Crown Estate (Wales) Bill [HL]

Debate between Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle and Lord Harlech

Committee stage
Friday 6th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

My Lords, I rise briefly to speak on behalf of the Wales Green Party against all the amendments in this group. The noble Lord, Lord Harlech, perhaps misinterpreted my reaction: I was astonished that he is not taking seriously the statistics showing that 20 mile per hour speed limits stopped about 100 deaths and serious injuries on Welsh roads when they were in force. Those saved lives and people’s lives being transformed for the worse by serious injury should not be taken in any way lightly, and it is a great pity it is not continuing. Similar figures from TfL show a 34% decrease in serious deaths and injuries in London. A range of measures affect that —around 15% perhaps from other measures—but 20 miles per hour is a significant factor in reducing deaths and injuries on roads. Surely everyone wants that to happen.

It is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Harris of Richmond. She has far more personal connection with this than me, and the passion in her speech leaves me with little to add, except to say that the Crown Estate in Wales is drawing on Welsh resources. The resources surely should stay in Wales. This is a basic democratic principle. The concentration of power and resources here in Westminster is a problem all around the country, but particularly for the nation of Wales. There is a fast-growing interest in independence for Wales. Those who wish to maintain the union might like to think about what position they are taking on this Bill, because not being able to have the returns from their own resources is something about which there is increasing anger in Wales.

I spoke at Second Reading in favour of—

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

My Lords, what guarantee can the noble Baroness give that, were this Bill to pass, the revenue from it would be distributed equally throughout Wales and not just be concentrated in Cardiff and the surrounding area, as revenues currently are?

[Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)]

In response to the noble Lord, Lord Harlech, I note that Wales has a democratic electoral and political system, unlike Westminster, where we have a Government who won the support of 34% of voters and are now in control. If he is looking for a democratic distribution of resources, he is a lot better off in the Senedd than in Westminster.

I was about to finish, so I repeat that the Wales Green Party strongly backs this Bill and opposes the amendments. More power to Lord Wigley’s elbow.