assembly government « Veronica German AM – Assembly Member for South Wales East

Veronica German calls for update on feasibility test

By Veronica German AM, on April 7th, 2011

Veronica German has today called for the Assembly Government to reveal the findings of the feasibility test on the Newport to Ebbw Vale rail link.

The feasibility test, conducted by Network Rail for the Welsh Assembly Government, was intended to assist the Government into making an informed decision on the next steps that need to be taken.

The Assembly Government have always maintained that the study would be completed and announced by March 2011.

Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for South Wales East, Veronica German, commented:

“It has repeatedly been announced that the feasibility work would be completed by the end of the Government’s term. With only a month to go, we must see the results of Network Rail’s findings.

“The Deputy First Minister stated that no decision on the Ebbw Vale to Newport rail line would happen until the feasibility test had been conducted. I believe it is our right that he release to the general public the results that Network Rail have found.

“This saga has been going on for far too long now. In 2008 it was indicated that the service would be fully operational in time for the Ryder Cup. Now, with a month to go until the end of the Labour-Plaid Government, we’re still waiting for the results of the feasibility study.”

The Deputy First Minister has always stated that no work on this project could be done until works at Gaer Junction would be complete. In 2008 he announced that this would definitely be done by 2010. This year he stated it will now be done after April 2011.

Ms German continued:

“This rail-link is crucial, yet this Assembly Government has categorically failed to get it up and running.”

Assembly Government needs to speak up for people of Merthyr

By Veronica German AM, on April 5th, 2011

The Merthyr Liberal Democrats first became aware of Covanta’s proposals for an incinerator in 2008 and immediately organised a public meeting in the town centre.

From then on we have been trying to raise awareness of this issue.

This is not what some might describe as Nimbyism (‘Not in my back yard’). This is making sensible arguments against proposals that are too large and clearly contradict Welsh Assembly Government policy.

For example, the Government’s policy on waste states that any incinerator needs to function at 60% efficiency (or better) in order to be environmentally acceptable. To achieve this, incinerators must generate electricity and fully utilise the heat as heating for homes and for industry. These proposals suggest this will not be the case.

The size of the plan would demand that Assembly Government accept this single incinerator to deal with all the residual waste in Wales. That would require waste to be moved from all aprts of Wales. This is also against Assembly Government policy.

The incinerator planning process is an example of democracy not working. The consultation with local residents has been poor. It is startling the number of people I have spoken to who weren’t aware of the proposals, or at least were not aware of the size of the development planned.

I must question the Assembly Government’s role in these proposals.

Only recently I quizzed the First Minister on his Government’s involvement in the proposed incinerator. He informed me that it was “not a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government” !

In the past the First Minister has said that he would not be able to intervene because his Government was not a statutory consultee in the IPC’s (Infrastructure Planning Committee) application process. However, on the IPC website, it clearly states that the Assembly Government is a statutory consultee at both the pre-application and examination stage of the process.

The fact is that the Assembly Government could have influence if it wanted to. Carwyn Jones needs to explain why his Government has decided to stay silent on this.

The IPC suggest it may be useful for the local authority to receive comments from local people to help them compose a Local Impact Report. I believe there is a strong moral obligation for Merthyr Council to do this and I suggest that residents send their views to the Leader of the Council.

The incinerator would create a handful of jobs, but this would be incredibly short sighted: A recent report showed that increased recycling could provide more than 3,000 new ‘Green Jobs’ in the Heads of the Valleys. The research said that recycling creates 10 times as many jobs as incineration and the region could have a green, successful and thriving future. This is the direction the region needs to be heading, rather than the unsustainable incinerator.

First published in Merthyr Express.

Veronica German welcomes BMA Wales saving ideas

By Veronica German AM, on March 23rd, 2011

Welsh Liberal Democrats Shadow Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Veronica German AM has today welcomed a report from BMA Wales which lists numerous ways that the Welsh NHS could save money.

The BMA Wales has drawn up a list of savings to the tune of £100 million – whilst still delivering an effective service.

One such way is cutting down on the use of consultancy companies such as McKinsey & Company, which was commissioned by the Assembly Government.

The controversial McKinsey ‘report’ cost a staggering £500,000, BMA Wales believes that the NHS could save up to £4m by not relying on such companies.

Ms German Commented: “This latest investigation from the BMA rings true with what the Welsh Liberal Democrats have been saying for some time, that there are savings to be made without affecting the service that is delivered.

“We need to drive efficiencies and find savings wherever we can – this includes investigating the £1 billion being spent ineffectively in the Welsh NHS.

“I hope that the Welsh Assembly Government will listen to the BMA and seriously consider their suggestions.”