one of the world’s leading advanced-technological societies

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The National Advanced Technology Foundation is prepared to fertilise the country's high-tech companies with DKK 1.6 billion (EUR 213 million) in seed grants over the next four years. The state-funded organisation's new strategy plan, to be announced Monday, sees the spending as a way to encourage companies to invest more in research and development helping it to meet its stated goal of enhancing growth and strengthening employment by supporting strategic and advanced technological priorities within the fields of research and innovation.

The Danish government aims at making Denmark one of the world’s leading advanced-technological societies.

Wales needs it's own National Science Academy - "whose general objective is to enhance growth and strengthen employment by supporting strategic and advanced technological priorities within the fields of research and innovation. Furthermore, the Academy shall make a special effort to promote research and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises."

If it works in Denmark without British interference then it can work in Wales too.

Independent Scotland: A Road to Riches

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If an independent Scotland chose to follow the Republic of Ireland’s low-tax route, as SNP leader Alex Salmond has indicated it would, Scotland’s growth rate might be expected, over a five-year period, to move closer to Ireland’s trend growth rate of 7 percent. Given a further five years of Scottish growth at that trend level, and before diminishing returns set in, Scotland’s growth over the ten-year period would put its index 71.5 higher, more than a two-thirds increase in GDP.

Wales's Government alone should decide whether Wales too should go down the low tax-route.

The Public Administration School of Catalonia

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The Public Administration School of Catalonia is an autonomous body, of an administrative nature, reporting to the Ministry of Governance and Public Administration of the Generalitat of Catalonia -the Catalan Autonomous Government-, with headquarters in Barcelona and branches in Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Since 1996, it hosts the European Centre for the Regions of the European Institute of Public Administration (Maastricht). The mission of the School is to improve and innovate the public administration by means of training, selection and research in the field of public management, with a view to promoting a common culture and shared values of public service.

We need one of these for Wales.

An Post

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The company is a limited liability company, incorporated under the Companies Act, 1963 to 1983. Under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, the Company is entitled to omit the word - 'Limited’ from its name. One ordinary share is held by the Minister for Finance and the remainder of the issued share capital is held by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Speaking after the company’s AGM at the GPO today, Chairperson Margaret McGinley said that 2006 was a year in which An Post’s financial and commercial improvements were consolidated: “There has been a significant turnaround in An Post’s performance since the Board approved a far-reaching Strategic Recovery Plan just four years ago. The key objective of restoring the financial stability of the company has been achieved, with profits recorded for the third consecutive year.

A publicly owned company providing the Irish people with the quality service they need and still able to turn a profit. We can do the same in Wales.

State Services Commission

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The State Services Commission is the Government’s lead advisor on New Zealand’s public management system and works with government agencies to support the delivery of quality services to New Zealanders.

Its vision is: A world class system of professional State Services serving the government of the day and meeting the needs of New Zealanders.

How about a the same for the Welsh?

Of course the New Zealanders have their own State-owned enterprises, like:

Agriquality New Zealand Limited

Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited

Animal Control Products Limited

Asure New Zealand Limited

Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited

Genesis Power Limited

Landcorp Farming Limited

Learning Media Limited

MCS Limited (is listed on the SOE schedule, but was never formally established)

Meridian Energy Limited

Meteorological Service of New Zealand

Mighty River Power Limited

New Zealand Post Limited

New Zealand Railways Corporation

Quotable Value Limited

Solid Energy New Zealand Limited

Terralink NZ Limited (in liquidation)

Timberlands West Coast Limited

Kordia Group Limited

Transpower New Zealand Limited

To get World Class services we in Wales should be considering this model rather than the one imposed by the British.

WELCOME TO THE DECENTRALISATION WEBSITE

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Decentralisation was announced on 3 December 2003 by the then Minister for Finance, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, T.D. For the first time ever, decentralisation involved the transfer of complete Departments, including their Ministers and senior management to provincial locations. A total of eight Departments and the Office of Public Works are moving their headquarters from Dublin to provincial locations, leaving seven Departments with their headquarters in Dublin. Over 10,000 civil and public service jobs are in the process of relocating to 58 locations throughout Ireland. The Decentralisation Implementation Group appointed by the Minister for Finance is driving this process forward. The Department of Finance's Central Decentralisation Unit regularly provide updates and material in relation to progress on the new Decentralisation programme

The British can't tell the Irish Government what to do anymore. So the Irish Government delivers the best policies for Irish people. Welsh Civil Service jobs must be spread fairly throughout Wales as well and lets have civil service jobs located outside of Wales's borders, but paid for by Welsh taxpayers money, relocated back to Wales.

Obesity down in sugar-free schools

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Stockholm schools that banned sweets, buns and soft drinks saw the number of overweight children drop by six percentage points in four years, a Karolinska Institute study published on Monday showed.

After the coming election, the Welsh Government, a Committee in the Senedd and an individual Assembly member can introduce a Welsh Measure to protect the health of our children by banning the sale of sweets, buns and soft drinks etc. in Wales's schools. Would the British dare to veto such a Welsh Measure?

The First Few Days, The First New Laws

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The first law to emerge from the new statute of Autonomy. It creates an autonomous tax agency that will manage, settle, inspect and collect its own - fully devolved - taxes. (page 9 of Catalonia news)

Catalunya is designing a tax structure for its own economic benefit. The British still control the full collection and partial redistribution of government revenues from Wales and it's people, better by far for a Welsh Government to collect and fully redistribute our own revenues to directly benefit the Welsh economy and people - just as other small nation successfully do.

To disseminate Basque culture

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The Institute will promote the teaching and study of the Basque language abroad, and bring the Basque culture closer to the Basque speaking communities in the world. The Basque parliament approved unanimously the Law that creates the Basque Institute Etxepare, which will be responsible for disseminating the Basque culture both in Spanish and Basque abroad, although it will promote specially the latter.

Wales needs it own equivalent. Remember the British Council's Office in Wales function is to promote British interests, just as the British Council use their offices in other countries.

10% were granted asylum

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In 2004 about 3,200 people applied for asylum. The Danish Immigration Service decided that about 1,600 cases were to be examined in Denmark. Of the 2,200 cases reviewed in 2004 by the Danish Immigration Service, 10% were granted asylum.

British Immigration policies have failed, Immigration powers should be devolved to the Senedd.

Cash for Flemish films

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The Flemish Culture Minister Bert Anciaux (progressive regionalist) is releasing 2.6 million euros extra for Flemish films. The extra cash is needed to take account of the growing interest in films among commercial companies. Businesses now enjoy a tax shelter if they invest in the motion picture industry.

Wales should have the same powers as Flanders, creating a tax shelter to encourage the production of world class Welsh film.

COMPETENCE

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Stamp duty reform emerged as the key battleground in the election campaign so far which moved up a gear yesterday despite the fact that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern still has not announced a date for going to the polls.

As the Irish in Ireland have the COMPETENCE to decide their level of stamp duty so should we in Wales.

Continue reading "COMPETENCE" »

ONLY WITH PERMISSION

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MILITARY chiefs are drawing up plans to move the UK's nuclear missiles south of the Border as concern mounts that Scotland is heading towards independence.

Wherever the British want to put them, they should not come to Wales unless the Senedd gives permission.

Cameron can't ignore devolution for England

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The Conservative response has been to adopt a policy of "English Votes for English Measures". On the face of it, it's fair and easy to explain, but only now are some Tories waking up to the fact that it's a short-term fix. English nationalism is stirring. In several recent polls, more than 60 per cent of the English believe that there should be some form of English Parliament. Several members of the shadow cabinet agree. So far, Cameron does not. In his article in this newspaper on Wednesday he said that the answer was "not a separate English Parliament with more politicians spending taxpayers' money". He's ignoring the evidence. This is an issue that is rising up the political agenda. It's also an issue where, if he handles it correctly, he can regain support on the Right.

I believe that the people of England are sovereign and that it is their right to determine their own future.

State saves millions by buying bulk

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Buying large quantities of office equipment from the same supplier has saved the Danish state millions The Danish state has the prospect of saving taxpayers millions by centralising and standardising the bulk purchases of everything from laser printers and computers to paperclips and pens.

I wonder how much Welsh taxpayers money is wasted by the British every year?

FOCUSING OUR ACTIVITIES ON THE CITIZEN

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By combining several formerly separate administrative tribunals in 1998, the Tribunal fulfilled the primary objective for which it was created: to give citizens “one-stop service” to help resolve their disputes with the government. This was intended to improve the effectiveness and promptness of the processing of files.

Quebec has designed a justice system to suit the REAL needs of it's people. Like them Wales should not be made to follow an out of date British legal systems.

Tax may rise on soft drinks

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Norway's government is considering imposing higher, punitive taxes on "unhealthy" products like soft drinks and reducing or removing sales tax on fresh fruit and vegetables. There's disagreement, though, over how high the tax might be

The Welsh diet has long been implicated in our poor health record. It continues to be too high in fat, salt and sugars and too low in fruit and vegetables. Our eating habits and low levels of physical activity are leading to increasing rates of obesity. More than half of Welsh adults are now overweight or obese. Healthy food must be affordable, accessible and appetising. We need to educate Welsh people, particularly the young, on the benefits of a healthy diet in preventing obesity, diabetes and cancer. Many people living in deprived areas have limited access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Convenience foods that contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt, are readily available and are seen as being cheaper and quicker to prepare than healthy alternatives.

Norway can decide what and how to tax to encourage it's citizens to live a healthier lifestyle. That's good for their citizens and for Norway's health care costs.
Wales should have the same powers for the same reasons.

"phasing out block grant"

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A range of Faroese parties have opened the door to making the North Atlantic islands more economically independent The Faroe Islands should take steps toward greater financial autonomy, announced Jóannes Eidesgaard, head of the islands' Home Rule government. The Faroe Islands, a self-governing member of the Danish kingdom, currently receive DKK 615 million (EUR 83 million) annually from Denmark, but Eidesgaard believed it would be possible to phase out the grant by 2015. All of the parties on the Faroe Islands would like a self-sustaining economy,' Eidesgaard told Faroese newspaper, Sosialurin. 'That means that we would have to manage without the block grant from Denmark and we ought to make a plan for doing so.'

Wales should be making a plan to phase out the block grant too.

Ireland can extend territorial waters

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Ireland has become one of the first countries to be permitted to extend the boundaries of its territorial waters. The State has received final and binding recommendations from the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf that it could increase its continental shelf off the south-west coast beyond the standard 200 nautical mile limit. The move means the seabed, which is believed to be rich in minerals and hydrocarbons, can now be explored.

As a first step lets have control of Wales's territorial waters transferred from the British to our own National Assembly. Then lets see about having them extended so that all the people in Wales will benefit, just like the Irish.

VELVET DIVORCE?

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SENIOR Tories are considering secret plans for a "velvet divorce" between the party north and south of the Border after the Scottish polls in the event of electoral disaster. Conservatives in London believe that hiving off the Scottish party would allow them to exploit Gordon Brown's Scottishness in the run up to the next UK election.

Would a failure by the British Conservatives in Wales lead to them being ditched by their masters in London?

Primary health care

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Primary health care is citizens' first level of access to the health care system. Primary health care services are available at your primary health care centre (CAP), where teams of health professionals are working to help you. At a CAP you can get - Home visits for people whose state of health means they cannot get to their CAP.

Perhaps Wales should be looking at investing in community health staff to treat more people in their own homes and thus safeguard out of hours services too.

Catalan economy grew by 3.9% in 2006

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Industry is seeing a major upturn in production activity. The recovery experienced by the economies of the Euro zone has given new life to the industrial sector, which grew by 3.6% in the last quarter of 2006, the highest rate in the last 22 quarters. Throughout 2006 as a whole, industry grew by 2.9%, a rate which stood in stark contrast to the negative growth witnessed in this sector in 2005 (-0.1%). The services sector grew by 3.8% in 2006, showing highly active performance, though there are some signs of restraint as this rate of growth was down by half a point on the previous year.

Is Wales's use of the British pound damaging Welsh manufacturing industry?

Funding for North-South Roads

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Minister Cullen said: "The Plan commits specifically to the completion by 2013 of a high quality road network on the inter urban routes linking the major population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the North West.

It's about time the North and the South of Wales were connected by a quality road network too, but then the Irish can decide these matters for themselves.