IT WAS with great pleasure that I led Plaid Cymru’s opposition day debate in the Senedd at the start of the month in an effort to put a stop to the Government’s dash for gas – or fracking – across Wales and I was delighted that the Assembly voted with Plaid Cymru to do everything within its power to stop fracking from taking place in Wales.

The Party of Wales opposes fracking because of the danger it poses to the environment, water and health and has consistently voted against it in the Senedd, Westminster and in Europe, however at the moment the Welsh Government does not have the necessary power to introduce a ban.

While the UK Government recently gave the Scottish Government the power to do so, they refused to give the Welsh Government the same powers.

Indeed when Plaid Cymru tried amending the necessary Bill, we were not supported by any of the Westminster Parties and our amendment fell.

It is an important step forward that the National Assembly is committed to doing everything it can to stop fracking from taking place, but the campaign must now move on to making sure we are given the necessary powers to introduce a ban.

Plaid Cymru will continue to lead that campaign into, and beyond the UK General Election in May.

LLYR GRUFFYDD

AM Party of Wales Shadow Minister for Energy and the Environment