Westminster to lose Wales’ water intervention powers
MORE than half a century after the flooding of the Welsh-speaking village of Capel Celyn to create a reservoir to serve an English city, the UK government is on course to lose powers over water in Wales.
Westminster Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced an agreement between the UK and Welsh governments which “paves the way for the Secretary of State’s powers of intervention in relation to water to be repealed”.
Mr Gove said all parts of the UK had an interest in delivering a “Green Brexit” and would have to work together.
The Welsh Government described the water agreement as an “important milestone” on “Wales’ devolution journey”.
The Environment Secretary can repeal Assembly legislation and make other interventions if he or she believes water supply or quality in England is under threat, but there are no reciprocal powers for Welsh Government ministers. The Environment Secretary’s powers are due to be removed in April.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said the agreement demonstrated “how far we have come” since the flood- ing of the Tryweryn valley.
Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, said: “The introduction of this protocol addresses an existing imbalance in the devolution settlement that could, in theory, result in UK government ministers intervening in matters that are the responsibility of the Welsh Government.
“I am pleased with the constructive and positive way in which both administrations have approached the drafting and implementation of an agreement which, importantly, means water consumers on both sides of the border are safeguarded.”
Mr Gove laid out the significance of the agreement in a written statement, saying: “It underlines our commitment that no action or inaction by either administration should have any serious adverse impact on either England or Wales and crucially, that the interests of water consumers on both sides of our borders are safeguarded.
“Agreement of the protocol paves the way for the Secretary of State’s powers of intervention in relation to water to be repealed. These powers, in the Government of Wales Act 2006, enable the Secretary of State to intervene if they believe an Assembly Bill, or the exercise of a devolved function, risks having a serious adverse impact on water resources, water supply or water quality in England.
“The protocol replaces these intervention powers with a reciprocal agreement. The intervention powers will be repealed when the new reserved powers model of Welsh devolution comes into effect on April 1, 2018.”
He added: “Across the UK we have a shared interest in protecting our environment and delivering a Green Brexit... We must all continue to work closely together on the environment, fisheries and agriculture as powers are returned from the European Union.”
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: “The UK government is today acting on its commitment to deliver a water protocol so that the interests of water consumers in Wales – and those in England – are protected. From today onwards, no action or inaction by either the UK or Welsh Governments relating to water resources, water supply or water quality should have serious adverse impacts for consumers on either side of the border.
“This protocol demonstrates how far we have come from the events of 52 years ago, which resulted in the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley. Today’s agreement puts cross-border arrangements for water on a footing fit for the 21st century and underlines what can be achieved when two governments work together for Wales’ future prosperity.
“These are powers which affect the lives of everyone living in Wales and are a major step towards the clearer, stronger and fairer devolution settlement that the UK government is putting in place for the people of Wales.”
However, the new measures did not go far enough for Plaid Cymru.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards said: “Wales’ water resources belong to the people of Wales and we should not accept anything less than that. It is astonishing that our own Welsh Government, under the control of the Labour Party, is willing to accept shared ownership over our resources when Westminster has no such control over Scottish water.
“The Welsh Government should be demanding full control of our natural resources. It’s easy for Westminster to tell the people of Wales that we’re too poor to look after ourselves as they continue to control our resources.
“If we want Wales to become the prosperous country it could be, we have to take matters into our own hands.”