Could Fukushima happen at Wylfa?

The events at Fukushima in Japan have been devastating, and on top of the damage and death caused by the tsunami, is the very real prospect of nuclear meltdown at Fukushima.  Chris Huhne has already ordered a review of Nuclear Power stations in Britain, it will be interesting to see what his conclusions concerning Wylfa A will be.  What caused the failure of the systems at Fukushima was loss of Grid connection and power, together with failure of the backup systems.  Loss of power has happened on the 400kw supergrid line which crosses Anglesey via Pentir and Snowdonia National Park 6 times between 1972 and 1992 together with the second 400KW circuit, the loss of Grid power meant that Wylfa had to shut down or reduce its output to local area demand, without Anglesey Aluminium this demand is tiny.  Is there a possibility that a double trip could happen with an adverse weather event and/or earthquake in North Wales? 

This is an extract from the Museum of Wales website

"Where do earthquakes occur in Wales?

There are several long-active fault systems in Wales. Once faults form, they create weak zones in the crust that can be reactivated time and time again. For example, the fault system running parallel to the Menai Strait between Anglesey and Bangor in north Wales are known to have been active over 500 million years ago and have also been the sites of more recent earthquakes.

The Menai Strait area is the most seismically active area in Wales and one of the most active in the UK. The last major earthquake occurred here in 1984, but many others are known from historical records (including 1827, 1842, 1852, 1874, 1879, 1903). Although many events have been recorded in south Wales, from Pembroke to Newport, only the Swansea area shows consistent activity, with significant earthquakes occurring in 1727, 1775, 1832, 1868 and 1906.

Largest earthquake in Wales for 100 years

The 1984, magnitude 5.4, Menai Strait earthquake was the largest onshore UK event for over 100 years. The epicentre was located in northern Llyn, north Wales and the quake originated at a depth of approximately 22 km in the Earth's crust"


The above extract shows that seismic activity in Wales is a real and present concern, the 1984 quake being similar in size to the recent earthquake in New Zealand.  All of this means that there is a very urgent need to consider the risks in the current position at Wylfa, where the double trip of the 400KW Supergrid lines, as has happened 6 times already, could if combined with an earthquake have devastating consequences here in North Wales.  The exposure relates to the double trip on the Grid combined with an event that could knock out the electrical back up systems, with a reactor fault transient.  At present National Grid and Horizon do not seem to be considering a subsea or undergrounding cable from Anglesey into Deeside, with the 2009 ENSG report indicating that they propose to run overhead lines, susceptible to the very real dangers of a double trip which has already happened as the past records show.  This poses an unacceptable risk to the local population in North Wales, who have very real experience of the consequences of Nuclear fallout as a result of the Chernobyl disaster.  It is now that the lessons from Fukushima should be learnt here in the UK, particularly on Anglesey which has known fault line. DECC needs to look with care at the proposals from both Horizon and National Grid to ensure that those risk factors are urgently addressed and consideration given to subsea cable to Deeside, as a matter of nuclear safety.

National Grid Underground Cable Consultation

National Grid are currently running a consultation on their policies relative to running cables underground.  I hope that you will take the time to look at the consultation paper and respond.  The link to the consultation can be found here http://www.nationalgridundergrounding.com/.

Given that North Wales has been selected as a site for a new Nuclear Power Station on Anglesey it is vital that North Wales residents write and give their views on underground cables, particularly given the importance of the tourism and agricultural sector here in North Wales.

Strengthening families, the future of child maintenance

Any MP will know that a large part of their constituency mailbox will be problems associated with the CSA.  This organisation has been failing children and families for a long time.  Currently there are extensive problems with the IT system which upgrades have not solved.  The current consultation by the DWP provides an opportunity for single parents to have a say in shaping the future of the CSA.  The consultation paper can be found here
 http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/strengthening-families.pdf.

Whilst I am broadly in agreement with the aims of the Green Paper which wishes to strengthen the ability of families to make their own arrangements.  I am concerned that there appears to be little legal redress proposed to "back up" the arrangements made between parents.  One of the many failures of the last Labour Government was its failure to act upon the Law Commission report number 307 which outlined the problems caused by failing to give legal protection to those who are cohabiting.  For the full report see http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/lc307.pdf.

If real meaningful action is to be taken, then it is vital that the gaps identified by the Law Commission are acted upon.  To fail to do so will have the consequence that many families and children will continue to suffer from inequality causing a rise in dependence on the state.

At present Gingerbread the lone parent charity are looking for the views of single parents who are dealing with the CSA to join their campaign and have your say click here http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/content.aspx?CategoryID=574.  In particular there is a proposal to charge for collecting child maintenance.  This has the capacity to hit those who can least afford it the hardest, and I shall be working together with Gingerbread and other lone parent organisations to oppose charges for parents with care of their children.


My own experience of the CSA can be described as a "nightmare".  Slow and unaccountable, lengthy failures to take enforcement, rewards those who lie, lacking the appropriate powers for the self employed and those owning their own businesses, with gaping holes in its remit.  I shall be responding to the consultation personally and I would encourage others to do so by the 7th April. 

Sex Offenders Register

Today Theresa May the Home Secretary gave a statement to Parliament on a Supreme Court ruling that those sentenced to 30 months or more, and who are listed on the Sex Offenders Register for life should be allowed to appeal that decision.  May said that "Public Protection must come first" and that the Government were "appalled" at the decision of the Supreme Court and the Government would do the absolute minimum to comply.

On Monday I was at a meeting with Police officers, Forensic Medical Examiners, Paediatricians, Counsellors, Crown Prosecution Service, and Judge Michael Farmer QC to discuss serious sexual offending in North Wales and the impact the SARC Amethyst Centre has made for victims in North Wales.  Once of the concerns expressed by HHJ Farmer QC was the ridiculously low sentences given to sex offenders and in particular those in possession of pornographic images of children.  Many victims of sex offenders are affected for the rest of their lives by the actions of their abusers.  This is a life sentence imposed by an abuser without any appeal for the victim of abuse.

As the SARC conference made clear, although there is an arrest rate of approx 96% by North Wales police, the conviction rate is 46%.  Also highlighted was the fact that only 11% of sexual assaults are actually reported according to information from the British Crime Survey.  I am delighted that the Government is going to tighten 4 loopholes in the Sex Offenders Register to ensure that public protection is a key priority.  The impact in the Court system is likely to be that offenders at risk of a sentence of 30 months or more, are likely to  fight their cases.  The CPS has come a long way in ensuring that victims do not have to go into Court and face their abusers with video link and screens available to victims, and changes in evidence rules which permit previous allegations to rebut defences of "consent" have gone a long way to improve the conviction rate......but there is alot further to go and the steps announced by the Home Secretary today in closing the current loopholes will help protect the public from predatory sex offenders.

High Voltage Power lines.

It would appear that finally Albert Owen MP has raised the question of submarine cables to be considered an option for Wylfa B and the new offshore windfarms that will form part of the Irish Sea development.  This issue has been raised on Anglesey with both me and Paul Williams since November last year.  I contacted National Grid on that point in November.  Where has Albert Owen MP been over the last few months?  Interestingly he has not picked up on the failure of Grid to consider that the Environmental Information Regulations apply to their projects.

The Electricity Networks Strategy Group (which includes National Grid) published a document in 2009 which shows that they are seeking to upgrade the Pentir 275kw line to a 400kw line apparently without any consultation with the local people that it will affect. (see pages 72-80 of the ENSG report.  For a more detailed discussion of Grid issues in Wales see the blogpost from Syniadau. 
http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2011/02/linking-north-and-south.html

Syniadau also highlights Welsh residents pay between 4 to 10 % HIGHER electricity costs as Wales is considered a net importer of electricity, despite the opposite being true.  How Labour's Welsh Assembly Government has allowed this to happen at a time of spiralling energy costs is beyond me.  Political pressure to force Grid and the Electricity Companies to accept that Wales is a net exporter of electricity could have meant money in the pockets of pensioners, families and businesses accross Wales. 

I find it surprising that Grid are now positioning themselves on the basis of  cost. bearing in mind the paragraph above.  They are running undersea cable from Scotland to Deeside at a cost of £780 million as the post from Syniadau shows.  It is vitally important that North Wales does not accept a second best option.    Why then are Grid not also considering running cable the 64 or so miles from Anglesey to Deeside.  Surely this would be a cheaper option than running cables down to Pembrokshire.

Avoiding disclosure? National Grid and Wylfa B

Recently the Government has indicated that they are reviewing a decision made by the Information Commissioner and the Tribunal about whether or not water companies need to disclose pollution information to members of the public under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.  These regulations allow the public to access vital environmental information on projects which are likely to affect local people, and which may cause environmental damage in a particular area.  This is of particular interest to North Wales which is going to host the new Wylfa B Nuclear Power station.

National Grid are relying upon the recent Tribunal decision, saying that they have no requirement to provide information under the EIR.  This is rather a surprising decision by them, particularly as they exercise powers of compulsory purchase, and are responsible for providing  electricity grid infrastructure.  National Grid are going to have to provide new grid connections to Anglesey which will either mean submarine cables, or huge electricity pylons marching across swathes of North Wales.  There is supposed to be a "public consultation" on the grid connections required for Wylfa B and the proposed Irish Sea windpower developments.  This was due to happen in Spring of 2011, yet trying to get information about the proposed routes, is proving difficult.  What are National Grid trying to hide, and why are they refusing to comply with the EIR?  Time I think for the Government in its review of the EIR and the Water Companies, to extend their review to National Grid.  If the protections the EU wanted to give EU citizens are to have any meaning then private companies exercising powers which come from the state of "compulsory purchase" and indeed nuclear electricity transmission  need to comply with the EIR. I can not see why citizens of France would be able to access the information - and those in Wales can't.  Tourism is one of the biggest industry sectors in North Wales and it is vital that the public in North Wales have access to proper information prior to and about the environmental impact of decisions by companies such as National Grid who should not seek to avoid their duty to disclose information to any members of the public who request it.  This is particularly important where possible routes include routes through a number of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and indeed Snowdonia National Park.

Lack of Scrutiny in NHS,

It would appear that the Welsh Assembly Government has stopped collecting NHS data in order to avoid answering difficult questions on the NHS in Wales.  This prevents members of the public asking questions under the Freedom of Information Act of those responsible for Health in Wales.  The Labour/Plaid Government would appear to want to limit the ability of the public in Wales to access key information on performance and delivery of services.  This begs the question if Labour/Plaid's Government does not have access to the data, how are they able to make sure that services are being delivered properly to people in Wales? Are they able to see if services are being delivered in a way that provides good patient care?  It also shows that they are not prepared to look at the clinical impact of their political decisions.

Nick Bourne AM has tabled a number of questions, over 50, which have gone unanswered.  Some of these questions have remained unanswered for over 6 months.  More seriously data  has shown massive increases in waiting times is now not being collected.  Waiting times for outpatient treatment has increased by 24,758%, yes that is over twenty four thousand percent, and inpatient treatment waiting times have increased by 4958%.  Now the data is "not available" as it is not being collected centrally.  This needs explanation, not an attempt to brush it under the carpet and hope that noone notices......

This lack of scrutiny is particularly worrying for the public, who should have the ability to know what the actual position is, rather than the Spin that Labour and Plaid would like to put on their health reforms in Wales.

NHS cuts in Wales

The NHS in Wales is under attack from Labour cuts,  £435 million each year for the next three years.  Labour's performance on the NHS in North Wales is dismal, with proposals for neurosurgery patients having to travel to South Wales (an ambulance journey of over 6 hours) rather than be able to receive treatment at the Walton Hospital in Liverpool, this daft plan from Edwina Hart was only pulled after howls of protest.   Why Ms Hart ever thought the idea was a good one was a mystery to me, but might have had something to do with the fact that she didnt want to have to decide between neurosurgery provision at both Cardiff and Swansea.

There is no children's hospital in North Wales, just over the border in England is world class Alder Hay, yet no proper provisions have been made by WAG for cross border health services.  The record of Labour on health is dismal there has been an increase in Managers in the NHS in Wales of 20% in the last 5 years.  Depressingly there has been a decline in the number of nurses, midwives and health Visitors of 24% in the same period.  For those living in England who want to know what a Labour Government would do for the Health Service, you can see it here in Wales: cuts of up to £1 billion over the next three years, underfunded stroke services, hospices with far lower funding than their English counterparts, and an explosion of money being moved from frontline services to management and bureacracy.  Here in North Wales maternity services are under threat at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd and the Maelor. Recently bed cuts have been announced at Glan Clwyd under the guise of "refurbishment". Ambulance targets have been missed so many times it is a joke.

The Welsh Conservatives are committed to retaining funding for the NHS in Wales, and would increase funding for stroke services and hospices, by introducing prescription charges for those that can afford to pay for them.  Anyone who previously did not have to pay prescription charges, such as pensioners, children, those on benefits, or those with chronic conditions would not have to pay for their prescriptions.

One thing is clear Labour's record on the NHS in Wales has been dreadful for those living in Wales.  There is now an opportunity for change with the upcoming Welsh Assembly elections.  Perhaps this is why Ed Balls wont be drawn on his cuts agenda, Labours approach is there for all to see in Wales.  Even Labour's Shadow Health Minister in England, John Healy MP agrees in a template press release saying "patients in North Wales will start to see local health services go backwards".

Health and Safety Corner

This gem from the political betting site.  Today has seen a new poll, which is heavily commented on which includes the following comment by antifrank   "Off topic, I’ve just been told by a train steward that he had to put my cup of tea into a paper bag: “health & safety, sorry sir”. I had three yards to walk with it.".

I attach no blame to the train steward who presumably faces some form of disciplinary action if he doesn't comply but....................

What happened to common sense and personal responsibility?   

UK economy cries out for credible rescue plan

The following letter has appeared in the Times today which undermines Labour's plans to tackle the growing debt - which will have to be paid back. The signatories include leading economists,. a Labour Peer and former members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

"It is now clear that the UK economy entered the recession with a large structural budget deficit. As a result the UK's budget deficit is now the largest in our peacetime history and among the largest in the developed world.

In these cirucmstances a credible medium-term fiscal consolidation plan would make a sustainable recovery more likely.

In the absence of a credible plan, there is a risk that a loss of confidence in the UK's economic policy framework will contribute to higher long-term interest rates and/or currency instability, which could undermine the recovery. In order to minimise this risk and support a sustainable recover the next government should set out a detailed plan to reduce the structural budget deficit more quickly than set out in the 2009 pre budget report............

The letter can be read in full here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article7026234.ece.

The real cost of Labour's failure will be shown in the huge interest payments which this country is already paying and will continue to have to pay. The problems facing the UK economy are severe, this is not talking down the UK economy, but being honest about the real extent of the problems we are facing. The average family is already paying £1400 more per year in tax, thanks to Gordon Brown's stealth taxes. Once again Labour have taken the country to the brink of disaster, now leading UK economists agree - there will be difficult times ahead.

Choose the most worthy eco-project. Entry two - Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Choose the most worthy eco-project. Entry two - Bumblebee Conservation Trust

For some great environmental projects clink on the link above. The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust and the Woodland Trust both have projects on this site. I support both organisations who do invaluable work. The winning project will receive the equivalent of £30,000.

Stop and Search powers ruled illegal

The Judgement yesterday in the European Court of Human Rights held that the random stop and search powers introduced by sections 44-47 of the Terrorism Act 2000 breached UK Citizens human rights now throws the Labour Governments anti terror laws into disarray. There were three key planks to the ruling, firstly the fact that since 2001 the whole of the metropolitan area of London was a "designated area" for the purpose of random searches, this power has to be renewed every 28 days. Secondly a high number of UK citizens had been searched by police, the power requires no element of suspicion, so you could in theory be searched just because the police did not like what you were wearing, or for any other arbitrary reason. Between 2001 and 2004 over 205,000 searches were carried out, with just over 1% leading to any kind of charge. This meant for the remaining 99% innocent people were stopped for no reason. The third being that there was no requirement that the person stopped was under suspicion. It is the last that is the most serious, as there was therefore no requirement that there be any justification for conducting the search. This has led to climate change protestors being searched under anti terror laws.

Lord Carlile the independent Law Lord in charge of reviewing the Government's anti terror legislation said on Radio 4 "As and independent reviewer of terrorism legislation I have reported repeatedly that it should be used much less. I have said year on year that its use could be reduced by 50% without damaging national security, and I remain of that view." What is of concern is that Ministers have ignored Lord Carlile's year on year reports.

We have fought two world wars for hard won freedoms, one of which is to be able to go about our ordinary day to day business without being detained, whether it is temporary or for a longer period, where there is no suspicion that we are doing anything unlawful. What the police need are effective stop and search powers where there is a suspicion that someone is engaging in terrorism.

PC Madness

I notice that Justice Secretary Brigit Prentice is calling for a boycott of shops that sell pink things for girls as being "sexist". My daughter has grown up on a farm and was given trains, tractors and "boys things" to play with as a child. Yet still her favorite colour is pink, she is not a child that plays particularly with dolls that is her choice, but she loves all things pink and I am not willing to impose my views on a small girl that has decided what she likes. I view this as a phase and one day she is likely to grow out it. The aim apparently of this campaign is to "challenge girls to fulfill their full potential". How boycotting pink is going to achieve this I am not entirely clear. I view the fact that as a single mother she sees me working hard, she knows the basics of what is right and wrong, and that she has clear boundaries as being far more important in helping her to fulfill her full potential. Parents choose what boundaries to give their children, but banning pink strikes me as a childish and arbitrary decision - why shouldnt a child be able to enjoy pink fairy wings.

Health and Safety Corner

In the radio I heard a story about a passanger on a train that was delayed. He went to the buffet car to ask for an egg roll. He was told that he was not allowed one for "health and safety reasons". When asked what those reasons were he was told that he couldnt have his egg roll because there might have to be an emergency evacuation and he might choke on it! A sign of the times that we live in. What this story shows is not only a complete lack of customer service, presumably by someone for whom that is part of the requirements of their job - but the fact that Health and Safety has become a by word for ridiculous decisions.

Remeberance Sunday

The sacrifice given by so many, so that our values and beliefs can endure and survive was so clear today in the Service I attended in Holywell. It is always with a sense of shock that I listen to the sheer numbers of those that sacrified their lives in both the first and second world wars, for our freedoms. Those sacrifices go on today, and I remember and salute both the injured and those who have laid down their lives for us.

Supporting jobs

Today it was great to see David Cameron in Holywell, there was real excitement that he was coming to talk to local businesses about how they could support jobs in Flintshire and how the Welsh Conservatives would support them. This is the third time that David Cameron has been in Flintshire and the second time this year. In May he spoke to 40 students from the Mold Alun school, today it was local businesses which spanned all sectors from manufacturing to tourism, construction to accountancy. David Cameron had visited Airbus in Broughton, but went on to talk to local businesses from Holywell, Mold, Flint and Deeside. What was so important about this visit was the fact that as well as visiting Airbus, he also took the time to meet people from all sectors of the economy, and to see how we can keep Flintshire working.

Afghanistan

The huge sacrifice made by Soldiers in Afghanistan continues, I heard the following passage on the Radio yesterday, it stopped me in my tracks. Having heard the email earlier in the week written by the Welsh Guardsman Rupert Thorneloe talking about the shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan the words of Siegfried Sasson seemed particularly relevant. The £121 million refurbishment of the Ministry of Defence's offices shows just how wrong this Government's priorities have been.

By SIEGFRIED SASSOON

I am making this statement as an act of willful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it.

I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this war, upon which I entered as a war of defense and liberation, has now become a war of aggression and conquest. I believe that the purposes for which I and my fellow-soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them, and that, had this been done, the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation.

I have seen and endured the sufferings of the troops, and I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust.

I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed.

On behalf of those who are suffering now I make this protest against the deception which is being practiced on them; also I believe that I may help to destroy the callous complacence with which the majority of those at home regard the continuance of agonies which they do not share, and which they have not sufficient imagination to realize.

Siegfried L. Sassoon, July 1917

The Leader - Political row brewing over Airbus Broughton

The Leader - Political row brewing over Airbus Broughton

Following the leader article today over the Broughton plant, about which so many lies have been told there have been some instructive comments on the Evening Leader's website. Some of the comments are as follows. "Mr Tami knows well that he is part of a totally discredited Labour Party...so anything goes...all of a sudden we have claims made that can only lead to the undermining of confidence in Airbus and worse causing worry to the workers and families...and he accuses the Tories of using spin!!"

That quote and others in the thread show that Labour's scare tactics are not washing with the voters in Flintshire.

This quote also was on the website "Seems like New Labour will try anything apart from the truth to gain votes...I honestly hope on a single Labour MP gets elected....".

The tide is turning against Labour in Flintshire. Voters are not willing to accept dirty tactics from Labour anymore, and will want to see some honest debate. Labour's record isnt good. 400,000 more children in child poverty. Mass immgration that Britain was not prepared for, when all our european neighbours took steps to limit the impact of a bigger European Union. The 10 pence tax increase. Motorists being hit every day in the pocket, and talking down the manufacturing business we have here in Flintshire.

Welsh You Gov Poll

Todays You Gov Poll is good news for Conservatives in Wales, but shows that there is no room for complacency. Manufacturing here in North East Wales has been hard hit by the downturn and Labour's immigration policy is blamed by the voter. It is clear that the open door policy of the Labour Government over more than a decade has caused a crisis of confidence in local communities. In her appearance on Question Time Sayeeda Warsi rightly pointed out that not enough resources have been targeted at communities where immigration has had very real impact. There can be no doubt that a cap on the numbers coming into the UK and tackling illegal immigration must be a priority. However this needs to go hand in hand with policies to ensure our children have the best education and become the next generation of engineers, and scientists with the vision and skills to grow the UK economy.

PMQs and Constitutional reform

PMQs today

Observations of Gary Gibson political commentator and blogger for Channel 4 News "The Prime Minister temporarily forgot himself and attacked David Cameron for talking about namby pamby (my phrase) constitutional stuff when the voters were really interested in public services and the economy....shortly before launching into an hour long statement on the Constitution." Hmmm

It is interesting that following a complete drubbing in the elections GB has suddenly found his passion for Constitutional reform. GB said the Govt was dealing with issues like "housing". In Wales Labour's record on social housing is totally dismal with less council housing being built in the years of devolution than under Mrs Thatcher.