Silk: Government energy chief never been to Wales

27 February 2013

The highest paid civil servant in the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Permanent Secretary, has never visited Wales on business. Friends of the Earth Cymru will highlight the revelation in their submission this Friday (March 1st) to the Silk Commission, which is currently examining the devolution of further powers to Wales.

A Freedom of Information request [1] by Friends of the Earth Cymru has confirmed that no Permanent Secretary of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has ever spent any time in Wales. Members of DECC's senior management team spend an average of ⅓ of a day per year in Wales.

Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"The attitude of top Whitehall civil servants appears to be that Wales is irrelevant to policy. Perhaps that's the reason why renewable energy is performing so poorly here, and why fossil fuel power stations are being approved in Wales at seven times the rate they are in Scotland.

"We'll be telling the Silk Commission that devolving powers over energy to Wales is essential if we're to work our way towards the 100% renewable future that will tackle climate change and boost employment.

"First Minister Carwyn Jones and Prime Minister David Cameron agree that a low-carbon economy is the only viable future - DECC's contempt for Wales is damaging our economy and our environment."

NOTES

1. Copy of Freedom of Information response available on request

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577