Four Welsh Government Ministers attend energy inquiry

14 March 2012

The National Assembly for Wales’s Environment and Sustainability Committee will hear contributions from the First Minister and three cabinet ministers as part of its inquiry into energy policy and planning on Thursday, 15 March.

Carwyn Jones AM will take questions from the Committee along with Edwina Hart AM, Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science; Carl Sargeant AM, Minister for Local Government and Communities; and John Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development.

The meeting will begin drawing to a close the evidence-gathering part of the inquiry which began in July 2011 and which has heard from a wide range of witnesses, including public bodies, developers, scientists and community representatives.

“The Committee set out with a remit to examine the broad subject of energy generation in Wales and the policies and planning that apply to it,” said Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

“At the conclusion of our work, we will have considered everything from the siting of major installations including nuclear power and wind farms to micro generation through wind turbines and photovoltaic cells on Welsh homes.

“It is clear that there are complicated considerations when it comes to the planning and consenting processes for energy generation and these have significant implications for communities and industry in Wales.

“We are pleased to be able to put questions to the First Minister and his cabinet colleagues and look forward to hearing what they have to say about one of the most important issues facing Wales today.”