Issue 15—March 2009 Assembly Bwletin Cynulliad On the agenda this month: Skills and strong Welsh brand key in global economy – Welsh MPs Engage with science Cameron visits south Wales Wales could go nuclear AM set to leave politics to become a humanist celebrant Assembly Member Lorraine Barrett is to quit politics at the next election in 2011 to become a humanist celebrant. Mrs Barrett, 58, has been the Labour AM for Cardiff South and Penarth since 1999 but said she now wants to spend the next decade ʺon herselfʺ. She plans to expand her growing role as a celebrant conducting non‐religious funerals and civil partnerships, as well as doing more work with the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society. However, Mrs Barrett said she would be committed to her constitu‐ ency work until she retires from politics in 2011. Assembly Bwletin Cynulliad is a joint initiative between Grayling Political Strategy and the In‐ stitute of Welsh Affairs, bringing you the ABC of Welsh politics every month. Institute of Welsh Affairs Grayling Political Strategy 4 Cathedral Road 2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ Tel: 029 2066 0820 Tel: 029 2046 2507 www.iwa.org.uk www.grayling.com Skills and strong Welsh brand key in global economy – Welsh MPs and skills, broadcasting, and food production. The committee found Wales to be lacking in science‐based skills. It recommends that in order to avoid relying on low‐skilled low‐paid jobs, the Assembly Government and the UK government need to engage with the higher education sector to increase skills. For the ‘knowledge economy’, universities are the engines of success in the global marketplace. The re‐ port suggests that that Welsh wealth and employ‐ ment can be raised by making full use of a strong Welsh branding. Specialist skills can be used to offer goods and services unavailable elsewhere, most nota‐ bly in food production, where Wales has international Wales in the world: the committee explored the effect of globalisa- kudos. The report praised S4C’s engagement with tion on Wales international audiences. It recommends that more programmes reflective of Welsh identity be made, Grayling Political Strategy and supports initiatives to support Welsh creative industries. A highly skilled workforce and strong branding are necessary in order to maintain employment and Hywel Francis MP, Chairman of the Committee, wealth in a globalised economy, according to the noted that globalisation impacted clearly upon Wales, findings of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee re‐ with the downturn demonstrated by job losses such port, Globalisation and its impact on Wales. as those at Corus. He stated that “up‐skilling the Welsh workforce must be a priority” and that higher The group of MPs examined the way international education has a “vital economic role” in doing this. trade affects sectors in Wales, such as employment Engage with science Institute of Welsh Affairs Sir John Cadogan, former head of the UK Science Re‐ search Councils and former Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities, called for the appointment of a Chief Scientific Adviser to the Assembly Government in October 2006 at an IWA conference. Sir John says that First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, who is currently responsible for science within the Cabinet, must be “properly supported by a Chief Scientific Adviser” in order to improve Wales’s standing as a centre for science and engineering activ‐ The Welsh science base could feed the economy, says Sir John ity. ing located in a Wales far from the scientific and engi‐ He said: “Without a strong science and engineering neering nourishment provided by universities else‐ base, real economic progress, far from being where.” On February 26, 2009, the IWA is holding a achieved, will go into reverse. This is because new conference at the Novotel Hotel in Cardiff – Funding, technologically based business will not start up and risk and innovation: Wales’s engagement with science established high tech business will see no point in be‐ policy. Cameron visits south Wales Institute of Welsh Affairs UK Conservative leader, He has in the past promised to address the ‘West Lo‐ David Cameron (left), thian Question’ if elected, whereby Scottish MPs are pledged during a new able to vote in Parliament on ‘English’ matters but year visit to Wales that his English MPs cannot vote on Scottish matters. His De‐ party wants to make mocracy Taskforce, led by Kenneth Clarke, proposed devolution work. an English Grand Committee of MPs to vote on ‘English only’ matters, although Welsh MPs would be Visiting Barry in south allowed to sit on the committee in some cases, such as Wales, which is in one of matters that are not currently devolved to the Welsh the Conservatives’ target Assembly. The proposals could come into force after constituencies for the next the next UK general election. The Conservatives are Westminster elections (the currently leading Labour by more than ten points in Vale of Glamorgan), he the latest ICM polls. said: ʺInstead of having endless arguments about more and more processes, Mr Cameron took a further step on the offensive by letʹs actually talk about outcomes. Itʹs those, I think, adding Scottish Conservative leader, Annabel Goldie, meat and drink questions, rather than should the As‐ to his shadow cabinet in London. It was an attempt to sembly have a little bit more power or a little bit less ensure that Conservatives work effectively across the power which I think is beginning to bore people in border. He has also promised to work with the gov‐ Wales slightly.ʺ erning SNP Party if the Conservative Party is elected to office at the next general election. Keeping nuclear in Wales Grayling Political Strategy Back in January it was an‐ has noted that he will give any “proposal to protect nounced that the Wylfa B site jobs at Wylfa [his] full consideration”. This of course was one of the four sites being puts him in a difficult situation, as his party, at their considered for a new nuclear 2007 conference, passed a motion which reiterated power station, alongside Sella‐ their “total opposition to the construction of any new field, Oldbury and Bradwell. nuclear power stations in Wales”, but as the local As‐ The news was announced by sembly Member he is, as he notes, bound by the desire the Nuclear Decommissioning to bring thousands of new jobs to the area. Agency, which is a non‐devolved body. More broadly speaking, as this is a significant planning application Councillor Powell’s letter prompted a joint response and energy project, the decision for a new power sta‐ from Plaid Cymru’s environment spokesperson in the tion at Wylfa would be taken on the eastern end of the Assembly, Leanne Wood AM and John Dixon, the M4. Although if this project eventually came to Angle‐ party’s national chairman. Their letter outlines Plaid sey it could bring approximately 1,000 permanent Cymru’s opposition to “nuclear energy in Wales” and skilled jobs and 9,000 jobs during the construction states that if there were the powers to make these kind phase, it has been criticised by Welsh politicians. of decisions in Wales then “a new Wylfa would not be built”. Is this a case of the Leader of Plaid Cymru split‐ However, it has not been welcomed by all Welsh poli‐ ting from his party line? It is more likely that this will ticians. Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Powell evolve into a semantic debate over the meaning of the wondered if supporting the building of “new nuclear phrase “new nuclear power”. power stations in Wales” was “official Plaid policy”. The Leader of Plaid Cymru, Deputy First Minister and Assembly Member for Ynys Mon, Ieuan Wyn Jones IWA and Grayling’s activity The Institute of Welsh Affairs events Keep your ear to the ground with Grayling Political Strategy…… Funding, risk and innovation: Walesʹs engagement with Keeping up to date with political decisions and develop‐ science policy ments in the National Assembly for Wales is essential IWA Conference for effective communication in Wales. Novotel Hotel, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Thursday 26 February 2009 If you are not careful these activities can eat into the time you have available for developing policy and for face to Putting Women in their Place face contact with key opinion leaders and stakeholders. Glass Ceiling Conference St Peterʹs Hall, Roath, Cardiff Grayling Political Strategy’s monitoring service ensures Friday 6 March 2009 you are kept up‐to‐date with political decisions and de‐ velopments in the Assembly freeing you up to imple‐ Celebrating International Womenʹs Day ment the more strategic elements of your role. IWA North Wales Branch Dinner Hugh Owen Building, Bangor University Our reports are distributed to you via email within 24 Friday 6 March 2009 hours of a subject committee or plenary session. We don’t just surf the Assembly website ‐ our researchers What are we doing to our Children? monitor the meetings themselves providing a much bet‐ IWA Conference ter insight and analysis of what is said, by whom and in Cardiff University Conference Centre, Penylan, Cardiff, what context. Tuesday 10 March 2009 So confident are we that you will find our service invalu‐ Living with our Landscape able that Grayling Political Strategy would like to offer IWA Conference you a free tailored monitoring report, to let you sample All Nations Centre, Sachville Avenue, Cardiff the quality of what we will deliver. Thursday 19 March 2009 If you decide to go out to public tender, please make The Future Health of the People of Wales sure Grayling Political Strategy is offered the opportu‐ IWA Academy Health Wales Seminar and buffet nity to pitch and demonstrate to you the excellence ser‐ Glyndwr University vices we offer and introduce the top class consultants Wednesday 29 April 2009 who work with us.