GERAINT DAVIES MP - SWANSEA WEST -
YOUR VOICE in Parliament O Abertawe dros Abertawe
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VOTE ON COVERT HUMAN INTELLIGENCE SOURCES BILL I voted against the Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill. I agree covert criminal behaviour is necessary to protect us all from terrorism so such action should be on a statutory footing with safeguards. However, the CHIS Bill allows authorisation of crimes to support “national security”, “prevention and detection of crime”, and the “economic well-being of the U.K.” and the official authorising the crimes only has to “believe” it is necessary and proportionate and is protected by legal immunity. 27 terrorist plots have been thwarted under the current system and the Human Rights Act is due to be abolished. Therefore the bill in fact aims to grant powers to authorise undercover crime on a legally untestable belief of achieving vague objectives with immunity which I do not support. Following the success of the Killay meeting I have had another residents’ meeting and am looking to have my next one in Townhill
MPs from all major parties write to Prime Minister after he blamed the Speaker for abandoning it. Around 60 cross-party MPs have written to Boris Johnson calling for virtual participation in Parliament during pandemic to be reinstated after the Speaker made it clear that it is the Prime Minister’s responsibility not his. Geraint Davies’ letter has already been signed by around 60 MPs and follows an earlier Early Day Motion on the ‘Restoration of online democracy and equal rights for MPs and Geraint Davies’ Remote Participation in Parliament Bill presented on his behalf by Dawn Butler, MP.
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Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace on line meetings I was a guest speaker this month at Swansea’s Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace on line meetings discussing in particular the need to develop electrified transport solutions alongside more working from home to contribute towards public heath, economic growth and to avert climate change.
MAHABOOB RECOGNISED WITH QUEENS HONOUR Congratulations Mahaboob Basha, our fundraising officer, for his Queens birthday honour for delivering over 1000 food parcels and prescriptions in Sketty in the pandemic.
AIR QUALITY MINISTER GETS ONLINE ROASTING
100 experts attended my webinar on Air Pollution and the Environment Bill meeting with Minister Rebecca Pow, Professors Stephen Holgate & Eloise Scotford. Rebecca Pow made clear that new air quality targets will not be set until 2022, would not be legally enforceable and there would be an ‘average’ UK air quality measure. However, we need legally enforceable WHO limits on the face of the bill now. ‘Average’ air quality will allow health inequalities causes by localised air pollution black spots to persist. The Minister said the bill passed responsibility for delivering cleaner air to local authorities but Prof Holgate pointed out that three councils - Southampton, Leeds and Coventry have abandoned planned Clean Air Zones for lack of government cash and new Covid responsibilities. Professor Eloise Scotford said local authorities don’t always have competence over pollution sources like major road building, fuel duty and subsidies for cleaner transport or nearby industry and agriculture so central government be ultimately responsible for cleaner air. I am mounting a national campaign as Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on Air Pollution to improve the Environment Bill.
CONSERVATIVE M4 RELIEF ROAD PLAN WOULD BUILD BACK WORSE NOT BETTER Attempts to bypass the Welsh Government on the M4 relief road seeks to mask the Government’s underfunding of Wales, whilst creating poverty, undermining the response to coronavirus and applying a 1970s solution in favour of building back better, says Swansea West MP Geraint Davies In recent days, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales have both suggested that the UK Government may look to build an M4 relief road. Plans for the £1.5bn road were scrapped last year by First Minister, Mark Drakeford, after declaring a climate emergency. The Member of Parliament for Swansea West, Geraint Davies points out that Conservative Governments have failed to invest in Welsh rail and energy infrastructure, despite being responsible for the policy area; and that a power-grab would result in underfunding and hardship elsewhere in Wales, undermine the fight against Covid-19 and fail to build back better and greener. Geraint Davies MP said “This blatant power grab by the Tories seeks to undermine devolution and is not beneficial to Wales. “Consecutive Conservative Governments have failed for decades to invest in Welsh infrastructure, particularly in regards to rail, despite already having the powers and responsibilities in this area. Wales has 5% of the UK population and 11% of the rail lines, yet received less than 1.5% of the investment. Welsh Labour are looking to reverse this lack of investment with the development of the South Wales Metro and supporting the proposal for the creation of the Swansea Bay metro. “We have seen the historic lack of investment in Wales when Westminster are responsible, so the public must beware of Tories bearing gifts before the Welsh elections. At a time we face a pandemic resurgence, a bad Brexit deal and a depression from the withdrawal of furlough this is the last thing Wales needs. We should build back greener with digital and rail infrastructure so we can work from home and breath cleaner air.”
CONTACT ME / CYSYLLTU A MI (01792) 4759432 32 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5NW
info@geraintdavies.org.uk GeraintDaviesMP
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