Mike Hedges Asks Finance Cabinet Member about the impact of Apprenticeship Levy and praises Welsh Further Education Colleges

Mike Hedges Asks Finance Cabinet Member about the impact of Apprenticeship Levy and praises Welsh Further Education Colleges

Speaking after the Senedd on Wednesday, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges said…. ‘I wanted to make the point that the UK Governments scheme has fallen well short of its own publicity while Further Education colleges are making big contributions to the process of getting people ready for employment. These local institutions deserve a lot of credit for the work they are undertaking in our local communities. I have met people in my constituency who are now working because of the support and encouragement while undergoing apprenticeship training in FE colleges in Swansea. They speak very highly of the local FE Colleges and I endorse their views.’

Copy To Clipboard Share To Facebook Share To Twitter Share To LinkedIn

Mike Hedges AM - Would the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that the UK Government's much-vaunted apprenticeship levy has now been exposed for what it is: nothing more than a tax on employers, which has done little to improve access to apprenticeships? Will he also agree that the further education colleges in Wales are doing a phenomenally good job in training apprentices to the benefit of our country?67

Copy To Clipboard Share To Facebook Share To Twitter Share To LinkedIn

Copied to Clipboard

Video

Mark Drakeford AM - Well, of course Mike Hedges is right, Llywydd. The apprenticeship levy is simply a tax, in any other name, and a very badly designed tax, and a tax that is friendless, as far as I can see, amongst the nations of the United Kingdom and amongst employers as well. It was a botched job from the start. There was no prior discussion with Scotland or Wales. We could have helped the then Chancellor of the Exchequer to do a better job of it had he simply allowed us, as the statement of funding policy required, to be part of the design of what he was intending to achieve.68

I certainly agree with Mike Hedges that further education colleges in Wales do an excellent job in responding to local economic needs, in matching young people with careers that they will be able to develop over the long term. I've recently myself met with apprentices at Airbus and in Tata in south Wales, and they all had really impressive stories to tell of the support that they have received from major employers in Wales, and how that has been matched by a genuinely responsive approach by their local education authorities and the further education colleges on which they rely.   

Mike Hedges AM welcomes £9.5 million EU investment which will help Wales move towards a low carbon economy

Mike Hedges AM welcomes £9.5 million EU investment which  will help Wales move towards a low carbon economy

2 renewable energy projects will benefit from £9.5 million of EU funding, Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford announced today, at an event to celebrate the impact of EU funds in Wales

Mike Hedges AM said…. ‘ This is great news for Wales and for Swansea Community Solar Energy in particular. I have visited this great local company and am thrilled that they will now be at the forefront of a market leading pilot project. We need to be as innovative as possible to meet the challenges of climate change and the need for Green Energy. This project could lead to further investment in new technologies in the Swansea Area. I wish this company the best of luck in delivering this project.’

The £14.4 million GSCS (generation storage consumption supply) scheme, will receive £9 million of EU funding.

It will use cutting-edge battery technology to generate and store electricity from renewable and low carbon sources, which will then be distributed to local businesses at a discounted rate.

GSCS will provide revenue-saving opportunities at sites in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

The £0.9 million community solar energy storage scheme in Swansea – Swansea Community Solar Storage with Direct Local Supply – will receive  £600,000 of EU funds to supply electricity to up to 300 local consumers.

Based at Wales’ first community-owned solar farm, the innovative scheme aims to create a larger local community energy model to support many more communities across Wales.

Speaking at the event in Cardiff, Professor Drakeford said:

“This investment is another positive example of how the Welsh Government is supporting innovative projects using EU funding and highlights the importance of securing replacement funding for Wales from the UK Government when we leave the EU.

“We are committed to creating a sustainable low-carbon energy economy in Wales and aim to generate 70% of our energy from renewable sources by 2030.

“These two projects will play an important role by supporting local businesses and communities to use renewable energy and help us achieve this goal together.”

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said:

“As a government we are committed to accelerating the transition of our energy system in Wales, particularly through the increased use of renewable energy. Our priorities are to increase energy efficiency, reduce our reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels and to actively manage the transition to a low carbon economy to benefit Wales.”

Iestyn Morgan, lead director from the Infinite Renewables Group, said:

“GSCS is an exciting new initiative, which will deliver energy cost savings to the business community. It supports the Welsh Government’s commitment to create a sustainable low-carbon economy by moving towards a smart energy future that combines local clean energy, storage and micro grids.”

Ant Flanagan, from Gower Power Solar Storage, said:

“The holy grail of community energy is enabling local energy consumers to benefit directly from renewable energy generation and storage assets – not only by sharing profits but also by reducing bills.

“This EU investment will enable us to carry out a market leading pilot. We are looking forward to working with great partners to make savings to national transmission costs and put money back into local people’s pockets, while also delivering wider community benefit programmes.”

Mike Hedges AM asks for Welsh Government Statement on the Planning Inspectorate making decisions which consistently over rule local authorities and the wishes of those who live with the consequences of these decisions.

Mike Hedges AM asks for Welsh Government Statement on the Planning Inspectorate making decisions which consistently over rule local authorities and the wishes of those who live with the consequences of these decisions.

Speaking after the Senedd, Swansea East AM said… I welcome the response from the Leader of the House. Local Authorities are the people who should make local decisions on planning matters. There should be no role for people who do not live in the area and who do not understand issues such as traffic flows and ‘rat runs’; People who have lived in quiet streets often have their lives turned upside down, after the local authority has made a decision to say no to another HMO in their area. I am pleased that the Welsh Government will make a statement on this in due course.

Mike Hedges AM - The second is a Welsh Government statement on the Planning Inspectorate, including planning inspectors giving permission for houses in multiple occupation against the wishes of the council and local people. I'm sure that's something that the leader of the house knows a great deal about. And if I say Brynmill, well, St Thomas and Port Tennant have now become the new Brynmill. As you know, I do not believe that there's a role for the planning inspector in a democracy. Councils should decide, and an unhappy applicant should go to judicial review. Someone coming in who knows nothing about the area, making decisions that have catastrophic affects upon the lives of individuals, I think, is anti-democratic, and it certainly causes huge problems in my area and, as I know in the past, it has in yours.

Julie James AM - Copy To Clipboard Share To Facebook Share To Twitter Share To LinkedIn

Indeed, yes. On that one, obviously, we don't have any direct control over the Planning Inspectorate, which is a separate organisation to the Welsh Government acting on its behalf. However, we do, from time to time, issue guidance and policy documents around understanding the issues, and I've had conversations with the Cabinet Secretary about whether, for university towns, it's beneficial to do that. I certainly share his concern in that regard and the enforceability of any density policy that any local authority would want to put up and what effect that might have on subsequent appeals. 349

Mike Hedges AM asks for an update on Welsh Government support for Virgin Media staff in the process of losing their staff.

Mike Hedges AM asks for an update on Welsh Government support for Virgin Media staff in the process of losing their staff.

Speaking after the Plenary Session, Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges said… ‘I know that it might seem as if I am like a stuck record on this matter, but listening to me asking for regular updates is but a small matter compared the stresses faced by my constituents who face a Christmas and new year full of uncertainties as the look forward to losing their jobs in 2019. I am pleased that job fairs and other support have been provided via the Welsh Government and that this will continue in to 2019.’

Questions to the Government Business Manager

Mike Hedges AM - I would like to make two requests for Welsh Government statements. The first is one that the leader of the house is quite used to me asking about, but I make no apologies for continuing to do so because it's hugely important to my and her constituents, and that is an update on Virgin Media job losses and the Welsh Government support for those who are losing their jobs, and it's getting very close now to the time when everybody will be losing their jobs.

Julie James AM - In terms of Virgin Media, the first tranche of redundant staff left the company in November, as I know he's well aware. There are two phases planned for next year as well. Our placement support team has taken on responsibility for providing staff with onsite access to key partners of the taskforce, including Careers Wales,  the Department for Work and Pensions and local employers. The Welsh contact centre forum is a key partner in our taskforce and has arranged job fairs in October at the Virgin Media site and brought recruiting employers to the site as well as providing careers advice for those staff seeking alternative employment. It's too early for me to provide specific details of those who have been successful in securing alternative employment as a result of the job fairs, but we are holding further job fairs to coincide with the additional tranches of staff leaving the company next year. So, our involvement continues in order to make sure that all of the staff who are affected by this have the best possible outcome.

Swansea East AM backs campaign for faster treatment for people with quickest killing cancer

Swansea East AM backs campaign for faster treatment for people with quickest killing cancer

Mike Hedges AM has pledged his support to Pancreatic Cancer UK’s campaign demanding faster treatment for people with pancreatic cancer – three in four patients with the disease die within a year of diagnosis making it the quickest killing cancer. The charity is calling for the Welsh Government to set a new ambition to begin treatment for all pancreatic cancer patients across the UK within 20 days of diagnosis by 2024.

At an event to highlight Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Demand Faster Treatment campaign held at the Welsh Assembly, Mike Hedges AM heard that if avoidable delays to treatment were removed many more pancreatic cancer patients could be eligible for surgery – the only current cure for the disease. To help achieve this ambition the charity  is recommending the roll-out of a new treatment programme which in a recent trial successfully reduced patients’ time to surgery from two months to just over two weeks.

Mike Hedges AM said: “76 people within the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and tragically less than seven per cent will survive beyond five years. This is unacceptable and much more needs to be done to improve the outcomes for people with this deadly disease.

“I hope everyone in Swansea East will join me in backing this campaign to transform the future for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and help them receive treatment before it is too late.”

The charity released a report to coincide with the campaign which revealed that pancreatic cancer patients who have surgery are ten times more likely to live for five years or more than patients who do not (1). New analysis by Pancreatic Cancer UK shows that if even a modest increase in the proportion of patients receiving surgery (from the current rate of less than ten per cent, to just 15 per cent) was sustained over five years, it could give 2,100 more patients across the UK at least a year of precious time with their loved ones and potentially be lifesaving (*). 

To help achieve the increase, the charity is calling for the introduction of accelerated treatment models for pancreatic cancer within the NHS similar to those which are already in place for more well-known cancers such as breast and prostate. This would include establishing one-stop clinics where patients can have all tests to determine their suitability for surgery in one place. Clinical nurse specialists would be recruited to coordinate with other NHS services addition to supporting patients.  Implementing both of these measures would significantly speed-up treatment decisions. The number of tests required, the wait for results, and the need to consult doctors from multiple specialisms due to the complexity of pancreatic cancer are major causes of delays in treating the disease when there is no time to waste.

Diana Jupp, Chief Executive at Pancreatic Cancer UK said: “We’re extremely grateful Mike Hedges AM has shown his support for our Demand Faster Treatment campaign. Too many pancreatic cancer patients are being denied their only chance of survival because they are simply not being treated fast enough. Three in four people diagnosed with this devastating disease die within a year, making it the quickest killing cancer. It’s so ferocious that patients cannot afford to wait. In recent years we have seen outstanding progress in other cancers such as breast and prostate, and a shocking lack of progress for pancreatic. Together we can change that.

“We are urging people from Swansea East to take on this deadly cancer and sign our petition calling on the government to recognise pancreatic cancer as an emergency. We owe it to all those affected by pancreatic cancer to be more ambitious and make sure that everyone is treated within 20 days of diagnosis.” 

Three in four people with pancreatic cancer die within a year of diagnosis, making it the quickest killing cancer. Survival for the incredibly tough disease has lagged behind other cancers since the 1970s, with less than seven per cent of people with pancreatic cancer patients living for five years (4). UK survival for pancreatic cancer is behind that of European counterparts: Belgium and Germany have a five-year survival of 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. 

Pancreatic Cancer UK is calling on the UK Government and devolved administrations to set a new ambition to treat all patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 20 days by 2024. To find out more about the Demand Faster Treatment campaign and sign the petition, visit: www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/demandfastertreatment

-       ENDS -

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT SWANSEA WOMENS AID PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCESSFUL WITH A NATIONAL LOTTTERY AWARD.

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT SWANSEA WOMENS AID PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCESSFUL WITH A NATIONAL LOTTTERY AWARD.

Swansea East Mike Hedges AM said….. ‘This award is really good news; I have met with people who have already benefited from this work of this great organisation. They provide a huge amount of support for people fleeing the scourge of domestic abuse. I am so pleased that this award will enable them to develop services which will benefit the whole of Swansea. I look forward to following the progress of the organisation as it develops this service. If you are in an abusive relationship please seek support and advice from Swansea Women’s Aid’

Swansea Women’s Aid will expand the current DAISE project to incorporate a triage worker at their One Stop Shop, further focus on one to one appointments and introduce further opportunities for mindfulness and counselling. The project activities will be delivered at their main base in Swansea Centre and throughout surrounding areas in existing family centres. The project aims to engage with at least 1,200 women suffering from Domestic Abuse or Sexual Abuse in Swansea.  The £482,109 grant, over two years, will cover staffing costs and other related revenue delivery costs.