PM urges reform of Welsh services

12 July 2011 Last updated at 15:16 GMT David Cameron urged the assembly to modernise public services, but left the chamber in silence

David Cameron has urged members of the Welsh assembly to modernise public services.

He said Wales's devolved administration should follow the UK government's attempt to end a "state monopoly" over public services.

The prime minister said "more open public services" could improve lives in Wales, as they would in England.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said the call was "not the wisest" part of Mr Cameron's speech to the assembly.

Speaking in the Senedd's chamber on Tuesday, Mr Cameron said the direct law-making powers won by the assembly in a referendum in March had given the institution "immense responsibility" to improve people's lives.

Bureaucracy

But Mr Cameron added that some public services in Wales were "too bureaucratic to deliver those improvements".

He said: "Let me be clear: it is not my intention to interfere in decisions over devolved matters.

"But it is my duty to give my opinion where I feel it could benefit the Welsh people."

The prime minister's appeal for reform is unlikely to be taken up by Welsh Labour which has declined to follow a number of public service policies pursued by the Westminster coalition and the previous UK Labour government.

"I believe now is the time to modernise our public services - and in England, that is what we're doing," he said.

Mr Cameron said the UK government was opening services to new providers, offering more choice over schools and hospitals, and making the system more transparent - reforms that would "revolutionise public services in England and improve lives", he said.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg met Carwyn Jones at the Senedd

"I also believe that more open public services could do the same in Wales," he added.

His speech provided few details about a commission into the way the Welsh Government is funded, promised as part of the coalition deal between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

He appealed to all political parties to seek consensus on the matter.

The Welsh Government wants the formula that sets its budget - currently about ?15bn - to be reformed, along with powers to borrow money and control over some taxes.

It is braced for a real-terms cut in its capital budget of 40% over the next four years.

'Lecture'

Asked about the passage of Mr Cameron's speech that dealt with public services, Mr Jones said: "I think that was not the wisest part of the speech. It would be the equivalent of me going and lecturing the UK cabinet on where they are going wrong.

"He and I will disagree on a number of things of course, that's democracy.

"I welcomed the element in his speech that talked about setting up a commission. It's important now that work is carried on at the Whitehall end to make sure that commission begins as soon as possible in the autumn."

Mr Jones hailed a "very good meeting" with Mr Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in Cardiff Bay earlier in the day.

The UK cabinet then met at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant where Mr Cameron denied the UK government was dragging its feet on any announcement about the commission.

Plaid Cymru said details of the UK government's commission were overdue.

Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "The Tory-Lib Dem coalition has been in government in Westminster for over a year but we still don't have any more clarity on this issue."

A Tory AM accused Labour and Plaid of giving Mr Cameron a frosty reception.

Janet Finch-Saunders said the "heckling" of some Plaid members and a lack of applause from the Labour benches was "immature" and "embarrassing".

"I was appalled at the rude behaviour by some assembly members during - and following - the prime minister's address," she said.

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Welsh 'flytilla' women detained

9 July 2011 Last updated at 16:10 GMT Fiona Williams flew from Luton Airport to Israel on Friday Four protesters from Wales are among a dozen UK activists detained as part of a so-called "flytilla" protest in Israel, according to organisers.

Fiona Williams, 46, from Mumbles, flew from Luton on Friday with a fellow member of the Swansea Palestine group.

Ms Williams' partner John McLean said the women were detained on leaving the flight at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.

News agencies report that Israel is set to expel 124 activists, mostly European, who were part of the protest.

The "flytilla" - in which protesters say they were planning to make a peaceful visit to families in the West Bank - was taking place as a flotilla of ships was prevented by Greece from sailing to the Gaza Strip in a bid to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.

Mr McLean said this was the first time that Ms Williams, who works for Swansea council, had taken part in such a protest, but added she was a determined supporter of the Palestinian cause.

"Fiona has never been there before so we were all quite surprised she was picked out," he said.

"At 11 o'clock last night we got this news, and they were probably being detained for the weekend and deported at the earliest opportunity.

"They refused to be deported, that's their stance at the moment, because there's no grounds for it."

Mr McLean said Ms Williams had travelled with a fellow member of the Swansea group, who was originally from Ireland, and he had been getting updates from the Irish Embassy.

He said he had not spoken to her directly but understood she was fine.

Paul O'Connor, of the Swansea Palestine group, said he had spoken to the Swansea women on Friday and they were in good spirits.

Some Israeli protesters gathered to welcome the activists who had flown into Ben Gurion Airport

"The latest we have heard from the [Irish] embassy is that they're being held at the airport," he said.

"There's about 30-odd others with them.

"They're going to be held and deported on Sunday night and Monday."

Palestinian civil society organisations who make up Welcome to Palestine expected 600 to 1,000 foreign activists to take up their invitation to head to the West Bank for a week.

They say they have planned a full itinerary of peaceful activities, starting with events in Bethlehem and Ramallah on Saturday for those able to make it there.

Palestinians have no airport of their own and Israel controls the borders of the occupied West Bank.

Israeli officials said on Friday airlines blocked some 200 blacklisted travellers from flying to Tel Aviv.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered authorities to "act with determination, while trying to avoid unnecessary friction" with anyone taking part in a provocation, a statement from his office said.

The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which is coordinating the British part of the protest, said there 12 detainees from the UK.

'Watching developments'

These included three others from Wales, who it named as Ms Williams's Swansea colleague Dee Murphy, 56, founder member of Swansea Palestine Community Link; Pippa Bartolotti, 57, deputy leader of the Wales Green Party, and Joyce Giblin, from Newport.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We have received reports of a number of British nationals being detained today at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

"We have a consular team at the airport and are seeking consular access to them to ensure that we can provide appropriate assistance."

The spokeswoman said travel advice had been updated and it continued to make clear that travellers to Israel should ensure they are aware of relevant immigration requirements.

"We are watching developments closely," she added.

"We have put in place contingency plans and will deploy consular staff as required to ensure that we can provide appropriate support to British nationals."

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Welsh scientist honoured by Nasa

8 July 2011 Last updated at 09:55 GMT Prof John Harries is known for his work on the climate US space agency Nasa has handed one of its top honours to a Welsh scientist.

Prof John Harries, the Welsh Government's chief scientific adviser, has been recognised for research on the atmosphere and climate.

His award of the Distinguished Public Service Medal was announced on the day Nasa planned to launch its space shuttle programme for the last time.

He led a team that offered the first observational evidence of an increase in the Earth's greenhouse effect.

The award is Nasa's most prestigious civilian honour.

Published in 2001, the research offered evidence that significant rises in greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, were responsible for warming the Earth.

Prof Harries said: "It is an honour and a privilege to accept this award.

"I would like to pay particular tribute to my many colleagues from across the world that I have had the good fortune to work with over the years, in particular friends and colleagues at Nasa's Langley Research Centre, in Virginia.

The 30-year-old space shuttle programme is due to end

"This award is a testament to their commitment, dedication and professionalism to advancing our knowledge and understanding of science, and to discovering the answers to many of the most challenging scientific dilemmas of our time - such as advancing humankind's knowledge of the Earth's atmosphere and climate system."

'Accolade'

The Welsh Government announced the award on the day that the Atlantis orbiter was due to lift off on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

It would be the 135th and final launch in the 30-year shuttle programme. Nasa believes it can get astronauts to the ISS more affordably by contracting out their transport to private companies.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said Prof Harries's award recognised his achievements and was "a significant accolade to Wales and to the Welsh Government that we are able to draw on the advice of such a distinguished and internationally recognised scientist".

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