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Wales needs energy powers
November 12, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats
Speaking after moving an amendment to the Planning Bill in the House of Lords, Lord Livsey and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams have demanded that the Government put in place a procedure to allow largescale energy projects to be made the responsibility of the Assembly.
The amendment tabled would have removed Wales from the Infrastructure Planning Commission and left the decision with the Secretary of State, as is currently the case. This would have been as a short term measure and if accepted would have been recognition of the Governments intention to transfer this power to the Assembly. The amendment was opposed by the Government and not put to a vote. Commenting, Lord Livsey said: "I find it unacceptable that the decision on building generating stations over 50 MW in Wales would rest with unelected quangos. "With the massive potential of renewable energy in Wales and the commitment to a low carbon economy, the decision making power must rest with the Welsh Assembly Government. "This Bill shows exactly what the Government thinks of the Assembly when it comes to consulting on transfer of powers."Roger Williams MP added: "Tripartite discussions between the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales Office and the then Department for Trade and Industry on how to transfer these functions were originally supposed to report in 2004, but even now we still haven't had any indication of when these will be concluded. "Once these powers have been transferred to the IPC it's hard to believe that these discussions will ever be concluded. It has been a longstanding ambition of the Assembly to take control of these powers and the Government shouldn't be able to shuffle them to a quango without an agreement being reached. Notes: Text of amendment to the Planning Bill: LORD LIVSEY OF TALGARTH
LORD ROBERTS OF LLANDUDNO
55Page 8, line 41, leave out "or Wales"