Peter Black (Welsh politician)

Peter Black
AM
Assembly Commissioner
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 June 2007
First Minister Carwyn Jones
Rhodri Morgan
Preceded by New post
Member of the Welsh Assembly
for South Wales West
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 1999
Preceded by New post
Personal details
Born 30 January 1960
Clatterbridge, Merseyside, England
Nationality British citizen
Political party Welsh Liberal Democrats
Alma mater Swansea University
Occupation Civil servant
Website www.peter-black.net

Peter Black (born 30 January 1960) is a Welsh Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of the Welsh Assembly for the South Wales West Region.

Background

He was educated at Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Swansea University, graduating in English and History. Before entering politics full-time, he previously worked as a research assistant for West Glamorgan Social Services and was a Registration Executive for the Land Registry for Wales. Black is married and enjoys films, theatre and poetry.

Political career

Peter Black addressing the 2008 Liberal Democrat conference in the ACC Liverpool

A Councillor for the Cwmbwrla ward on City and County of Swansea Council, he was leader of the Liberal Democrat Group 1984–99. He is a past Chair of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and of the party's Finance and Administration Committee.

Black fought Swansea East at the Assembly elections in 1999 and 2003,[1] but entered the Assembly as the lead candidate on the Welsh Liberal Democrat regional list for South Wales West. He was the lead candidate again in 2007 and 2011. A former Deputy Minister in the 2000–03 Labour / Welsh Liberal Democrat coalition administration, he chaired the Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills Committee in the second Assembly and now sits on the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee and the Finance Committee. He is the Welsh Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Local Government, Heritage, Housing and Finance. He is a member of the Assembly Commission with responsibility for ICT and Sustainability.

In November 2011 he took the lead alongside Welsh Liberal Democrats Leader, Kirsty Williams in negotiating an agreement with Labour on the Welsh Government's budget.[2] As a result the Government introduced a Pupil Deprivation Grant, guaranteeing Welsh schools an extra £450 for each pupil in receipt of free school meals.

In 2013 he led for the Liberal Democrats on the negotiations for the Assembly budget alongside Plaid Cymru, securing a £100 million package including a doubling of the Pupil Deprivation Grant to £918 per pupil, a £50m intermediate health fund, £9.5m for investment in innovation in the health service and £5.5m for supporting people budgets.

He also steered the Welsh Assembly's first private member's bill to the statute book under its new powers. The Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 received Royal Assent in November 2013, introducing a modern licensing regime for Park Homes sites in Wales.

On 10th December 2013 he was selected as the ITV Wales Yearbook Assembly Member of the year.

Contentious Issues

After Charles Kennedy's resignation in 2006, Black supported Simon Hughes in the ensuing leadership contest. He subsequently backed Nick Clegg in the leadership contest which was followed by Clegg becoming Deputy Prime Minister in 2010.

References

  1. ↑ BBC Election 2003 - Swansea East
  2. ↑ Welsh budget: Labour and Lib Dems reach agreement

External links

Offices held

National Assembly for Wales
Preceded by
New post		 Assembly Member for South Wales West
1999–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
New post		 Assembly Commission
2007–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
New post		 Deputy Minister for Local Government
2000–2003 		Succeeded by
(post reorganised)