press release on Fusion cultural project

Mike Hedges AM welcomes £200,000 to engage communities across Wales in cultural activities

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates has announced that over £200,000 worth of grants will be awarded to eight partnerships across Wales to support people from disadvantaged communities to participate in cultural and heritage activities.

 

Mike Hedges AM said…. ‘ I welcome this news as Arts and Culture have borne the brunt of public spending cuts over recent years. I welcome the news that Swansea Council will use their grant of £25000 for 2017-18 to employ a cultural community organizer to work with partners such as Communities First and Flying Start to deliver Key outputs which will include increased volunteering opportunities, qualifications, and accredited learning.

 

http://gov.wales/docs/drah/publications/170628-delivery-in-17-18-en.pdf

 

 

 

The Economy Secretary confirmed that eight separate organisations across Wales, including local authorities and housing associations, had been successful in their applications to the Welsh Government’s Fusion programme. 

Since its inception in 2015, the Fusion: Creating Opportunities through Culture programme has worked with over 5,000 people and 150 partners to deliver a huge range of projects to young people and adults across Wales. Fusion has enabled community members to widen their horizons and increase their confidence, skills and qualifications by taking part in cultural activities. It has seen young people taking over the running of museums and castles, famous artworks taken out to primary schools and professional opera performances on school buses. Adults have volunteered and gained qualifications to help improve employability, and taken part in schemes to boost health and digital inclusion.

This latest round of Fusion funding will enable innovative partnerships to transform many more lives in some of Wales’ most economically disadvantaged areas. Local authorities, housing associations and employment programmes will link directly with museums, theatres, libraries and other cultural sites, ensuring that cultural programmes are accessible to all. 

The Economy Secretary, said:

“Fusion is an innovative, low-cost intervention that promotes collaboration to better serve the needs of the people of Wales. Since the launch of the Fusion we have worked with Local Authorities, heritage sites, theatres and others to encourage thousands of people who might not normally have engaged in cultural activities to get involved. I am very pleased to be able to allocate more than £200,000 to eight new projects across Wales that will enable this important work to continue. 

 

 

 

Press release on new breast cancer drug being made available in Wales

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEWS THAT BREAST CANCER DRUG APPROVED FOR USE

Following negotiations with manufacturer Roche, Welsh Labour's Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced that breast cancer drug Kadcyla®, will be routinely available on the Welsh NHS.

Mike Hedges AM said… ‘this is very good news for women who would benefit from this drug; women in England should be able to access the same drugs as women in England and the NHS in Wales ought to be able to access these drugs on the same commercial terms as those in England.  Wales Labour £80 million New Treatment fund will play a vital role in delivering new treatments for people in Wales’

Roche has now agreed with NHS Wales the same commercial access agreement as NHS England. This means that Welsh patients with certain types of advanced breast cancer will be able to benefit from the treatment.

The Welsh Labour Government’s £80 million New Treatment Fund has been designed to ensure new medicines such as Kadcyla® can be made available as soon as possible, and certainly within two months of the recommendation from NICE.

Press release on armed forces day

Mike Hedges AM shows support for Armed Forces Day

 

Mike Hedges AM, the Assembly Member for Swansea East is supporting Armed Forces day, showing gratitude to the women and men who serve and have served in the Armed Forces .  The AM will be attending an Armed Forces Day event in Castle Square, Swansea

 

Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets.

 

 

Mike Hedges AM will be joining people the length and breadth of the country who want to salute our forces personnel. The organisers of this year’s event are asking people to show their support by giving a salute.

 

Mike said:  “I like many look forward to Armed Forces Day and the opportunity to pay tribute to those that serve and have served in our armed forces.”

 

“I will be joining residents to show my support at the event in Castle Square, Swansea at 11 am

 

“Once again I would like to congratulate the organisers of events taking place across Wales and the UK for giving us a chance to celebrate our fantastic armed forces personnel.”

 

 

 

 

 

press releae on Fire Safety

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES STATEMENT FROM Carl Sargeant WHO OUTLINES steps being taken
following Grenfell Tower fire

Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant has announced he is setting up an expert group to examine all of the lessons coming out of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and their application to Wales.

 

MIKE HEDGES SAID… ‘I welcome this initiative from Welsh Government to clarify fire safety in Tower Blocks in Wales. I also welcome the work undertaken by Swansea Council to reassure residents of Tower Blocks in Swansea that cladding of the type used in Grenfell House Tower Block in London has NOT been used in recent tower block refurbishments in Swansea. Residents are rightly concerned following this terrible incident and I commend Swansea Council Housing Dept and Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Andrea Lewis for their swift response to residents’ concerns.’

 

 

 

The Cabinet Secretary made the announcement during an update to Assembly Members on the steps being taken in Wales following the Grenfell Tower fire.

The group will include representatives from the social housing and fire sectors and will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.

A first round of urgent discussions with all residential social landlords in Wales has been completed. Social landlords have informed the Welsh Government that none of the 36 blocks of flats of seven or more storeys in Wales appear to have been fitted with the type of cladding used in the Grenfell Tower.

Seven blocks in Wales have been retro-fitted with sprinklers. Any new or converted blocks developed in Wales are required to include sprinklers under the changes introduced as part of the Welsh Government's Domestic Fire Safety Measure (Wales) 2011, which was introduced by Labour AM Ann Jones. The requirements were introduced for flats and houses on 1 January 2016.

The expert group will also consider how prepared Wales would be to deal with an incident such as Grenfell should it occur.

press release on air quality guidance

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEW AIR QUALITY GUIDANCE

Mike Hedges AM has welcomed news that the Welsh Government’s has redefined its commitment to improve air quality across Wales.

 

Mike said… ‘Air quality is vitally important to good health, especially for people who suffer from respiratory diseases. The new guidelines issues by the Welsh Labour Government will assist Local Authorities plan for the long term and will benefit areas such as the Hafod area of Swansea, an area where air pollution has been a problem for many years. This guidance will play a part in ensuring that in future, people can live and breathe clean air. ‘

 

Lesley Griffiths has issued new guidance to Local Authorities on air quality management. The guidance stresses the importance of planning for the long term, integrating policies which can impact on air quality, involving local communities in solutions to local air quality challenges, collaborating with others and preventing problems from getting worse or from arising in the first place.

The new guidance follows the Welsh Labour Government’s commitment to developing a clean air zone framework for Wales as part of a UK-wide consultation to develop a new air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide.

Figures show that average levels of air pollution across Wales continue to improve but the Welsh Labour Government more can be done to ensure the overall improving trends continue across Wales and compliance is achieved in pollution hotspots.

The new guidance on air quality management can be found here.

press release on national clean air day

MIKE HEDGES  AM celebrates National Clear Air Day with the potential of LPG to improve Welsh Air Quality

Mike Hedges AM celebrated #NationalCleanAirDay (15/06/17) by taking a ride in one of Autogas’ new LPG powered taxis which aims to drive an improvement the Wales’ air quality levels by cleaning up the nation’s diesel taxi cabs.

The UK’s first ever National Clean Air Day [15 June] has a goal to improve the understanding of air pollution. Taxi drivers occupy a unique place in the air pollution crisis as they are exposed to significant levels of bad air as well being a primary source of harmful emissions.

Global Action Plan and Calor, the UK’s leading supplier of LPG and joint partner in Autogas Ltd, have come together the find out the views of the UK’s taxi drivers on the air pollution challenge.

Poor air quality is a serious concern for many towns and cities across Wales, with an estimated 29,000 premature UK deaths occurring each year because of the problem which has been widely attributed to vehicle emissions.

With diesel powered taxi cabs identified as one of the biggest emitters of two key harmful pollutants, NO2 and particulates, representatives from Calor briefed Assembly Members on its newly converted taxi and multipurpose van which run on cleaner autogas LPG.

Mike Hedges  AM, said:

“The Welsh Government and Local Authorities should seriously consider LPG as a quick and cost effective option for taking older diesel taxis off the road. The cost of electric vehicles; over £40,000, is beyond the reach of most cab drivers and we do not yet have the necessary infrastructure for re-charging their batteries. In contrast, the cost of converting an existing diesel powered taxi to LPG costs approximately £10,000. Drivers could recoup the cost of conversion in less than two years as the price of LPG is significantly lower that gasoline or diesel”.

 

Rebecca Hart, Corporate Affairs Manager at Calor said:

“Improving local air quality is an urgent priority, but this must be addressed in a sensible manner giving local drivers and businesses a convenient and affordable option which then leads to a significant environmental improvement. Diesel taxis have already been singled out by Government as one of the biggest polluters in cities so today was an important step in showcasing our latest solution for taxi drivers which means they can keep their existing cabs, while meeting the most stringent emissions tests.”

Vehicles powered by Autogas LPG are much less harmful to the environment. Independent testing of the Autogas taxi solution resulted in an 80 percent reduction in NOX emissions and a 99% reduction in particulates when compared with a standard diesel powered equivalent. The converted taxi also scored favourably on CO2 showing a 7% reduction compared to the diesel Euro6 equivalent.

Autogas LPG powered taxis are widely used in other cities around the world who are concerned with air quality issues. For example, 90 per cent of taxis in Tokyo run on LPG and they are also widely found in Hong Kong, New York and Istanbul.

Taxi drivers making the switch to LPG can be reassured by the fuel’s established infrastructure. Currently more than 1,400 refuelling stations around the UK offer autogas LPG. This infrastructure can be expanded and introduced at no cost to the tax payer.

For more information about autogas LPG visit www.autogaslimited.co.uk.

Contact

Matt Revett at Grayling – matthew.revett@grayling.com or 07852 950609

Notes

About Global Action Plan and National Clean Air Day

 

Global Action Plan brings people together and inspires them to take practical environmental action.  It collects the impact of their actions and share their stories, so more people are inspired to change.

 

GAP delivers national and global programmes to young people with a focus on promoting sustainable behaviours and health.

 

It believes that environmental sustainability is an issue for everyone - and all parts of society should be addressing it.

 

The first ever National Clean Air Day On June 15, aims to create a groundswell of action bringing thousands of people together to make UK cities cleaner, healthier and greener.  

National Clean Air Day will highlight what we can all do to protect ourselves and our children, and reduce local pollution levels.  The day will also capture the voices of people living all over the UK, from all walks of life, sharing their concerns about pollution and their hopes for swift progress in cleaning up our air. 

 

The campaign focuses on pollution hotspots; with action taking place in Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds, Derby, Nottingham, London, and Scotland; while all UK cities will benefit from the free guides and toolkits available. This includes events at school gates, hospitals, and shopping centres.

 

About Calor and Autogas Ltd.

Autogas Limited, a joint venture between Shell and Calor, has been established since 2000. We supply the UK’s drivers with automotive LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) with the vision to:

Save motorists from fuel poverty and help us all breathe easier

Not only do we have the drive and passion for making sure motorists are offered the full range of fuels available, but we really believe that you deserve to know just how much money you could save on your fuel bills in a year. That is why we aim to give you, the public, a better insight into UK motoring and  how it can be improved – not only for your pocket, but also the impact on the environment.

https://autogaslimited.co.uk

www.calor.co.uk

 

 

press release on Awards for All lottery funding

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT SWANSEA EAST BASED ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN SUCCESFUL IN LOTTERY APPLICATIONS

 

9 Organisations from Swansea East have been successful in the recent round of ‘Awards for All’ Lottery Funding

 

Mike Hedges said… ‘This is great news for these organisations and the people involved with them. Several hundred residents of Swansea East will benefit from these grants. I have visited schemes which have benefited these grants previously and each one of them had a real impact on the organisation and the people who use their services and facilities. I look forward to visiting these projects in due course to see how the grants are benefiting the organisation.’

 

The list of successful organisations –

 

Parc Llewelyn Community Centre Quiz Group Swansea	Parc Llewelyn Community Centre Quiz Group in Location will use the grant to fund a short break to Portsmouth for 49 older members at risk of social isolation. This grant for £5,000 will part-fund travel, accommodation, and meals.
Trallwn Senior Citizens Club	Trallwn Senior Citizens Club in Swansea will use the grant to provide a short break to Blackpool for up to 40 members at risk of social isolation. This grant for £5,000 will part fund accommodation and transport costs.
Ynystawe Primary School	Ynystawe Primary School in Swansea will use the grant to create an intergenerational community space which will be used to host activities for the local community. This grant for £4,998 will fund shelving, open units and seating area
Treforys Morriston Short Mat Bowls Club	Treforys Morriston Short Mat Bowls Club in Swansea will use the grant to improve the club’s facilities for their users. This grant for £4,500 will fund a machine-operated short mat unit
Treboeth Community Centre	Upper Killay Community Council in Swansea will use the grant to provide the local community with life-saving equipment in the case of a cardiac emergency. This grant for £4,950 will fund four defibrillators and external cabinets
Blaenymaes Primary School	Blaenymaes Primary School, in Swansea, will install a trim trail on the school grounds to provide outdoor active play equipment that will be available to pupils and the wider community. The grant, of £5,000, will fund a climbing pole, clatter bridge, net traverse, two mini balance beams and playturf. Hindu

 

 

press release on taxi regulation consultation

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEWS THAT PROPOSALS TO REFORM TAXI LICENSING LAUNCHED

A Welsh Labour Government consultation into the reform of ‘complicated, outdated and antiquated’ licensing laws for Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles has been launched.

 

Mike Hedges AM said… ‘ I welcome this consultation process as it is vital that the taxi industry is appropriately regulated. I have been aware of issues of concern within Swansea, particularly in regard to taxis licensed in other neighbouring local authorities, working in Swansea. This consultation will enable people to contribute to this review and to influence its outcome’

Welsh Labour's Economy Secretary Ken Skates has urged interested parties to have their say on the proposals, which will seek to address issues raised by drivers, unions, licencing authorities and the Law Commission to better represent modern practices.

The Law Commission’s review of the law governing taxi and private hire vehicles made 84 recommendations, many of which are reflected in the Welsh Government’s proposals for reform. The proposals include:

• The introduction of national standards for all taxis and private hire vehicles, set by the Welsh Ministers.
• Local licensing authorities able to set additional licence conditions where appropriate and remain responsible for issuing licences and enforcement. 
• Private hire vehicles licencing to include novelty vehicles and stretch limousines, but wedding and funeral cars would continue to be exempt.
• Providers being able to work across local authority borders more easily with licensing officers provided with new enforcement powers to deal with vehicles and drivers licensed in different areas. 
• Tougher penalties on touting are also proposed (actively soliciting customers), including impounding vehicles.
• Local licensing authorities retaining the right to limit the number of taxis working in their licensing area.
• Improved arrangements for regulating fares.

The consultation is open until 8th September and can be found here.

press release on super fast broadband

Mike Hedges  AM welcomes funding for superfast broadband at (name school)

Local AM for Swansea East has welcomed the news that the Welsh Labour Government have announced funding for superfast broadband at Ysgol  Gymraeg Tan y Lan

The School is one of 341 across Wales that will receive the funding.  Currently all schools in Wales have minimum broadband connections of 10Mbps for primary schools and 100Mbps for secondary schools, but some are not able to upgrade the speed of their services to meet ever increasing demand as a result of technical limitations.

This investment will cover the installation of new broadband services. This will provide an immediate increase in speed and in line with provision at other schools ensure that connectivity will continue to grow well into the future.

The Welsh Labour Government are determined to ensure  that digital skills are developed and taught through all parts of a pupil’s schooling and not just isolated to specific ICT or computer science classes. The Digital Competence Framework means more than just using computers and aims to equip pupils with the digital skills they need and can apply in the real world in the years to come.

Mike Hedges AM said

“Access to superfast broadband will mean that pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Tan y Lan will be able to take full advantage of current and future advances in digital technology.  Equipping them with the digital skills necessary in the modern world.”

“I will continue to work with Welsh Ministers to make sure that local pupils has the right environment to develop their vital digital skills and continue to raise standards”

“Making sure every school, no matter where they are based, has access to superfast broadband remains a priority for me.”

End

 

press release on eating disorders

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEWS THAT EXTRA FUNDING WILL BE MADE AVAILBE FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING WITH EATING DISORDERS

Mike Hedges said…..  ‘ I greatly welcome this news; I have met families where teenagers have suffered from Eating Disorders and have good support, which then ends when they become adults; this extra funding will provide a cushion to ensure continuity of treatment in to adulthood. I am sure that it will be greatly welcomed by the families of teens who are affected by such disorders and then teens themselves’

An extra £500 000 has been made available to support Eating Disorders in the 2017-18 Health Budget; this will be part of a key theme for the Children and Young People program. It will see recruitment of extra staff specialising in Eating Disorder support. It will see an extension of the Maudsley model of family based support, which will also include support for people transitioning from teenagers to adults. 

press release on raising disposable incomes

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEWS THAT DISPOSABLE INCOMES ARE GROWING FASTER IN WALES

New figures revealing that Gross disposable household incomes in Wales grew faster than the UK average in 2015 have been welcomed by Swansea East AM Mike Hedges.

Mike Hedges said…. ‘This is great news for Wales and for residents in Swansea East. People have seen living standards flat line over recent years so this raise in disposable income is very welcome indeed.’

The latest gross disposable household income (GDHI) figures show that disposable incomes per head in Wales grew by 3.3 per cent between 2014 and 2015.

The statistics mean that in 2015 Wales saw the third highest increase in disposable incomes of  all the UK countries and English regions. The largest increase was in the North East where disposable incomes grew by 3.9%. 

While disposable incomes in Wales rose faster than the UK average over the latest year, the statistics reveal that the value of disposable income per head in Wales was above  Northern Ireland but behind the value for England and Scotland.