What's my line?

E-mail can be such a tricky medium.
An internal and normally secret Plaid Cymru briefing prepared for AMs to counter Lib Dems in a debate found its way - you guessed it - to Lib Dem support staff.
Well, Plaid special adviser Simon Thomas did tell his own party staff 'feel free to distribute!'.
The Lib Dems are keen to contrast Plaid's aspirations in opposition with delivery in government.
As an insight into the inner workings of government, the full briefing follows...

Lines to take on Amendments to One Wales debate
Registered social landlords
Jocelyn has already announced a review of the regulation of RSL’s – chaired by Sue Essex – to see how we can help them achieve wider regeneration goals.
Clearly the Lib Dems were too busy with their own leadership problems to realise we were getting on with governing Wales and looking at the most creative options for RSL’s.

HE funding gap
One Wales makes it clear that we will encourage higher education institutions to work together and any new funding for the sector will be tied to collobarative work. Our aim is to widen participation in the sector and we do not accept there is a funding gap, though we will – as we have promised – make full use of the Webb report to develop our policies.

Council Tax/Local Income Tax
The Lib Dems already tried a debate on this and lost. Within the context of a tight settlement we will be helping the worst-off pensioners with their Council Tax. Local Income Tax would be a matter for Westminster and we are focusing on what we can achieve, not on grandstanding on unachievable targets. The Lib Dem tradition is to call for perfection, but never to do what is practicable. That is why they missed the chance to be in government.

Opposition to nuclear power
Again a Westminster issue. We will watch with great interest the Lib Dem’s views on tackling climate change and windfarms in particular. Already they have opposed Cefn Croes AND Scarweather. Parties that are serious about a low carbon economy cannot be nimbyist in opposing every other wind or renewable energy development. The public would take their views on nuclear much more seriously if they were consistently in favour of wind energy and consistently against nuclear, but of course senior Lib Dems such as Chris Davies, MEP, are in favour of nuclear power.

Fair votes for councils
Our priority, as set out in One Wales, is to increase engagement and participation by voters. For us, it is the lack of participation of citizens in the electoral process that needs addressing. We have committed to explore and implement new ways of engaging citizens through participative and deliberative methods. And also to establish units in local authorities to encourage positive citizenship.
There is a difference of view as to what genuinely comprises fair votes. But we note that the Lib Dems had three years in government and did nothing to change the voting system. We have agreed a four year programme for government which will involve our citizens much more in decision-making. Once again, while the Lib Dems “call for”, we are delivering.

Extra police officers
Another Westminster issue. Which services exactly do the Lib Dems propose we cut in order to fund extra police officers?

Student debt
This year the first cohort of Welsh students enter university under the new arrangements agreed by the Lib Dems, with PC and Labour, at the time. We are confident our budget will maintain that commitment. Are the Lib Dems therefore questioning their own decisions in the past?
Provide extra assistance with student debt and maintain existing fee levels in Wales upto and including 2009/10 (One Wales)

Arts development
One Wales commits to implementing the Stephens review; artistic freedom as a right; enhancing both the status and use of the Welsh language; a new history collection; new museum, and a new theatre. What are the Lib Dems doing for culture? Well of course, things may be easier if the WMC had had a more realistic budget in the beginning, and who was the Arts Minister at that time? The Liberal Democrat Jenny Randerson. One thing we can assure the Lib Dems is that our approach to the difficulties at the WMC won’t be the approach they adopted for Ceredigion Museum – of imposing entry charges on the public!