In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer, Caerphilly Council leader Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
VOTE YES FOR WALES
This will be my last blog before Wales goes to the polls in the March 3 referendum on law-making powers for the National Assembly.
This referendum is about allowing the Assembly to make laws itself without having to go to Westminster – we’re the only country in the world that has to do this.
Scotland and Northern Ireland don’t have to go to Westminster – are we any less capable of making decisions for ourselves?
The ridiculously cumbersome system we have was brought home to me by Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones. He told me that a law on improving safety on school transport, approved by the Assembly in 2006, will only become law next month.
And similar laws like ensuring that sprinklers are installed in all new homes have also been held up.
We would have been the first country in the UK to bring in a ban on smoking in public places but because we didn’t have the powers we had to wait.
I was pleased to read in the Observer support for a Yes vote from Andrew Diplock, chair of Caerphilly Business Forum – a Yes vote will lead to a more efficient and less costly system and will be better for business.
The best people to decide what’s best for Wales are politicians of all parties who know our nation best – those in Cardiff Bay and not in Westminster. Vote Yes for Wales.
AUTISM
I wanted to welcome a £2m funding package announced by the Welsh Government to support children and adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Work to raise awareness of the condition and improving the lives of both children and adults with ASD has made progress but clearly more needs to be done.
This money will, hopefully, make a real difference to the lives of all those affected by ASD, improve employment opportunities and widen the range of services available.
CAERPHILLY MP
I’m not going to enter into a war of words with Wayne David over comments he made in his blog last week about Ron Davies.
I’ve always believed that resorting to vicious personal attacks indicates a lack of policies and political substance. I also don’t believe the public are impressed with such personalised attacks.
What I do hope is that in future Wayne David will use his column to tell readers what work he’s doing in Westminster.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council