5. Debate on NNDM6753: The Secretary of State for Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:01 pm on 27 June 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Simon Thomas Mr Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru 4:01, 27 June 2018

(Translated)

If I could turn to some of the more positive points made. Paul Davies, welcome to your first event as leader of the Conservative group—[Interruption.] Pro tem or however you want to describe the role. Paul has clearly stated that there is still an opportunity for tidal energy, but what investor now is going to come to Wales and have negotiations with the Welsh Government and the Westminster Government believing that their money and the hard work that they’ve put in over years could be written off in a very brief statement to the House of Commons on the back of six pages of ropey mathematics, if I may say so? Just look at what Marine Energy Wales, which of course is based in Pembrokeshire, has said. They have said that this is a disregard for the objectives and ambitions of Wales in comparison to what the Westminster Government is doing. You will know that companies such as Ledwood in Pembroke Dock were all ready to be part of building this tidal lagoon.

I fear that we have pulled the plug—if I can put it in those terms—not on one scheme but on a whole industry and a whole process for many years. The next time someone comes to develop tidal energy in Wales, we’ll have to look at a company from elsewhere, from France or China, and we will have to accept their terms rather than being part of developing this here. That’s the failure of Westminster and the failure of the Secretary of state more specifically.

I don’t have any time now to cover all the points made but I will conclude by saying that we’ve received a very clear message from Westminster: two huge, important proposals worth over £2 billion and a chance to invest in Wales, creating thousands of jobs, creating new industries, creating new opportunities—they have been rejected on the basis of very, very ropey evidence. Today is the time to send a message unanimously and clearly to the Secretary of State: 'You have failed in your job, now move aside and let somebody else take on that role.'