Jenny Willott speaks

A debate on Prescriptions, from They Work For You.

Does the Minister accept that while cross-border differences in prescription charges are a big positive benefit for Wales, other variations are a big negative—for example, the massive increase in ambulance response times, with some areas achieving only 40 per cent. of their target emergency call-out times? Will the Minister commit to discussing those differences with the Welsh Assembly Health Minister at the earliest opportunity?

And Mr Hain's response? Well, no, actually, but have I told you about all these excellent things we do and how bad the Tories were? You can read the full debate using the link above.

In the news

More top-up fees: Politicians celebrate top-up exemption deal and New deal for Welsh students over top-up fees, both Western Mail.

And a bit on electoral systems: Assembley poll 'abuse' must end, says Hain...

WELSH Secretary Peter Hain today demanded the end of the "widespread abuse" of the National Assembly electoral system under which "losers become winners".

And this unbelievably ludicrous story from last week that I didn't post: AMs shocked to test positive for drugs, Western Mail. I can't manage to pick a quote which really sums up the ridiculousness of it all.

But AMs were yesterday shocked to discover readings of drugs like heroin and cocaine on their hands. Out of curiosity, they queued to volunteer themselves for trial using the machine with its stern beeping noises and complicated light-up screen. And there were a few raised eyebrows as the machine did its work.

So there's this great new machine the police will be using to scan clubbers, people taken in to custody, pubs and the what not to see if they have come in to contact with drugs. The Tory AM who organised the machine's visit to the Assembly himself tested positive, asking "Good gracious, where the dickens could I have got that from?" So far so 'wash hands regularly' cos it's a dirty world out there. Except...

Despite his positive testing, Mr Graham said he supported the machine. He said, "Anything that deters people from taking drugs is a good thing. If people know this thing exists, then they know they might get caught."

Hang on, this machine identified assembly members as having drugs on their hands, which they undoubtedly did. It's all a bit of a joke and leads to chat about all the drug dust around. Jolly hockey sticks and it rolls out. So when it identifies a clubber or pub table as having traces of drugs they will get 'caught'.

Also, bit late notice of this I'm afraid but it's Refugee Week Wales. There are still some events on in Cardiff for the remainder of the week and, of course, over the whole of Wales.

In the news

A two increasingly major themes:

Devolution / future of the Assembly: Hain welcomes 'made in Wales' laws and Morgan defends referendum plan...

That poll would be triggered by a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and a simple majority vote at Westminster.

Europe: Morgan faces EU cash crisis...

Opposition leaders yesterday warned that Mr Morgan may face a vote of no confidence if he fails to secure a pledge from Chancellor Gordon Brown that the Treasury will match any funds lost as a result of last week's failure by EU leaders to agree a budget.

Rhodri: We may lose millions and Future of Welsh aid left hanging in the balance (a few days older).

Fees follow up

The Welsh Assembly has, from my reading of it, just voted to charge top-up fees to English students wanting to study in Wales (capped at £3,000 pa) and kept the charges for Welsh students exactly as they are. Welsh students wanting to study any course not available in Wales will get help towards the cost of fees.

On the surface of it this appears to allay the fears of Welsh Vice-Chancellors that Wales would get left behind while benefiting (or least least not worsening the situation for) Welsh students.

I think I'm going to need a bit of time to digest this one.

I'll post up various links when I've taken a bit of time to understand it all and see what the reaction from assorted student bodies are.

Update: BBC Wales and The Guardian with their reports on the issue.

Future of the assembly

Yesterday's white paper (plus see Jenny Willott post below) are covered in Wales' future mapped out by Hain, Western Mail. It met with the obvious anger from everyone else:

The Welsh Secretary called it a "a practical, common-sense route map to better governance," but outraged Plaid Cymru parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd accused Mr Hain of creating a "constitutional mish-mash" to appease Welsh Labour MPs.

Jenny Willott

JW speaks. Yesterday in a Welsh Governance debate. Full transcript from They Work For You.

How does the Secretary of State plan to consult as broadly as possible across Wales on the proposals? By consulting as many people as possible, he might get a better idea of current support for giving the Assembly greater powers, because there is some dispute about that in the House.

PledgeBank: River Taff Cleanup

There is a Cardiff pledge up at PledgeBank, "I will clean-up the banks of the River Taff between Western Ave and Cardiff Castle but only if 5 other local people will too." by Paul Stacey.

It sounds a super-good idea and a chance to test out the power of PledgeBank in Cardiff. I will be signing the pledge and spreading it about. Take a look and sign up yourself or let other people know about it.

PledgeBank is all about empowering people and building links with other people. Visit the site and read more about them. It's built by the mySociety people of They Work For You, Fax Your MP and Not Apathetic fame.

In the news

A super speedy 'In the news'...

Law-making powers for Assembly 'vetoed by Blair and Prescott' from the Western Mail.

New coalition warning for Rhodri, also Western Mail:

In an extraordinary attack, rebel AM Peter Law claimed Mr Morgan was on the brink of being pushed from office in a power-sharing putsch of opposition leaders who had already 'divvied up' the ministerial jobs.

Jenny Randerson is plugging away in Concern over hospital expose.

More random news: Council spends thousands on 'mind gym'. July 11 start date for St David's 2 development. We don't want ice rink, say residents. More soon.

ID cards and other news

AMs urged to fight ID cards, Western Mail. One of our AMs Leanne Wood voted despite being on maternity leave and is quoted in the article:

She said, “We in Wales should save ourselves from this expensive waste of
money. It is right that our doctors, teachers and other public servants should
not be burdened by this extra bureaucracy.

“People just won’t put up with this, and it’ll become Labour’s poll
tax. It is right that the Assembly should take a principled stand against ID
cards.”

The officialness of the amendment and the vote is available from the Assembly pages and am I going mad or are there no online records for the Assembly business? The website is truly a shocker, oh for a Welsh They Work For You!

Older news on this: Opposition bid to block ID cards on, well, exactly what it says on the title. A fairly similar article is also in the Western Mail, Rhodri facing defeat over ID card plan.

Morgan bids to end top-up fee deadlock, with some sort of resolution expected soon. And how do you deal with stressed out, desperate employees taking sick days? Sack em. Cardiff's £8.5m sick bill.

Events, events

Two on Saturday, neither of which I will be able to attend. Anyone who does might want to think about posting a comment to earn themselves much thanks.

Saturday 11th June - Amnesty International have a stall in the Hayes in town where they will be selling Amnesty stuff and taking photos for their Million Faces petition.

Saturday 11th June - Wales Motiv8 4 G8, 11 - 4 in the Temple of Peace, Cathays. £5, see the website for full listings of the days activities.

Tuesday 14th June - Cherrybomb the G8 at the Toucan from 7.30, £2. A fundraising party from Cherrybomb for G8 preparations etc. Music from Kilnaboy, Spanner and Pond-Life MCs as well as stalls, food, info on the G8 and the what not.

If anyone is holding any events, meetings or whatever and would like a plug then please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

Jenny Willott spotted

I spied Jenny Willott with her arms full of papers and folders outside the Lib Dem office on City Road about 5 yesterday afternoon.

In the news

Jenny Randerson has been stirring it up in Storm rages over WDA junkets (Wales on Sunday). The article details the 'jollies' enjoyed by clients of the Welsh Development Agency.

There are more regeneration plans outlined in £700m revamp for bus station? (South Wales Echo).

Ahead of all the G8 fun and shenanigans Brown dismisses Lady Kinnock's warning (Western Mail) has Glenys Kinnock, Wales MEP and Labour's international development spokesperson for the European Parliament does not believe George Bush will allow deals.

"There is a will here like never before let us hope that can translate into action.

"But the Americans did not sign up to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Kyoto, the Landmine Convention. Their record is not good.

"I am not optimistic about the US and the US is the key."

On a higher education funding theme: Cost of higher education revealed alongside Degree no guarantee of higher earnings.

Thrown out of the house does not feature our recently ex-MP but is still an interesting look at life beyond Parliament.

Mackintosh Place protest

The Mackintosh Residents Association took to the streets this morning, well to a zebra crossing. It was a very civilised rainy protest, 10 or so people with nice placards taking many opportunities to walk across the zebra crossing when a car came, and standing sedately on the sidelines waving banners at passing motorists the rest of the time. They attracted a bit of an audience, as well as a South Wales Echo reporter and photographer and stayed for about 35 minutes.

What was interesting was the range of reactions. Most drivers were a bit confused, a fair number voiced their support. When someone was taking a photo some drivers even stopped to let them get a clear view over the road. One driver broke the law by just driving round a woman stood on the edge of the road. A man held up for all of 30 seconds shouted that they had made him late for work. Another man got out his car, left it in the middle of the road with a queue forming and demanded to see a letter from the police allowing this obstruction but causing a far greater obstruction and hazard himself. It was highly entertaining and there should be a story in the paper tomorrow.

No referendum for you

It now seems official, Britain's Euro treaty referendum to be put on hold, Western Mail.

On the second page of the article there is some comment from politicians, including Wales MEP Jill Evans.

Events

One new event, and news of an old event.

On Friday 3rd June at 9 in the morning the Mackintosh Residents Association is having some sort of event / protest on the zebra crossing on Mackintosh Place. They are unhappy about people driving at speeds up to 70mph down the road and want humps put in.

And Matt Strong has written about last week's POWER Inquiry.

And in other news, Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan has a blog (via Leighton Andrews).

In the news

The Western Mail has a story about the state of Wales's Equality Policy Unit, Assembly commitment to race equality 'downgraded':

THE Assembly Government has been accused of downgrading its commitment to
racial equality following the lengthy absence from work of a senior civil
servant.

Naz Malik, director of Awema, the All Wales Ethnic Minority
Association, said he was seriously concerned that the Assembly's Equality Policy
Unit (EPU) had been left effectively without a leader for nine months.

Can the assembly and Wales afford for there to be these kind of problems in such an important field?

And 'Wales pays for Cardiff focus', also from the Western Mail, examines the relationship between Cardiff and the rest of Wales.

Ble Mae'r Gymraeg?

The Welsh language society Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg have been stickering and postering up and down City Road in Roath asking Where's the Welsh? Unable to take any pictures of the bus stops and other bits, but hopefully soon.

They are based in Aberystwyth and campaign for the future of the Welsh language. Their big thing at the moment is a new Welsh Language Act that covers all the omissions of the existing act and they want Welsh to be counted as an official language for Wales, along with English. I just assumed it was, so that came as a surprise. That's pretty much all I knew and when I visited their website there wasn't much else to be found - it seems English-only speakers aren't worthy as supporters, a positive discrimination affirmative action interpretation of bilingualism!

Events

Oxfam and Make Poverty History have stall in town, on the Hayes, next Saturday. And on Monday 6th is their meeting from 8pm at the Glamorgan Staff Club on Westgate Street. They will be discussing their Motiv8 the G8 campaign amongst other things. Try getting in touch with BHacking(at)oxfam.org.uk if you want more info.

Cherrybomb the G8 is on the 14th June at the Toucan in town, more details later.

French vote no, Wales goes short

France's Non scuppers hope of vital aid for Wales from the Western Mail discusses the money from Europe that Wales could miss out on because June's EU summit will be taken up with worries about the referendum results rather than setting budgets.

The article features Jill Evans and Eluned Morgan, two of Wales' four MEPs, talking about the whole Europe issue.

Today the Netherlands go to the polls on the constitution and an even more vehement no is expected.