5. 5. Plaid Cymru Debate: National Grid Cables

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:54 pm on 18 January 2017.

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Photo of Mr Simon Thomas Mr Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru 4:54, 18 January 2017

(Translated)

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to reply to the debate and thank everyone who’s participated in it. It’s true to say that this is a debate that literally effects every constituency, because everyone has pylons crossing their constituency, and everyone has pylons where perhaps they wouldn’t want to see those pylons.

May I start with the Minister’s response to the debate? I am pleased to hear that the Welsh Government is far more involved with Ofgem now on these plans, and with National Grid, on the need to make preparations, because the motion and Plaid Cymru accept that we can’t move to an improved situation overnight. This is something that we have to prepare for now as we renew and develop anew and to ensure that, where appropriate, as the motion says, we underground and, as Rhun ap Iorwerth reminded us, that we also need to undersea the cables, where necessary, for our future. Therefore I am pleased that the Government is now far more involved than they were in the past with National Grid and Ofgem.

Having said that, I do think that the Government amendments are a little weak. We will certainly be rejecting those, at first sight, but we do want to work with Government where possible in order to be able to promote the interests of Wales, particularly with the National Grid and Ofgem.

The debate itself has acknowledged certain successes, and Sian Gwenllian mentioned the campaign to ensure that the cables are included in a tunnel under the Menai or on the third bridge—perhaps the timing isn’t quite right there, but we certainly want to ensure that the beauty of the Menai strait is treasured, maintained and respected. Nathan Gill referred to that point, and I recognise his contribution in supporting this motion.

Unusually for a backbench debate, we had three members of UKIP—not three members of the UKIP group, but three members of UKIP—expressing different views. It’s good to see freedom of expression within a party, but I would suggest that, perhaps, we need some more concept of where you want to take energy in Wales and economic policy in Wales, rather than having three different opinions on something that is so important.

Whilst we’re discussing that, I don’t think I heard a sadder argument made at all than Michelle Brown’s case made for moving forward here—the cheapest option possible. Well, that would allow the Aberthaw power station to overproduce gasses that are responsible for the deaths of 67 people every year in Wales. That’s the sort of attitude that led to smog in London in the 1950s, and 2,000 miles of smog now across the cities of China. I don’t accept that sort of future for Wales and I am seeking a far more prosperous and healthy future for all the residents of Wales. So, the ‘cheapest possible’ debate isn’t going to hold water here. We need energy that is reliable—