Responding to the Queen’s Speech, Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Leader Rt Hon Elfyn Llwyd MP said:
“This was an uninspired Queen’s Speech delivered by a government that has well and truly run out of steam. With pensions being the only announcement of real substance, there are strong indications that the Coalition itself is ready for retirement.
“Plaid Cymru offers the Dutch-style collective pension scheme a cautious welcome, as well as viewing the strengthening of the law in relation to child abuse and neglect as a positive move.
“We also welcome the Modern Slavery Bill that aims to clamp down on human trafficking and stop the criminalisation of victims.
“However, we have grave concerns over the government’s intention to relax trespassing laws in order to facilitate fracking projects. This is an unsustainable method of energy generation which could well require the use of huge amounts of water from Wales to the detriment of the Welsh economy and environment.
“Plaid Cymru will seek to amend this bill so that Wales has control over her own natural resources, and that any profits generated from their exploitation benefits the Welsh people, not the Westminster government.
“All in all, this Queen’s Speech offers little benefit to Wales. That is why Plaid Cymru put forward and Alternative Queen’s Speech comprising ten bills to strengthen Wales economically and democratically.
“We would have liked to see action taken to tackle Wales’ chronic underfunding which sees our nation lose out on £300-400m each year, more action to boost workers’ rights, and further devolution in the fields of justice and policing.”
