Davies: “Natural Resources Wales Must Be Scrapped”
Welsh Conservative Shadow Environment Minister Andrew RT Davies has repeated his calls for Natural Resources Wales to be scrapped, with its regulatory and commercial functions split.
Responding to the Conservative Party’s announcement that it will scrap Natural England and the Environment Agency in England and bring their powers back under direct ministerial control, Mr Davies described it as “the correct approach”.
He said doing so would remove unnecessary bureaucracy and would make those exercising regulatory powers directly accountable.
Emphasising the importance of the same approach applying UK-wide, Mr Davies said Welsh Conservative plans to replace Natural Resources Wales would follow the strategy adopted by colleagues in England.
Commenting on opposition to the plans by third sector organisations, Mr Davies said it is “time the concerns of those who feed the nation are listened to over the quangocracy”.
Mr Davies said:
“Natural Resources Wales is unfit for purpose – it must be closed and replaced.
“Conservative colleagues in England have pledged to improve accountability by scrapping quangos and bringing their powers under direct ministerial control – our plans to replace NRW will follow this approach.
“It is time to stop prioritising the wishes of the third sector and start listening to those who feed our nation.”
I was surprised and shocked when I first came to Wales over 25 years ago how many quangos there were and even more shocked as the quango numbers kept rising and rising. I do have to constantly question what they do, what they cost, what they actually are there for. Plus what do they achieve? Please do not say tick boxes…………..
I have sympathy for our Welsh farmers and wish the Plaid lot would take the time to listen to our farmers, visit some farms understand what their problems actually are and don’t forget the summer of little rain, followed by the fires which ravaged much of our green and pleasant land. Plaid need to then ask themselves why Wales cannot feed itself and then do something practical to sort those issues out.
