Labour "lacks courage" to demand new laws

12.52.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Mar 2006

During the Assembly's annual bid for new laws at Westminster, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Leader Mike German has accused Labour of lacking the courage to push for new laws for Wales.

The government has proposed just two bills this year- both of which have previously been unsuccessful. Welsh Liberal Democrats support both bills, but slammed Labour's lack of ambition.

Mr German said: "Labour's bid to their London-based paymasters show their poverty of ideas. Where are the radical ideas to make Wales a better place to live? Their two bills are welcome, but Wales got three bills last year. Only asking for two this year is timidity itself.

He criticised Labour for failing to repeat requests for a St David's Day Bank Holiday or a bill to create a legal defender of the Welsh Language.

"Labour lack the courage to put legislation before the people of Wales, " he said.

"If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always got. Wales needs a shake up. "

Mr German highlighted three more bids the government could and should have made:

Devolution of Powers over Energy (>50MW)

Devolve powers over policing

LIT and STV

Notes:

The Labour Assembly Government has published just two proposals for primary legislation for the 2005-06 session of Parliament:

Housing (Suspension of Right to Buy) (Wales) Bill

Under the proposal, areas of housing pressure (rural or urban) would be considered for designation following application to the Assembly Government by local housing authorities, which would need to provide supporting evidence. If approved, suspension would be for a period of 5 years, but could be renewed for a further period(s).

Local Government (Town and Community Councils) (Wales) Bill

The Bill would enable the Assembly Government to implement those recommendations of the Aberystwyth research study on the role and functions of community and town councils which require amendments to legislation. The policy objective would be to enable local councils in Wales to deliver a wider range of services and actions locally, and increase the effectiveness of their representational role and their ability to work in partnership with other bodies.