Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Hunting for the numbers
From a press release issued today:
Roger Williams, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire has signed the petition launched yesterday by the Middle Way Group at the Royal Welsh Show to encourage the Welsh Assembly to bid for the powers in Westminster to modify the Hunting Act 2004.
The petition will be presented to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones.
Speaking at the Royal Welsh Showground, Roger Williams, said:
“This petition will be an important test for the ability of the Welsh Assembly to acquire powers to modify the Hunting Act, which is set to have a profound impact on the economy, the environment and local traditions in Wales. It will also be an important test for the Labour government which, barely two months after having set out the next phase of the devolution settlement, will be hard pressed to refuse delegating a piece of animal welfare legislation which although controversial, comes under the original devolution settlement of 1998."
Roger Williams, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire has signed the petition launched yesterday by the Middle Way Group at the Royal Welsh Show to encourage the Welsh Assembly to bid for the powers in Westminster to modify the Hunting Act 2004.
The petition will be presented to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones.
Speaking at the Royal Welsh Showground, Roger Williams, said:
“This petition will be an important test for the ability of the Welsh Assembly to acquire powers to modify the Hunting Act, which is set to have a profound impact on the economy, the environment and local traditions in Wales. It will also be an important test for the Labour government which, barely two months after having set out the next phase of the devolution settlement, will be hard pressed to refuse delegating a piece of animal welfare legislation which although controversial, comes under the original devolution settlement of 1998."
Well yes! The Presiding Officer said something similar in a speech to a National Trust reception in the Royal Welsh showground today. Assuming we do acquire the powers then who is to say that there will be a majority in the National Assembly for such a modification? This is a very thin thread to be clinging onto.
