Clause 2 - Wales Transport Strategy
Transport (Wales) Bill
11:15 am
David Davies (Monmouth, Conservative)
I want to put on record the fact that I have objected in the Welsh Assembly on many occasions—in Committees on transport and on the environment—to the Assembly’s habit of putting things out to consultation but each time consulting the same bodies, most of which are in receipt of public funds and will come out with a response that is favourable to the Government and supports what they are doing. It has been difficult to persuade the Assembly to consult bodies that are less likely to give a favourable response. For example, during a debate on the right to roam, it was unwilling to consult with countryside groups such as the Master of Foxhounds Association, which clearly has an interest.
Therefore, I support amendment No. 2. The Assembly should consult organisations such as the Institute of Directors and the chambers of commerce. Those bodies are not always favourable to it and are not in receipt of public money. They are likely to give the objective sort of response that we seek when we put out consultation papers.