MIKE HEDGES AM WECLOMES WELSH GOVERNMENTS CLEAN AIR CONCULTATION

MIKE HEDGES AM WECLOMES WELSH GOVERNMENTS CLEAN AIR CONCULTATION



Speaking from his Morriston office, Swansea East AM said… ‘Breathing clean air ought to be seen as a human right; sadly it is not. We cannot leave something as important as this to chance – it is right that the Welsh Government is going to legislate to ensure that people can breathe clean and unpolluted air. I have long campaigned against the incineration of non-medical waste and this is a classic example of how we can control what is put into the atmosphere.



I urge everyone to respond to the consultation and get your views taken into account’

TITLE	Clean Air
BY	Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

I am pleased to launch a 12-week public consultation on our ambitious, cross-Government plans to improve air quality across Wales.



I know all in this Assembly agrees that the people of Wales have the right to breathe healthy air.  Although our current overall air quality is good and compares well with the rest of the UK and the EU, we can do better and there is clear scope for further action. 



The Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales sets out a national framework that will enable all of us, across Wales, to work together to secure further, sustainable improvement in a way that reinforces our work on climate change, decarbonisation and environmental growth. 



It is an important milestone in our efforts to further improve air quality in Wales and brings together work across many Government departments and public sector organisations through four central themes which are:

• Protecting Health and Wellbeing of current and future generations
• Supporting environment, ecosystems and biodiversity
• Supporting a prosperous Wales
• Supporting sustainable places

It is vital our approach protects the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.  Our first theme highlights current and planned actions to reduce air pollution, risks and inequalities, including committing to new evidence-based, health-focused, targets for particulate matter in Wales which take account of stringent WHO guidelines values.



The second theme recognises the importance of protecting our natural environment, eco-systems and biodiversity and promoting environmental growth for future generations. One of the greatest challenges we face is to find a way to secure a healthy, resilient and productive environment for the future while continuing to create jobs, housing and infrastructure. We will measure progress through new indicators for biodiversity.



The third theme supports ‘A prosperous Wales’. We want to be an innovative, productive and low carbon society which recognises the limits of the global environment and uses resources efficiently and proportionately.



Thriving businesses are important to a successful Welsh economy and we need to deliver our ambitions for economic growth, alongside our commitments to clean air and healthy environmental growth.  Driven by a combination of regulation, investment and technical advances, significant progress has already been made to reduce air pollution from industry. To achieve further improvements we will continue to work with stakeholders, targeting particular industrial air quality challenges.



The fourth and final theme recognises the importance of reducing airborne pollution in public places.



Planning Policy Wales recognises the importance of air quality and appropriate soundscapes to the health and well-being of people and the environment. We are producing further guidance for Local Planning Authorities and developers to support the detailed consideration of air quality and soundscapes in the planning process.



A joined up approach between national transport and planning policy supports an increase in public transport use and active travel, reducing emissions and public exposure. We will work with stakeholders to encourage a modal shift from private vehicle dependency to sustainable forms of transport.



Whilst we can take the lead and set an example through Government actions, we cannot deliver the plan on our own.



Successfully addressing air pollution means Welsh Government, its agencies, Local Authorities, business and industry, non-Governmental organisations and the general public all working together. 



We will empower everyone to reduce their impacts and exposures to local air quality through better education and awareness-raising and develop targeted and integrated communications to inform and enable behavioural change.



Our new Clean Air Act for Wales will play a key role in helping us achieve all of this by delivering the First Minister’s manifesto commitment and reduce the burden of poor air quality on human health, our economy, biodiversity and natural environment.



I will be consulting on more detailed proposals for the Act by the end of the current Assembly term, taking into account the responses to this consultation.



Over the next 12 weeks I am hoping for a constructive discussion on the proposals in the Plan and encourage you and your constituents to respond.  



Together we have an opportunity to improve air quality throughout the country for us, for our children and for future generations. 

2019 General Election in Wales

2019 General Election in Wales

Labour had a bad election in Wales and whilst in south Wales they held on to the two 2017 gains (Cardiff North and Gower) , Bridgend a seat last won by the conservatives in 1983 was lost.  north Wales saw Labour almost wiped out losing five of the six seats previously held and holding on to Alyn an Deeside by only 213 votes to avoid complete defeat.

It was billed as the Brexit election and the Conservative Leader kept on repeating “get Brexit done” which resonated with previous Labour voters who had voted to leave in 2016 and crucially those who voted remain but felt that the democratic decision had to be upheld. Time after time I was told when talking to voters we voted for Brexit and you are trying to stop it, that is not democracy. On the Friday morning Carolyn Harris the newly re-elected MP and I visited a faith and family centre  to be told by people there “we always vote labour but this time we voted Conservative to get Brexit done.” The good news is that by the time of the next election Brexit will be complete. There will also be confusion when people see that we are still negotiating with Europe after January 2020.

Jeremy Corbyn was unpopular with older especially male voters but popular although not popular enough to win the election with younger voters. His complete refusal to use the courts to defend himself against libel emboldened critics who told greater and greater lies about him. The most important thing for the next leader to do is to immediately take legal action against anyone who libels them and crucially to continue that action against those who propagate it on social media. Remember the prompt action by Lord Macalpine to protect himself against libel and The BBC and ITV formally apologised to Lord McAlpine at the High Court for “disastrously” and falsely linking him to child sex abuse allegations at a Welsh care home. The broadcasters’ solicitors apologised unreservedly for the damage and distress caused. His lawyers confirmed that the agreements involved the payment of £185,000 damages by the BBC and £125,000 from ITV, together with very substantial costs. He pursued others who propagated the story on Social media including comedian Alun Davies and Sally Bercow but also whilst not taking them to court he made those with less than 500 followers make a £25 donation to children in need.

As with all elections there are local reasons for the result. north Wales is covered by Betsi Cadwalladr health board which has been in special measures for over four years. . Quoting from the National Assembly Wales Public accounts Committee report : “There is a risk that the special measures status of a north Wales health board 'may have become a normal state of affairs' .

The report says Welsh Government support has been 'insufficient' and that actions 'had little practical impact' on changing the health board's performance.

The review paper says: "It is simply unacceptable that BCUHB [Betsi Cadwaladr], as the largest NHS body in Wales, has been in special measures for nearly four years."

The committee says: "We share the frustrations of the people of north Wales at the pace of change and believe that both patient input and clinical engagement in delivering change has not been as effective as it could be."

The report also takes aim at the health board's leadership saying it is 'deeply concerned' that it has "failed to grip its financial position" and that recurring deficits are 'unsustainable'. It adds that "poor quality savings plans the Board has had in place...have been both simplistic and overly ambitious."

There are those of us, albeit a minority, who believe that the structure of health in north Wales is fundamentally flawed and that Betsi Cadwalladr health board does not work because of its make up not because of its management.

Finally a reminder of how previous leaders were attacked from Tony Blair New Labour New Danger,  Gordon Brown as a “shameless defender of the old elite” and Red ED who could not eat a bacon sandwich. Any Labour Leader will be attacked by the Express, Mail and Sun with the BBC reporting those attacks as news.

We have just over 16 months to the next Welsh Assembly elections and we need to campaign to keep  control in Wales. We need to learn the lessons of the General Election and ensure that we do better than in the General Election.

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES WELSH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON NEW PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION IN WALES

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES WELSH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON NEW PLAN FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION IN WALES

Speaking from the Senedd, Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges said… ‘I welcome this announcement that the Climate Change Emergency remains a focus for the Welsh Government. Climate Change is now one of the top issues people contact me about and I am pleased with this announcement which sets out how Wales will adapt to these challenges. The new plan sets out an ambitious set of targets to ensure that Wales meet the challenges of Climate change. It sets out targets to be achieved over the next five years. I will look forward to reporting back to the people of Swansea East on the progress made against these ambitious targets.’

WRITTEN STATEMENT

BY

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

 

TITLE	Prosperity for All:  A Climate Conscious Wales
DATE	2 December 2019
BY	Lesley Griffiths Minister for the Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

In March 2019, Welsh Government launched Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales. This was our first statutory climate change mitigation plan, which set out 100 policies and proposals to decarbonise, enabling us to comply with our first carbon budget and create the foundations for further emission reduction. We also declared a climate emergency in April as a further demonstration of our commitment to tackling one of the greatest challenges facing current and future generations.

To complement steps we are taking to decarbonise the economy of Wales, we also need to respond to the impacts of climate change we already see, which pose a threat to ecosystems and our way of life. Climate change adaptation requires a clear understanding of where and when impacts are likely to fall so we can respond in the most effective and timely way. We must, therefore, collectively take a risk based approach to prioritise action which helps us to prepare and adapt to these changes before the full effects are felt. Doing so will ensure Wales continues to prosper and the most vulnerable in our society, who are more likely to feel the burden of climate change, are protected.

Our first adaptation plan formed part of our Climate Change Strategy 2010 and successfully set the foundations for adaptation in Wales, by building the evidence base, sharing good practice and showing early signs of mainstreaming adaptation through a community of practice.

Today we are publishing our new climate change adaptation plan for Wales, Prosperity for All: A Climate Conscious Wales, which represents the Welsh Government’s second statutory adaptation plan.

Our new plan sets out how we are taking action, over the next five years, to address the areas of greatest risk, as identified by the UK Committee on Climate Change in the most recent Climate Change Risk Assessment, as well as the research priorities required to better understand the impacts and ways of addressing the effects of climate change. Through this plan, the Welsh Government articulates how Wales will protect our ecosystems and adapt our homes, communities, businesses and infrastructure as we continue to respond to the evidence of the climate change risks for Wales.

We have already invested significantly in climate change adaptation and preparing for the future, through a wide range policies, programmes and interventions and this plan further demonstrates our ambition to deliver a more prosperous, equal and greener nation.

Delivering our plan will be a challenge, but we must all adapt and we must all commit to protect our nation for current and future generations. Success will mean Wales is a climate conscious nation, aware of the risks facing us, whilst being prepared and ready to adapt to the impacts before they occur.

https://gov.wales/prosperity-all-climate-conscious-wales

SWANSEA EAST AM BACKS MOVES TO RESURRECT SWANSEA BAY TIDAL LAGOON PROJECT

SWANSEA EAST AM BACKS MOVES TO RESURRECT SWANSEA BAY TIDAL LAGOON PROJECT

Speaking from his Swansea East Office, Mike Hedges AM said … ‘ I have been a big supporter of the tidal lagoon and it would be a significant moment if the planning consent is allowed to lapse. It would be a significant complication to the project if they have to go back and apply for planning permission from scratch. I hope that they are successful in their endeavours for the project remains a huge opportunity to be in at the start of a new era for green power generation. Any new technology is going to be more expensive at the start of life, yet the benefit for the local and national economy would far outweigh any concerns re the costs.

I will continue to speak up at every opportunity that the Tidal Lagoon should go ahead.’

The company behind the stalled Swansea Bay tidal lagoon is making a last-ditch attempt to resurrect the project.

Plans for what would be the world's first tidal power lagoon were thrown out by the UK government last year.

Tidal Power plc's chief executive Mark Shorrock said the five-year planning consent awarded by the government in 2015 expires in June 2020 "unless material works have commenced".

He said the company was trying to raise £1.2m to start work on land.

The company will not be able to start work in the sea because it has not got a marine licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

MIKE HEDGES CRITICISES AUSTERITY AS A POLITICAL CHOICE NOT A NECESSITY

MIKE HEDGES CRITICISES AUSTERITY AS A POLITICAL CHOICE NOT A NECESSITY



Speaking from The Senedd after the Debate on Welsh Government Funding, Mike Hedges AM said.. ‘For the last 7 years I have maintained that Austerity was a political choice, not an economic necessity and it seems as if the facts are now bearing this out; not much has changed in recent months but with the new government in Westminster has come a change in Government Policy and the spending tap has been opened. Thus my view that what was needed was a change in government policy is borne out. What a sad legacy for 9 years of Tory rule though – a decade of underfunding for Welsh services. Shame on the Tory Party for inflicting this on my constituents.’

Mike Hedges AM - It's always nice to find out you were right. I have said continually since 2011 that austerity is a political not an economic policy. I'm sure the Conservatives would like to apologise to public sector workers and users of public services for the austerity measures that have slowed down the economic growth and led to a mass use of foodbanks and the increase in homelessness. Just to help the Conservatives, it was not a magic money tree that was needed, just a change of Government policy.371

The Welsh Government receives around £15 billion a year to spend on its various priorities, activities and projects, which support our economy and public services across Wales. However, as a result of the Tory UK Government’s ongoing policy of austerity, the Welsh Government’s funding has been cut year on year in real terms. The Welsh Government’s budget is 5 per cent lower in real terms in 2019-20 than it was in 2010-11—equivalent to £800 million less to spend on public services. Our revenue budget is 7 per cent lower per person than in 2010-11—that’s equivalent to £350 less to spend on front-line services for each person living in Wales.372

We are now in the ninth year of austerity, and Wales is suffering the consequences of damaging Tory policies. Continuing with austerity is a political choice. It is a fact that, in spite of sluggish growth, tax receipts more than cover current public expenditure.373

What have we got to show for almost a decade of Tory cuts? The Tories have presided over the slowest recovery since the 1920s. Last year's growth in our economy was the lowest in the G7 and the slowest since 2012. UK productivity is barely above pre-recession levels, and pay, adjusted for inflation, still remains below 2010 levels. Growth in tax receipts has been sluggish, reducing resources to fund public services.374

The Welsh Government’s budget would be £6 billion higher in 2019-20 if, since 2010, it had increased in line with long-term public spending growth. Putting money into the demand side of the economy leads to economic growth. We know that.375

I, of course, support more money for health and education. Education excellence, providing high-level educational attainment, is our best way of achieving economic growth. It is our best and should be seen as our most important economic policy—putting money into the education of highly skilled individuals. Something that is rarely said is that if you have to bribe a company to come to Wales, they do not really want to come. High growth areas do not have to provide incentives for inward investment; companies come because the skills they need are there. They come voluntarily. That is why I continually urge support for the university sector as the best way of generating high-skill and high-paid employment.376

Education is not just schools. The role further education plays in producing skilled employees, from traditional trades through accountancy and ICT technicians, does not appear to get the credit it deserves. Further education really is the poor relation inside education.377

Schools of course need additional funding in order to reverse the cuts that have taken place in recent years. I don't think you can overestimate the importance of education. It's what gives young people the opportunity to go on and earn large sums of money, it's what gets them skills, it's what produces our doctors, our nurses, our engineers—the people who we really need inside our economy. And far too often education is seen as something distinct from economic development. It is a key part of economic development. You get skilled people, you get highly qualified people, and then all of a sudden the employers come. Just look at Cambridge. Look at places like Sheffield. Look at these places that have done that: they've got the skilled people, they've developed through the university, and the companies have come.378

Turning to health, additional money is needed, but what is needed is to improve public health. Which child do you think is more likely to be ill and need hospital treatment: the one in a cold, damp house who is poorly fed or the one in a warm, dry house who is well fed?379

Plaid Cymru call for all the economic levers, which of course is code for independence. Just as they cannot answer the question regarding their view on nuclear power, they cannot answer the following: what currency would you use? What is going to be the central bank or lender of last resort? Who will set interest rates? How do you fund the Welsh share of the national debt? Are you really going to enter the euro? Are you going to let the European Central Bank be your central bank? That gives you less control than what we've got now. Also remember that Wales’s major trading partner, in terms of both goods and services, is not the rest of the EU, but England.