Latest news with #MickAntoniw
Western Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Senedd hears future generations law ‘lacks teeth'
The Senedd's equality committee took evidence as part of follow-up scrutiny a decade on from the Welsh parliament passing the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. Labour's Mick Antoniw warned the Act, which aims to put sustainable development at the heart of decision making, lacks impetus and risks being a "bureaucratic tick-box exercise'. Mr Antoniw, who was involved in early stages of scrutiny of the then-bill, said: 'It started off… as a sustainability bill until no one could actually define what they meant by sustainability… came up with the term future generations and… that might be seen to be equally nebulous.' As well as describing the Act as vague, the former minister suggested Wales' future generations commissioner has few – if any – powers to hold public bodies to account. He said: 'I always thought that was a mistake right from the beginning, [you] don't give it proper teeth to actually have the impact that shifts decision making.' Calvin Jones, an environmental economist, said the commissioner and his predecessor told him their only 'big stick' is to 'name and shame' which they are reluctant to do. 'As soon as you get the stick out, people take their eyes off the carrot,' he said. 'There's this constant tension between wanting to chivvy the laggards along but realising once you get a reputation as somebody who's an auditor effectively then games start being played and boxes start being ticked. 'That tension has always stymied the way in which the commissioners have been prepared to name and shame which was, I think, the only serious bit of teeth in the Act.' Prof Jones, who left Cardiff University in May, suggested Audit Wales should have more of a role in holding public bodies to account in a similar way to their bookkeeping duties. He warned of a major lack of funding for the commissioner's office, describing the money allocated by the Welsh Government as akin to using a sticking plaster on the Titanic.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd hears future generations law ‘lacks teeth'
The Senedd's equality committee took evidence as part of follow-up scrutiny a decade on from the Welsh parliament passing the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. Labour's Mick Antoniw warned the Act, which aims to put sustainable development at the heart of decision making, lacks impetus and risks being a "bureaucratic tick-box exercise'. Mr Antoniw, who was involved in early stages of scrutiny of the then-bill, said: 'It started off… as a sustainability bill until no one could actually define what they meant by sustainability… came up with the term future generations and… that might be seen to be equally nebulous.' As well as describing the Act as vague, the former minister suggested Wales' future generations commissioner has few – if any – powers to hold public bodies to account. He said: 'I always thought that was a mistake right from the beginning, [you] don't give it proper teeth to actually have the impact that shifts decision making.' Calvin Jones, an environmental economist, said the commissioner and his predecessor told him their only 'big stick' is to 'name and shame' which they are reluctant to do. 'As soon as you get the stick out, people take their eyes off the carrot,' he said. 'There's this constant tension between wanting to chivvy the laggards along but realising once you get a reputation as somebody who's an auditor effectively then games start being played and boxes start being ticked. 'That tension has always stymied the way in which the commissioners have been prepared to name and shame which was, I think, the only serious bit of teeth in the Act.' Prof Jones, who left Cardiff University in May, suggested Audit Wales should have more of a role in holding public bodies to account in a similar way to their bookkeeping duties. He warned of a major lack of funding for the commissioner's office, describing the money allocated by the Welsh Government as akin to using a sticking plaster on the Titanic.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd hears future generations law ‘lacks teeth'
The Senedd's equality committee took evidence as part of follow-up scrutiny a decade on from the Welsh parliament passing the Well-being of Future Generations Act in 2015. Labour's Mick Antoniw warned the Act, which aims to put sustainable development at the heart of decision making, lacks impetus and risks being a "bureaucratic tick-box exercise'. Mr Antoniw, who was involved in early stages of scrutiny of the then-bill, said: 'It started off… as a sustainability bill until no one could actually define what they meant by sustainability… came up with the term future generations and… that might be seen to be equally nebulous.' As well as describing the Act as vague, the former minister suggested Wales' future generations commissioner has few – if any – powers to hold public bodies to account. He said: 'I always thought that was a mistake right from the beginning, [you] don't give it proper teeth to actually have the impact that shifts decision making.' Calvin Jones, an environmental economist, said the commissioner and his predecessor told him their only 'big stick' is to 'name and shame' which they are reluctant to do. 'As soon as you get the stick out, people take their eyes off the carrot,' he said. 'There's this constant tension between wanting to chivvy the laggards along but realising once you get a reputation as somebody who's an auditor effectively then games start being played and boxes start being ticked. 'That tension has always stymied the way in which the commissioners have been prepared to name and shame which was, I think, the only serious bit of teeth in the Act.' Prof Jones, who left Cardiff University in May, suggested Audit Wales should have more of a role in holding public bodies to account in a similar way to their bookkeeping duties. He warned of a major lack of funding for the commissioner's office, describing the money allocated by the Welsh Government as akin to using a sticking plaster on the Titanic.
South Wales Argus
04-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Littering and fly-tipping 'growing problem' in Wales
Mick Antoniw, Member of the Senedd for Pontypridd, has published poll findings which reveal that tackling the epidemic of littering and fly-tipping experienced in every corner of Wales should be a key priority for the Welsh Government. The results highlight public support for the increased use of existing penalties and for the introduction of new penalties such as driving licence points for people who litter from cars. Mick Antoniw MS said: "These results are crystal clear. "Littering and fly-tipping is a growing problem across Wales and people expect government to do something about it. "The public is also unconvinced that current penalties act as a credible deterrent, with 66 percent saying that penalties are too lenient. "A clear majority of people in all parts of Wales want to see current penalties used more effectively and 58 percent support the introduction of penalty points being added to the licence of anyone who throws litter from a car window. "I believe it is time for us all to get serious and get tough on this sort of anti-social behaviour, which blights so many communities.
Pembrokeshire Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Senedd backs data bill despite constitutional concerns
THE SENEDD signed off on the UK Government's data bill despite constitutional concerns, with the proposed legislation 'completely failing' a key test set by the First Minister. Senedd Members voted 39-11 in favour of consenting to the data use and access bill, which aims to make better use of data and boost the UK economy by £10bn over the next decade. But Plaid Cymru members and Labour backbenchers voiced concerns about powers in the bill for UK ministers to make laws in some areas already devolved to Wales. Alun Davies urged Welsh ministers to withdraw the legislative consent motion or LCM, the means by which the Senedd indicates support for UK laws on devolved matters. Referring to a speech by Eluned Morgan the same day, which put distance between Labour in Westminster and Cardiff Bay, Mr Davies said the bill fails a test set by the First Minister. Labour MS Alun Davies He told the Senedd: 'The First Minister was very clear this morning in a speech that she made at the Norwegian church that where the devolved settlement is engaged, unless consent lies with Welsh ministers then consent would not be provided for UK legislation.' During the debate on May 6, the former minister – now a member of the Senedd's legislation committee – expressed concerns about the number of LCMs during this term. He said: 'What we are seeing now is an LCM that deals with devolved matters and where the Welsh Government is seceding the settlement… enabling UK ministers to amend Welsh legislation without reference to… Welsh ministers or this parliament. 'And that is unacceptable. It fails, completely, the tests that have been set by the First Minister to support UK legislation.' The Plaid Cymru-turned-Labour politician added: 'I think many Labour members who supported the First Minister this morning will feel very, very difficult about voting for this.' Mick Antoniw, who was previously counsel general, the Welsh Government's chief legal adviser, nodded in agreement with much of his colleague's contribution. Mike Hedges, the Labour chair of the legislation committee, recommended granting consent but he remained dissatisfied by Welsh ministers 'conceding' constitutional concerns. Labour MS Mick Antoniw 'This is unwelcome and a serious cause for concern,' he said of delegated powers exercisable solely by UK ministers in devolved areas. Mr Hedges criticised the 'suboptimal' quality and timeliness of the consent process, with the Welsh Government publishing key documents days before the debate. Delyth Jewell, who chairs the Senedd's culture and communications committee, expressed concerns about the bill's potential impact on data sharing between the UK and EU. South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell Her Plaid Cymru colleague Luke Fletcher warned of 'far-reaching' constitutional implications as well as potential for the bill to 'dilute' data protection standards. He told the Senedd: 'It's telling in this respect that the UK Government has refused to share this relevant risk assessment on this matter.' Rebecca Evans, Wales' economy secretary, pointed to amendments to strengthen the bill but she recognised the two governments were 'not aligned in the devolution analysis'. Recommending the Senedd supports the bill, which is mostly non-devolved, Ms Evans emphasised the importance of UK-wide regulations. Labour and the Conservatives supported the motion, with Plaid Cymru voting against and Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds abstaining. Under the non-binding Sewel convention, the UK Government would 'not normally' legislate in devolved areas without such consent.
