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| Plaid Cymru criticises Labour water nationalisation plans |
Labour's plans do not say whether policy control
of water will be devolved to the Assembly, or whether the nationalisation will
actually remove powers from Wales.
Crucially, they do not say whether English
companies, operating in Wales and using Welsh reservoirs, such as Severn Trent,
would be taken under English public ownership, leading to Welsh consumers
having to pay the English public to use their own water resources.
Water has a specific resonance in Welsh
politics as an issue of contention. Controversial decisions in the past have
been made by governments and local authorities outside of Wales with no regard
to Welsh opinion.
Jonathan Edwards, seeking re-election as MP for Carmarthen East and
Dinefwr, has previously called a number of votes in the House of Commons on
giving the National Assembly and Welsh Government the ability to regulate
Wales' water and other natural resources. A vote in the House of Commons on a
Plaid Cymru amendment to remove the UK Government’s veto over Welsh water
policy was defeated thanks to the Tories voting against and the Labour Party
abstaining.
The recently enacted Wales Act allows the
removal of the UK Government’s veto only to replace it with a “protocol” which
would require the Welsh Government to seek the agreement of the UK Government
before making any changes that would impact on water supply in England.
Mr Edwards said that both Labour and the
Tories must stop interfering in the water industry in Wales and allow it to be
determined by elected Welsh Governments. He further added that Plaid Cymru had
a positive vision for the future of the water industry in Wales.
Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards said:
"Labour's plans show a complete lack of
understanding of the water industry in Wales. I doubt they have consulted their
own Labour Welsh First Minister, who is on record as wanting these powers
devolved. It demonstrates how the Labour Party is totally London-centric.
"Plaid Cymru agrees in principle with public
ownership of water, but this must be implemented by Wales, for Wales, not
imposed on us by a Westminster government.
“Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water is already constituted as a
not-for-profit company and Labour's plans would not be completely relevant
here. But much of Wales’ water resources are owned by England-based
multi-national companies, not Dwr Cymru. Nationalising English water
companies could potentially mean Welsh consumers being forced to pay another
country to use our own water. That would be wholly unacceptable.
"There are three water companies operating in
Wales and any plans to merge them into a single entity, if that would benefit
our citizens, must be taken by a Welsh Government, not a British Government.
"Plaid Cymru will vote in favour of any
nationalisation plans which also transfer policy control to elected Welsh
Governments. But we will oppose any plans which keep those powers at
Westminster.
"In order to promote a positive vision for water
in Wales, whereby communities and citizens benefit from the stewardship and
care of our own resources, we must have the power to do this in Welsh hands. No
longer should we tolerate decisions on water being made outside of Wales,
without any regard for our country's needs.
“Labour’s policies for England need to respect
devolution not muddy the waters further.
"Plaid Cymru is fed up of this total cluelessness
from the Labour party about devolution. The country deserves better."
Notes:
Hansard details the debate on “Clause 44”
to remove the UK Government’s veto over matters relating to water, here:
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