Mike Hedges Welcomes news that Reception class children in Wales will get free school meals from September - the first in a rollout for all primary school pupils.

 Mike Hedges Welcomes news that Reception class children in Wales will get free school meals from September - the first in a rollout for all primary school pupils. 

Speaking from his Senedd Office, Swansea East MS Mike Hedges said…. ‘ I welcome this news as it is good news that all pupils in Wales will get Free School Meals as part of the agreement with Plaid. I know of schools in my Constituency where teachers say children come to school with no breakfast and often do not have enough money for lunch. They tell me that children who are disruptive in class are often those they fear are noy eating enough. All children should have good quality food every day – including school holidays – and the agreement between the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid goes a long way to addressing these very real concerns. 

 No child should go hungry in Wales in the 21st Century’ 

All the country's approximately 272,000 primary school pupils are set to get free lunches by 2024. 

It is part of a deal between Plaid Cymru and the Labour Welsh government. 

Because of the cost of living crisis, ministers said they were working with local authorities to ensure it was started as quickly as possible. 

A total of £225m has been set aside to pay for it over the next three years. 

From September, Wales' 22 local authorities will begin receiving the money, with pupils aged four and five the first to get their free lunches. 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes New vision to secure a bright future for Wales’ retail sector

 Mike Hedges MS welcomes New vision to secure a bright future for Wales’ retail sector 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, Local Swansea East MS. Mike Hedges said…. ‘ I welcome this announcement because the retail sector is vital to the Welsh and Swansea Economy and we need to make sure that it is an attractive sector for people to work in and that people feel valued when working in the retail sector. This plan sets out ambitious plans for Retailers, Welsh Government and Trade Unions to work together to ensure a better future for the retail sector.  

I would urge everyone to value and respect retail workers who are there to ensure your safety at their place of work; please treat them with courtesy and respect.’ 

• new vision sets out how the Welsh Government, the retail sector and trade unions will work together to develop a successful, innovative, sustainable and resilient sector 

• retail is Wales’ biggest private sector employer, providing jobs to more than 114,000 people across the country 

• vision sets out ambitions to ensure retail remains at the heart of Welsh communities by offering people fair work and real career opportunities 

• includes measures to help the sector overcome workforce recruitment and retention challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU, alongside the impact on operating costs and consumer habits caused by the cost-of-living crisis. 

The shared strategic vision for the retail sector sets out how the Welsh Government, the sector and trade unions will work together in social partnership to ensure retail has a bright and sustainable future in Wales, which provides fair and rewarding career opportunities for its current and future workers. 

The retail sector is hugely important to the Welsh economy. It is Wales’ largest private sector employer, providing jobs to more than 114,000 people, contributing 6% of Wales’ GVA. 

The Welsh Government values the jobs, goods, community services and benefits the sector provides. Ministers are committed to working with partners to support a sustainable and prospering retail sector that remains at the heart of Welsh communities, which offers people fair work and real career opportunities. 

The changing face of our town centres is vital to retail and in turn our town centres need a successful and resilient retail sector.  

The vision outlines the major challenges facing the sector, and defines the key areas where action is needed. 

These include: 

• improving career opportunities within retail, with a commitment to progressively improving pay, terms and conditions beyond statutory minimums, ideally through collective bargaining 

• greater job security, particularly in ensuring workers being offered guaranteed hours and sufficient notice of changes in shift patterns. 

• retail becoming an exemplar of workforce equality, diversity and inclusion – with proactive steps taken to address under-representation, occupational segregation and pay gaps 

• ensuring fair working conditions and a safe working environment, with retail workers having an effective voice in decisions that affect them and their working conditions 

• ensuring Wales’ town centres and high streets are thriving, through interventions such as investment, including ‘Transforming Towns’ regeneration investment, support for non-domestic rates and, through the Welsh Government’s Town Centre First approach, making these settings the preferred location for workplaces and services 

• addressing skills shortages. Building on the Welsh Government’s Plan for Employability and Skills and in partnership with the sector and trades unions, Ministers are committed to helping to provide the sector with a future-proofed workforce. The plan sets out actions to both upskill existing workers and attract new entrants to the sector 

• helping retailers to seize the opportunities of decarbonisation and digitalisation by, for example, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels, minimising the carbon footprint of their supply chains and investing in and maximising the potential use of digital technology. 

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething and Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn, are jointly launching the vision today during a visit to independent bookshop, Storyville and Boots the Chemist in Pontypridd town centre.