Random Stuff!!

[TOM100]

How Welsh Government ownership of Cardiff Airport could be its pandemic saviour

Coronavirus and its aftermath will present the greatest ever challenge to the commercial aviation sector

www.business-live.co.uk

 

[Jerry]

What's happening with the South Wales Metro rail project?

The aim is to electrify the entire Metro rail network by the end of 2023

www.business-live.co.uk

 

[aviatorconcorde]

What's happening with the South Wales Metro rail project?

The aim is to electrify the entire Metro rail network by the end of 2023

www.business-live.co.uk

“While it’s contingency for overspend is expected to be used in full” Imagine. My. Shock

 

[Jerry]

“While it’s contingency for overspend is expected to be used in full” Imagine. My. Shock

Most big projects in general over spend hence the contingency. At least finally the project will get going. Probably a generation late but better late than never!

What made me laugh was that the Welsh government had to spend nearly £500 million to gain control of part of the country's own rail infrastructure and the UK government is reimburseing it!

 

[Jerry]

Surely Devon has dog food!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1262433287609503744

 

[JENNYJET]

Don't we control Wales as well?

A tricky legal question concerning the Devolution Acts that Mr Blair felt was necessary to keep the United Kingdom together and dissuade Scotland from breaking away... The Coronavirus Act 2020 is a UK law and it's contents apply to the constituent nations with limited room for variations for devolved administrations. My understanding is that Wales would need to consult Whitehall prior to acting according to any devolution protocols and the decision of the local parliamentary assembly. Devolution is not a pseudo independence or a self governing right, it is a variance of UK law and must be adhered to.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Don't we control Wales as well?

A tricky legal question concerning the Devolution Acts that Mr Blair felt was necessary to keep the United Kingdom together and dissuade Scotland from breaking away... The Coronavirus Act 2020 is a UK law and it's contents apply to the constituent nations with limited room for variations for devolved administrations. My understanding is that Wales would need to consult Whitehall prior to acting according to any devolution protocols and the decision of the local parliamentary assembly. Devolution is not a pseudo independence or a self governing right, it is a variance of UK law and must be adhered to.

COVID-19 alert levels | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES

Alert levels and current restrictions

gov.wales

"How is the Welsh Government able to do this?
Public health and health are both devolved matters. So the Welsh Ministers have wide ranging powers under legislation to respond to the pandemic."

In general terms devolution has thrown up many anomalies prior to COVID-19.

Blair's 1997 Labour election manifesto committed his party to a referendum in Wales re a degree of self-government. One was held later that year and only 50% of the electorate in Wales bothered to vote and of those who did 50.3% voted 'Yes' and 49.7% voted 'No'.

Cameron gave Scotland more powers in a panicky (ultimately successful) attempt to prevent the electorate there voting for independence in 2014 when at one point it looked as though they might.

The disjointed approach to this coronavirus issue across the UK has shown the dangers of the ill-balanced ersatz 'federal' system with which we are saddled.

Scotland has more powers than Wales; Northern Ireland is forever complicated by the 'Irish Question'; England has no government of its own and is ruled by the UK government where MPs from the other Home countries can have a say at Westminster on purely English matters with no corresponding English presence in the devolved governments (the so-called West Lothian Question). Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also have secretaries of state in the Westminster cabinet. England has no secretary of state, in or out of the cabinet.

The Law of Unintended Consequences is always looking to flex its muscles.

Did one of the drivers really say he wasn't aware that Wales has its own government and that he didn't know the lifting of the driving restrictions only applies to England? Some people should not be allowed out at all, especially behind the wheel of a car.

 

[Jerry]

Don't we control Wales as well?

A tricky legal question concerning the Devolution Acts that Mr Blair felt was necessary to keep the United Kingdom together and dissuade Scotland from breaking away... The Coronavirus Act 2020 is a UK law and it's contents apply to the constituent nations with limited room for variations for devolved administrations. My understanding is that Wales would need to consult Whitehall prior to acting according to any devolution protocols and the decision of the local parliamentary assembly. Devolution is not a pseudo independence or a self governing right, it is a variance of UK law and must be adhered to.

Health is devolved so the response to the pandemic in Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland is up to the devolved governments not the UK government. They can choose to work with the UK government who in health matters are Englands government or not. In this case Englands government choose a different path to the devolved institutions.
As for the 'Don't we control Wales as well' technically Wales powers are devolved from England as Wales was annexed in 1536 into the Kingdom of England. Wales only became part of the UK because Scotland and England merged into Great Britain. UK government just acts as England's government. Although now Wales is officially recognised a country by the UN the British crown has recognised it as separate to England and Scotland.

 

[Jerry]

Did one of the drivers really say he wasn't aware that Wales has its own government and that he didn't know the lifting of the driving restrictions only applies to England? Some people should not be allowed out at all, especially behind the wheel of a car.

One thing about the pandemic is that Welsh devolution is getting a lot more exposure and people are learning about it, though for some it's costing them £60!

 

[JENNYJET]

Yes Mr. Yokel, some people need special licences and you are correct about the extraordinary federal nature of the United kingdom and somehow I cannot see a rush from overseas administrations to replicate it except perhaps the Donald seeking to separate his Florida assets from the Union.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Most big projects in general over spend hence the contingency. At least finally the project will get going. Probably a generation late but better late than never!

What made me laugh was that the Welsh government had to spend nearly £500 million to gain control of part of the country's own rail infrastructure and the UK government is reimburseing it!

Yes, it is ridiculous.

That £500 million is probably due to some sort of accounting procedure, there’d Likely be a £500 million black hole in Network Rails Balance sheet otherwise.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

COVID-19 alert levels | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES

Alert levels and current restrictions

gov.wales

Did one of the drivers really say he wasn't aware that Wales has its own government and that he didn't know the lifting of the driving restrictions only applies to England? Some people should not be allowed out at all, especially behind the wheel of a car.

You’d be surprised how some people know very little.

I’ve met people who couldn’t tell you who the first minister of Wales or Scotland is. It may seem like second nature to us lot who take an interest in the subject of current affairs etc, but for many they really do live in their own bubble!

 

[Jerry]

The problem is lack of political education overall in society so people don't even know the basics of how everything works and I've no doubt a certain section of society prefers it that way.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

The problem is lack of political education overall in society so people don't even know the basics of how everything works and I've no doubt a certain section of society prefers it that way.

I don’t blame them for preferring it that way. But all governments have been shambles since Probably after WW2. I think that’s just modern society for you.

 

[Jerry]

I don’t blame them for preferring it that way. But all governments have been shambles since Probably after WW2. I think that’s just modern society for you.

I don't think all governments have been a shambles but the UK as a state hasn't evolved much parts of it are still stuck in the 19th century especially Westminster.
As for education people should know about the institutions that govern them so they can make informed decisions at election time.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

I don't think all governments have been a shambles but the UK as a state hasn't evolved much parts of it are still stuck in the 19th century especially Westminster.
As for education people should know about the institutions that govern them so they can make informed decisions at election time.

I would say the majority of Western Governments are a shambles. The US, the UK, Australia, France, Greece and Italy are the ones that come to mind. Very badly run and incompetent.

But that’s democracy for you, the alternative would be undemocratic.

 

[Jerry]

More than 1,000 British Airways jobs in south Wales are under threat because of a collapse in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

British Airways: Hundreds of south Wales jobs under threat

The airline has been hit by the sharp fall in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus crisis.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[aviatorconcorde]

More than 1,000 British Airways jobs in south Wales are under threat because of a collapse in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales...A-82AD-F4D696E8478F&at_custom3=bbc_wales_news

I feel as though most of the job cuts will come from the avionics and interior departments, which can easily be subcontracted out to other companies elsewhere in the UK. Just my thoughts.

And even if they do cut jobs now, there’s no saying they won’t come back in 3 years when the demand for air travel is on the up again.

 

[Jerry]

Coronavirus: Wales' aviation sector needs 'major intervention'

Only Downing Street has enough money to help the aviation sector, Economy Minister Ken Skates says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Jerry]

feel as though most of the job cuts will come from the avionics and interior departments, which can easily be subcontracted out to other companies elsewhere in the UK. Just my thoughts.

That's the problem. They subcontract out and then the jobs are lost to Wales. Also potentially they then could look at subcontracting everything out.