SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Fflint Wrecsam has called for the new Welsh Government to focus on public services.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Welsh Conservative spokesperson for Finance and Chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Finance, said he was concerned that pursuing constitutional and independence work would affect the Government’s focus.
He said: “The people of Wales expect their Government to focus on what really matters in their day-to-day lives—the economy and those important public services. But there is a very real risk that a Plaid Cymru Government will spend far too much energy on those constitutional debates and the push for independence.
“Economic analysis has suggested that independence would cost the average working taxpayer around £11,000 a year—a huge figure that highlights the level of risk and uncertainty being attached to this debate at a time when families are already under significant pressure.
“The Finance Cabinet Minister recently stated that the outlook for the Government’s finances is probably more of a challenge than she expected there to be, which raises further questions about whether it is the right focus of your attention to pursue this agenda of independence here in Wales.
“Cabinet Minister, explain what assessment has been made of the impact this ongoing focus on the constitution is having on your ability to deliver on your core responsibilities.
“Surely, your priority right now should be to get the powers that you already have working well for the people of Wales.”
Dafydd Trystan Davies, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution said he would be outlining his priorities on the constitution in the next few weeks.
Mr Rowlands said: “I have expressed my concern in the past about Plaid Cymru’ pursuit of independence and its affect it would have in my constituency of Fflint Wrecsam.
“My constituency is the economic powerhouse of North Wales and a huge contributor to tens of thousands of jobs in the country and one of the biggest risks to businesses and prosperity in Fflint Wrecsam is the separatist agenda of Plaid Cymru.
“The Welsh Government needs to focus on core public service delivery and not spend ministerial and civil service time and resources on constitutional and independence-pursuing work.”
