Member News
By Tony Grew - 8th September 2010
A government minister has defended plans to reduce the number of MPs, which the opposition claims will hit Wales harder than England.
At Wales Office questions this morning, junior minister David Jones said the coalition plan to reduce the number of constituencies from 650 to 600 and make them an equal size is about fairness.
Johnathan Evans (Con, Cardiff North) said the current electoral system does not value votes equally, with Labour holding 65 per cent of Wales' Westminster seats with just 36 per cent of the vote.
Jones said the new system would be fair and equal.
Chris Ruane (Lab, Vale of Clwyd) pointed out that 170,000 people are missing from the electoral roll in Wales.
Jones condemned the last government for not tackling the problem.
Shadow Welsh secretary Peter Hain said the coalition wants to cut three times as many MPs from Wales as England and create giant rural constituencies.
He condemned plans to bypass the usual public inquiry system used when new boundaries are drawn up.
Jones said at present a vote is worth more in some parts of the country and the boundary commission will decide the new boundaries.
Hain accused the government of "rigging the situation in advance" and said Cheryl Gillan is the first secretary of state in history who plans to reduce Wales' voice at Westminster.
He demanded that the Welsh grand committee meet to discuss the government's plans.
Later, Gillan answered questions on TV channel S4C.
She said there are internal problems at the channel but it continues to meet the needs of Welsh speakers and she is impressed by its range of services.
Gillan added that there is "huge potential" in the creative industries in Wales but that must be balanced with the need to reduce public spending.
Jessica Morden (Lab, Newport East) asked how much elected police commissioners will cost.
Jones said they would not cost "a penny more" than the police authorities they will replace.
Shadow Wales minister Wayne David said that according to the Welsh LGA the proposed commissioners, or "superannuated sheriffs" will cost £50m, the equivalent of 700 police officers.
Jones repeated that they would not cost any more money.
Alun Cairns (Con, Vale of Glamorgan) said Wales is the poorest part of the UK and the Welsh government's failure to create jobs is a "sad inditement".
Gillan said she had inherited a "shocking" economic situation from the last government, but she remains optomistic about the prospects for the Welsh economy.
Ministers also answered questions on the A400M military transport aircraft, winter fuel payments, the referendum on more powers for the Welsh government, frontline policing, the rural economy, prison places and the forthcoming Ryder Cup.
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