerable group, the old?”

THE PAYROLL VOTE VOTES

Concluding the debate, Darren Millar noted that an invitation extended to both himself and the older people’s commissioner to meet with the Government on February 6 to discuss its ‘holistic’ plans for the future was made only the day before the scheduled debate.

As usual, Labour AMs, including ‘independent’ government minister Dafydd Elis Thomas and Lib Dem Kirsty Williams, followed the government line. Two members abstained, Bethan Sayed and Jenny Rathbone. Apart from Ms Sayed, all other opposition parties supported the Bill.

It fell by 27 votes to 21.

Speaking after the vote, Darren Millar said: “This is not the way politics should be handled in this country, and it’s not the footing that the First Minister should start on with his new Government. It’s a tribal attitude and it is holding Wales back.

“The Welsh Government does not have a monopoly on good ideas. Both this Bill – and last week’s Autism Bill – are non-contentious proposals which had widespread cross-party and stakeholder support.

“We are supposed to be a democracy where the ideas of all elected representatives, regardless of their party politics, can be treated with respect, but in Wales, under this regime, that clearly isn’t the case.”

News

Kurtz calls for tougher action on water quality after Pembrokeshire sea swim visit

Published

29 minutes ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ MS has renewed calls for stronger action to tackle water pollution in Pembrokeshire after joining local open water swimmers in Saundersfoot.

The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member attended a morning sea swim with groups including the Numb Nuts and the Blue Tits on Friday (Mar 13), where concerns were raised about sewage discharges into Welsh waterways.

He said public frustration over water quality was continuing to grow.

“Pembrokeshire is blessed with some of the most beautiful coastline and waterways in the UK, and they should be protected for everyone who lives here and enjoys them,” said Mr Kurtz.

“However, I regularly hear from residents, swimmers, surfers and local businesses who are deeply frustrated by repeated reports of sewage discharges into our rivers and seas, while water company executives continue to receive large bonuses or hide behind a not-for-profit status.”

Mr Kurtz welcomed enforcement action taken against Welsh Water following pollution incidents, but warned that fines alone were not enough.

“Penalties must lead to meaningful improvements,” he said. “The money should be reinvested directly into upgrading sewage infrastructure so these incidents become far less frequent.

“Customers should not be left paying higher water bills to fix failures that should have been addressed years ago.”

He also stressed that responsibility for water quality lies with the Welsh Government.

“Water quality in Wales is fully devolved, meaning decisions about regulation, environmental standards and oversight are made here in Wales, not in Westminster,” he said.

Mr Kurtz has repeatedly raised concerns in the Senedd about pollution affecting Pembrokeshire’s rivers and coastline, including the River Cleddau and designated bathing waters.

In a previous debate, he called for a statutory duty on water companies to take all reasonable steps to prevent sewage discharges into rivers, lakes and the sea—similar to measures introduced in England. The proposal was rejected by Welsh Labour ministers.

He said the response reflected a wider reluctance to adopt stronger measures.

“Time and again I have raised concerns about sewage discharges and their impact on our environment, only to see sensible proposals dismissed,” he said.

“This isn’t about politics—it’s about protecting our environment and restoring public confidence in the safety of our waterways.”

Mr Kurtz also highlighted the role of community groups and local initiatives, including the Cleddau Project, which aims to improve the ecological health of the river catchment.

“There is some excellent work happening locally,” he said. “But we need a joined-up, Wales-wide approach rather than piecemeal action.

“That means tackling sewage infrastructure, agricultural run-off, environmental monitoring and enforcement together. I will continue to press this issue in the Senedd.”

News

Welsh Conservatives table Senedd debate on ‘fixing Wales’

Published

3 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have tabled a Senedd debate this week setting out what they describe as a plan to “fix Wales” after nearly three decades of Labour-led government.

The party claims that, after twenty-seven years of Labour in power — supported at times by Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats — Wales is falling behind the rest of the UK on key measures including health, education and the economy.

Figures highlighted by the Conservatives include one in four people currently on NHS waiting lists, with thousands waiting more than two years for treatment. Emergency departments in Wales are also said to be among the worst performing in Britain.

In education, Wales continues to rank at or near the bottom of UK league tables, with rising absenteeism and ongoing concerns over teacher recruitment and morale.

Economically, the party says Wales has some of the lowest wages in Great Britain and faces ongoing challenges in boosting productivity and employment.

Ahead of the debate, the Conservatives outlined a series of policy proposals, including:

Cutting income tax by 1p to stimulate growth
Declaring a health emergency to tackle NHS backlogs and increase bed capacity
Scrapping stamp duty on primary homes
Removing business rates for pubs, post offices and small firms
Expanding free childcare, including allowing payments to grandparents
Providing a £100 million boost for farmers and replacing the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme
Investing in infrastructure, including the M4 relief road and upgrades to the A55 and A40
Reversing default 20mph speed limits
Reducing bureaucracy and focusing on frontline delivery

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS said the current system “isn’t working” and argued his party has a “credible and costed plan” to improve public services and economic performance.

He said: “We will cut taxes, boost growth, and fix our public services.

“We want to see a Wales that thrives, with a stronger economy, a properly functioning NHS, and opportunities for people in every corner of the country.”

The debate is scheduled to take place in the Senedd on Wednesday evening.

News

Control of £547m Local Growth Fund returns to Wales

Published

4 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CONTROL of a £547m Local Growth Fund has been returned to the Welsh Government, with ministers setting out plans to use the money to boost the nation’s economy over the next three years.

During a visit to Ebbw Vale on Friday (Mar 20), First Minister Eluned Morgan is expected to outline details of a new Investment Plan, endorsed by both the Welsh and UK governments. The plan sets out how funding will be allocated across priority areas and within Wales’ four economic regions.

The fund will focus on three key areas: supporting productive and competitive businesses, improving skills and helping people into work, and investing in infrastructure.

Ministers say the programme is designed to empower regional decision-making while targeting areas with the greatest economic need. The aim is to increase productivity, support business growth and create better-paid jobs across Wales.

Funding will be distributed based on tailored regional plans, reflecting local strengths and opportunities, including sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

The First Minister, Eluned Morgan said: “I’m really pleased decisions on this post-EU funding, which is so important in supporting regional and local economic growth in Wales, are being returned to the Welsh Government.

“We want to use all the levers we have to stimulate economic growth, especially in parts of Wales where economic inactivity and unemployment are higher and wages are lower.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans added: “The Local Growth Fund for Wales will help create and secure jobs in key industries, providing exciting opportunities for people to develop high-quality, long-term careers.

“We will work with local government and other partners to ensure the fund is used effectively to create jobs, unlock growth and deliver for Wales.”

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens said: “This transformational funding will create jobs, boost productivity and support economic growth across all parts of Wales.

“Decisions about how funding is used in Wales are best made in Wales, and this agreement delivers our commitment to return control of post-EU funding to Wales.

“It is another example of the UK and Welsh governments working together to deliver for our communities.”