Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Journal Column

Following the proposals put forward earlier this year by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) to remove testing services at the Carmarthen and Aberystwyth laboratories, Plaid Cymru has led the campaign, with fantastic support from the Carmarthen Journal, to oppose the downgrading plans.

I have questioned two Government Ministers on the floor of the National Assembly regarding the downgrading proposals and received confirmation that the Welsh Government had not, unfortunately, had any involvement in the initial consultation.  Not only was this extremely disappointing, but a contradiction to what my constituency colleague, Jonathan Edwards MP, had been led to believe when he questioned the UK Government Minister.

Thanks to the work of Plaid Cymru, and as noted superbly in last week’s edition of the Journal, the Welsh Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the downgrading proposals and will visit Carmarthen this week to scrutinise the suggestions to withdraw services.  A crucial part of the Inquiry is the opportunity to submit opinions, in favour of the proposals or against, directly to the committee.  Imagine my absolute disbelief to learn that the Labour Welsh Government had not submitted any evidence to the Inquiry in favour of retaining the laboratories in their current format. 

The veterinary labs in Carmarthen and Aberystwyth are hugely important and their downgrading will prove detrimental to animal health, to the agricultural industry and to the Welsh economy. As the proposals stand, not only will Wales lose its vital testing facilities, it will lead to the loss of 12 specialist jobs and may have untold consequences on the rural industry. 

There is a trend of inaction from Welsh Government Ministers.  It is simply not acceptable for Labour Ministers to blame the UK Government when they are not prepared to engage in a process which could save the vital laboratory services here in west Wales.  This is hardly ‘standing up for Wales’ the Labour party promised the electorate just a few months ago.

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