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Are there tanks parking on the lawn?

The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is to hold an inquiry into cross-border public services, kicking off early next year.

The committee "is particularly interested" in cross-border services as they affect further education provision; higher education;specialist health provision; transport links; pay differentials and staffing levels in the civil service and broadcasting. Fair enough you might say - a wide range of areas, all deserving scrutiny.

Read on and you can almost hear Conservative Member for Clwyd West, David Jones rubbing his hands with glee as he writes the press release. He notes his delight at the work ahead and his hope that this 'timely' inquiry will prove 'instructive' to the Welsh Assembly Government, or as he puts it 'a Welsh Assembly Government that is, increasingly, perceived by North Walians as remote and out of touch'.

(I know that 'working with our neighbours' is something the Assembly Government claims to embrace at every opportunity but do wonder if every AM's response will be quotable when it comes ...)

Why now? Because if Welsh authorities want to behave independently and ensure that the Welsh pound - most obviously the Welsh health pound - is spent in Wales and if that means patients from North Wales crossing the border to England far less frequently and heading South instead, then Welsh MPs want a say. It should be interesting stuff but expect cross fire as they get stuck into cross-border issues.

By the way a snapshot of life in the Oriel - in other words the Senedd gallery.

Today's Events.

1100 - 1500
Alison Halford Book Launch.
Sponsored by Alun Cairns (he of the "black glistening hair, distinctive hair and elegant cufflinks protruding from well-cut suits")

1700 - 1900
Undertakers.
Sponsored by Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

Minister for Fun?

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