Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy has spoken in the Welsh Parliament about Welsh environmental fine revenues remaining Wales and not going to the UK Treasury in London.
Speaking yesterday to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Janet made the point that Welsh environmental fine revenues should not be going in to the pot of the UK treasury but remaining in Wales for use to offset the contamination from environmental pollution.
Commenting on this, Janet said:
“Following discussions with NRW it came to my attention that environmental fine revenues from incidents that occurred in Wales were going into the UK Treasury’s pot, and not remaining in Wales.
“This is seemingly unfair and in the spirit of devolution I do believe that we should address this.
“For example, Jeff Lane who caused a devastating loss to the environment by the illegal felling of 2,000 trees in 2019, was fined £1,500 by NRW and handed an £11,280 confiscation order. I understand that the money will have gone to the UK treasury with no guarantee of 100% return to help undo the damage caused to Wales.
“We could and should be using this money to offset the consequences of pollution incidents and environmental crimes.”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o Senedd Cymru dros Aberconwy wedi datgan yn y Senedd y dylai refeniw o ddirwyon amgylcheddol Cymru aros yng Nghymru a pheidio â mynd i Drysorlys y DU yn Llundain.
Wrth siarad ddoe ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, fe wnaeth Janet y pwynt na ddylai refeniw o ddirwyon amgylcheddol Cymru fod yn mynd i gronfa trysorlys y DU ond dylai yn hytrach aros yng Nghymru i'w ddefnyddio i wrthbwyso'r halogiad o lygredd amgylcheddol.
Wrth sôn am hyn, dywedodd Janet:
“Yn dilyn trafodaethau gyda CNC, daeth i'm sylw fod refeniw o ddirwyon amgylcheddol o ddigwyddiadau sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghymru yn mynd i mewn i gronfa Trysorlys y DU, ac nad yw’n aros yng Nghymru.
“Mae'n ymddangos bod hyn yn annheg ac yn ysbryd datganoli rwy'n credu y dylen ni fynd i'r afael â hyn.
“Er enghraifft, cafodd Jeff Lane, a achosodd golled ddinistriol i'r amgylchedd trwy gwympo 2,000 o goed yn anghyfreithlon yn 2019, ddirwy o £1,500 gan CNC a rhoddwyd gorchymyn atafaelu o £11,280 iddo. Rwy'n deall y byddai'r arian wedi mynd i drysorlys y DU heb unrhyw sicrwydd y byddai 100% ohono yn dychwelyd i helpu i ddadwneud y difrod a achoswyd i Gymru.
“Gallen ni a dylen ni fod yn defnyddio'r arian hwn i wrthbwyso canlyniadau digwyddiadau llygredd a throseddau amgylcheddol.”
DIWEDD
