The latest growth figures are appalling and fully justify my prediction last June that the cuts would lead to a double dip recession.

This is likely to happen in the next quarter when the full cuts and tax increases come into operation.

The government’s policy is a perfect example of Tory ideology taking precedent over common sense. It is like a medieval doctor bleeding patients in the hope that they might recover. In practice it is more likely to kill the patient. Continue reading “Tories Put Ideology Before Common Sense” »

Brian Wilson MLA, Member of Assembly Environment Committee:

The figures presented to the Environment Committee today confirmed my worst fear and shows that bungalow blight is spreading like acne across our countryside. It is clearly providing a charter and a free for all for developers and speculators.

The figures show that in the past 2 years over 10,000 single dwellings have been approved with a planning success rate of 97% of total applicants. Continue reading “Bungalow Blight” »

Brian Wilson:

I was surprised and disappointed to see Mr Molloy’s amendment on the agenda. I thought that we had finally resolved that long-standing issue last June when the Assembly voted in favour of banning park hare coursing.

It was 40 years ago when my former colleague the MP for Bangor the late Bertie McConnell first introduced such a Bill to the old Northern Ireland Parliament. Although it was passed by the Commons, it was delayed by the Senate and fell when the Parliament was abolished in 1972. My North Down Alliance Party colleague Lord Dunleath introduced a similar Bill in the 1973 Assembly. However, that Assembly was abolished some years later and the Bill made no progress. He tried again in 1983, and although that Assembly supported the proposal, it fell before the legislation could be enacted. Continue reading “Hare Coursing” »

It was 40 years ago when my former colleague the late MP for Bangor Bertie McConnell first introduced such a Bill to the old Northern Ireland Parliament. Although it was passed by the Commons, it was delayed by the Senate and fell when the Parliament was abolished in 1972. My North Down Alliance Party colleague Lord Dunleath introduced a similar Bill in the 1973 Assembly. However, that Assembly was abolished some years later and the Bill made no progress. He tried again in 1983, and although that Assembly supported the proposal, it fell before the legislation could be enacted. Continue reading “Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill: Further Consideration Stage (Assembly)” »