Mike Hedges MS MS says Keep Electrically Safe this Christmas! #ChristmasSafe

 

Mike Hedges MS MS says Keep Electrically Safe this Christmas! #ChristmasSafe

 

During the busy festive season we decorate the house with bright lights, cook big meals and enjoy new electrical gadgets, both Christmas gifts and sale bargains.

 

Mike Hedges MS has today reminded constituents in Swansea East about the need to ensure electrical safety at Christmas and throughout the rest of the year too.

 

Mike Hedges MS said “I back Electrical Safety First’s top tips this year for keeping my constituents safe when they are using electricity across the Christmas period. Even though we should think electrical safety throughout the year, we need to be extra careful at Christmas as it is there is often so much going on, it’s easy to get distracted.”

 

Electrical Safety First has put together some simple tips to help keep you safe:

 

·         Even Christmas lights need a break – switch them off when you’re not there to enjoy them.

 

·         Don’t get distracted when you’re cooking Christmas dinner – with half of house fires starting in the kitchen, it’s more than the turkey that’s at risk of burning.

 

·         Don’t overload sockets and try to avoid the use of extension leads or adaptors.

 

·         If you’ve got a new electrical gadget for Christmas that needs charging, don’t rely on a cheap, unbranded charger or leave it charging unattended.

 

·         Make sure you buy your presents and your sale bargains from retailers you trust – remember, if that bargain looks too good to be true, then it probably is!

 

 

To find out more about staying safe during the festive season, visit:  www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/Christmas

 

 

 

Transforming Towns programme to provide funding boost for towns and businesses across Wales.

 

Transforming Towns programme to provide funding boost for towns and businesses across Wales.   Speaking from his Morriston Office, local MS, Mike Hedges said… ‘I welcome this announcement as local shopping centres such as Morriston are vital components of our communities. We know that they are under pressure because of both city centre and out of town drive through outlets. We need to retain local shopping centres and promote them. I would urge everyone who has a business in a small shopping Centre to look at this funding to see if they are eligible. If people need assistance please contact my office.’ Welsh Labour's Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn has announced a £10m funding boost for town centres, under the £90m Transforming Towns programme, to support businesses and increase vibrancy and footfall in towns across Wales. The loan scheme will support local authorities to reduce the number of vacant, under-utilised and redundant sites and premises in town centres by providing interest free loans to redevelop or refurbish sites.  The properties will be redeveloped as shops, homes and leisure facilities, with loans being recycled up to three times over a 15 year period. Once repaid they can be used again to fund new loans and be re-invested in similar projects. As part of the Welsh Government’s overall investment of £41.6m previous successful projects include Tramshed in Cardiff, Tŷ Castell in Caernarfon and the Magistrates court in Newtown. The Tramshed in Grangetown Cardiff, which acts as a hub for other local businesses and has fully repaid it’s loan of £500,000, used the funding to create hundreds of jobs, accommodated 25 enterprises, created 7,500 sq ft of business space, supported over 40 community events annually, and increased footfall by 25,000 people per year. This funding is part of the Welsh Government’s total investment of £900m for regeneration projects alongside key partners. You can read more about this announcement here.

 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes news that Wales announces largest ever flu vaccine programme

Mike Hedges MS welcomes news that  Wales announces largest ever flu vaccine programme   Speaking from his Morriston Office, Local MS Mike Hedges said… ‘ I welcome the news that the Welsh Government is going to be funding the largest ever flu vaccination program in Wales. The crucial thing now is going to be to encourage people to actually have the vaccination as in the past take up of the vaccine’s on offer for flu has been sluggish.   PLEASE IF OFFERED A VACCINE, ATTEND AND GET VACCINATED’ Wales largest-ever flu campaign, which will see more people benefit from the free flu vaccine programme has been announced this week by Welsh Labour's Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething MS. The potential for co-circulation of COVID-19 at the same time will make this year’s flu vaccination programme even more vital. Alongside extending the programme it’s important that those in the existing eligible groups including those aged over 65 years, pregnant women and people with medical conditions are vaccinated first. Increasing uptake in health and social care workers will also be a key priority this season. Subject to confirmation by the UK Government, that additional vaccine supply will be available, those who will additionally be included in this year’s flu programme include: households of people in the shielded group lowering the eligibility age from 65 to over 50-year-olds – who will be vaccinated in a phased approach The NHS will get in contact with those who are eligible. You can read more about this announcement here.

Mike Hedges welcomes news that Use of wild animals in circuses to be banned in Wales after Bill passed.

Mike Hedges welcomes news that Use of wild animals in circuses to be banned in Wales after Bill passed.   Speaking from his Morriston Office, Swansea East MS, Mike Hedges said… ‘ I am really pleased that this Bill has now passed through the Senedd and is about to become law. While we all remember going to see Circus as children, we cant really justify the use of animals for live performances in the 21st century. Animals belong in the wild and not in the circus ring and this law will go a long way to ensure that this will be the case in Wales after December 1st.’   A Bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Wales has been passed by the Senedd. The Bill was introduced just over a year ago, following a consultation which saw thousands of members of the public make their views known. There were more than 6,500 responses to the public consultation on the draft Bill, with 97% of respondents supporting the introduction of a ban. Third sector organisations have also overwhelmingly lobbied for the ban. Subject to Royal Assent, the ban will come into force on December 1. You can read more about the announcement here.

 

 

Mike Hedges AM Welcomes legislation that exempts care leavers from Council Tax

Mike Hedges AM Welcomes legislation that exempts care leavers from Council Tax

This week the Welsh Labour Government laid the necessary legislation before the Assembly, to exempt care leavers from paying council tax. The changes will come into force from 1 April 2019.

A local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM, supported the plan to exempt care leavers under 25 from paying council tax.

The Welsh Labour Government had previously consulted the public on the plans, with over 90% of respondents expressing their support for the proposals.

The principle of exempting care leavers from paying council tax has been widely accepted for some time, but the level of support available to care leavers across Wales has been inconsistent.  

The new legislation is the latest in a series of measures designed to make council tax fairer in Wales – a key Welsh Labour commitment. 

Mike Hedges AM said… “Welsh Labour are committed to making Council Tax fairer and this legislation is about making that happen.  I was proud to back these plans”

“This is about supporting care leavers and supporting their successful transition into adulthood and independent living.”

“There are many other discounts, reductions and exemptions available and I would encourage everyone to check the Welsh Government website to see if they could be paying less council tax.”

End

Mike Hedges AM urges people to avoid burst pipes

• Costly burst could leave homes without water or heating at coldest time of the year
• Research reveals that more than half of households in England and Wales admitted to not protecting their pipes.
• One in five water customers have no idea what to do if a pipe freezes in their home.

With winter upon us, Mike Hedges is supporting a campaign reminding customers to protect their pipes from the effects of freezing temperatures.

Mike Hedges fully supports  Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s ‘Wrap Up’ campaign which reminds customers to make sure water pipes in their homes and businesses are protected to avoid the disruption and expense frozen pipes can cause.

Severe cold weather, as we saw in the area back in March, can cause water pipes to freeze and burst – leaving homes and businesses with no water, low pressure or even flooding.

Frozen water expands and can crack even the strongest pipe. You may not notice this immediately, and only know you have a problem when the cracked pipe thaws and water starts leaking from it. Urgent and expensive repairs are then needed to fix the problem.

Customers can protect their pipes with inexpensive insulation or lagging kits, which are available from local homeware or DIY stores.

Businesses, schools and buildings like community centres or chapels are particularly vulnerable to burst pipes during the winter. This is because they are often empty for days, meaning a burst pipe – inside or outside the building – can go unnoticed and cause huge volumes of water to leak and flood.

When a problem occurs on pipes in homes it is the responsibility of the homeowner or landlord – therefore it’s worth taking time to check they are well insulated.  

Mike Hedges said: “Frozen pipes which burst can cause unnecessary inconvenience and expense, which is distressing,  however this can be easily avoided by taking a few moments to check and protect the pipes.”

“I’m pleased join Welsh Water in reminding people living in Swansea to take note of the advice of the campaign and make sure they don’t get caught out by pipes freezing in their homes or businesses this winter.”

Ian Christie, Welsh Water’s Managing Director of Water Services said: “Over the winter, our team will be working 24/7 to keep things flowing, but we also need a little help from our customers, by making sure their homes and businesses are ready for winter. 

“So, please take a minute to insulate any outdoor pipes or taps or taps in a cold place like a loft or garage, fix any dripping taps, make sure you know where your stop tap is, and keep the number of a qualified plumber handy in case the worst happens. We’ve got lots of more advice and how-to videos on dwrcymru.com/coldweather”.

January is love your liver Month

January is love your liver Month

Your liver is the biggest organ inside your body; in adults, it is about the size of a rugby ball.

It carries out hundreds of essential jobs that keep your body working. It cleans the blood by removing poisons and other toxic substances, including alcohol and harmful drugs. It makes vital proteins that help stop you bleeding when you are cut or injured; processes food once it has been digested; regulates fat breakdown and distribution into the bloodstream, and stores sugars, vitamins and minerals. The liver also gives you the energy to do every day tasks. On top of all of this, the liver has the ability to repair itself. However, this is limited; continuous  injury can lead to permanent scarring and eventually to it not working at all. Injury can occur without you even knowing; your liver has no nerve endings, which means you may not notice any symptoms for some time.

Mike Hedges AM urges everyone to follow these top tips for looking after your liver and it doesn’t have to be difficult! •  Enjoy more fruit and veg and avoid sugary drinks. •  Exercise regularly to burn the fat off your liver and other organs. •  Take 2-3 consecutive days off alcohol a week, to let your liver cells recover and repair themselves.

Liver disease is now the fifth largest cause of death in the UK. The good news is that most forms of liver disease can be prevented or reversed.

MIKE HEDGES AM URGES PEOPLE TO RESPECT COMMUNUITY LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT

MIKE HEDGES AM URGES PEOPLE TO RESPECT COMMUNUITY LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT

Speaking after the recent incident where life saving equipment located in a Bonymaen Park in memory of a local player who died after a match was stolen, Local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM said… this is a terrible situation for the local community; this equipment is there to save lives and was located here in memory of a lad who died following a heart attack during a game. The local community worked with Cariad to locate a defibrillator in this location because of its special significance. It is simply awful that this piece of life saving equipment has been stolen. I would urge people to respect this type of equipment – I know that there are similar defibrillators in places such as Birchgrove RFC and I hope that this is not the start of a trends where these get targeted by vandals. If anyone knows anything about this incident I would urge them to contact the local police.

Note

A defibrillator placed at Bonymaen Park in Swansea in memory of local footballer Mitchell Joseph has been stolen.

The cabinet it was in has been damaged too.

Defib charity Cariad is urging anyone with information to contact its team.

Mitchell , a full-back with St Joseph’s AFC collapsed during a match and later died at Morriston Hospital.

AM says “choose respect”

Mike Hedges AM is supporting anti bullying week, 12-16 of November.  This year the organisers are encouraging everyone to ‘Choose Respect.” Encouraging people treat each other with respect. 

The Assembly Member is asking residents to be particularly mindful of how they speak to each other online.

Bullying can have an impact on people of all ages in school, in the workplace and online. 

This week we also celebrate World Kindness day.  Treating people with kindness and respect can make huge difference to how people feel

Mike Hedges “The consequences for the victims of bullying are demoralising, relentless and can be life changing.”

“Anti-bullying week helps to highlight the different organisations out there for people to get support from. If you are being bullied – please speak with someone you can trust”

“If you witness bullying please speak out”

“Remember bullying is not only done by children, adults do it as well often in the work environment”

“Let’s take a stand against bullying ‘Choose respect’ and say ‘NO’ to bullies.”

Mike Hedges AM welcomes Positive parenting campaign which was launched this week

Mike Hedges AM welcomes Positive parenting campaign which was launched this week

A local AM, Mike Hedges, is urging parents to find out more about a new resource that promotes positive parenting. The ‘Parenting. Give it time’ campaign promotes the benefits of positive parenting approaches to help parents manage challenging periods in a child’s development.

Positive parenting techniques are the most effective ways of managing difficult behaviour and help parents develop good relationships with their children

The campaign provides a dedicated website, Facebook page and printed resources offering tips and information for parents. 

From birth, these include:

·         take time to model the behaviour you want to see

·         make time for praise

·         take time for love and affection

·         make time to listen, talk and play

·         between the ages of 2 to 7, make time to set boundaries and routines to your day.

The campaign is part of the wider support for parents and is being launched ahead of the Welsh Government introducing legislation to ban the physical punishment of children in Wales.

Mike Hedges AM said….. “It’s not easy being a parent, children do not come with instructions.  The 'Parenting - Give It Time' campaign is a great helping hand to parents and well worth taking a look at.”

“It is about positive parenting and gives advice on situations that every parent will recognise.  Positive parenting techniques are known to assist children to become confident and happy and help children to understand boundaries.”

“The Welsh Government are committed children’s rights and ensuring every child in Wales grows up in an environment that allows them to have the very best start in life.  This campaign is about supporting parents to achieve that outcome.”

MIKE HEDGES AM ASKS MINISTER TO CONSIDER USING BOTTLE DEPOSIT SCHEME TO ENCOURAGE REUSE OF PLASTIC BOTTLES

MIKE HEDGES AM ASKS MINISTER TO CONSIDER USING BOTTLE DEPOSIT SCHEME TO ENCOURAGE REUSE OF PLASTIC BOTTLES

Speaking after Questions to the Welsh Government Environment Minister Hanna Bleddyn, Mike Hedges AM said…. ‘When I was a child everyone took pop bottles back to the shop because of the 5p or later 10p return on the bottle – the bottle had value – as I said in my question, people feel plastic bottles have no value so therefore they are more likely to throw them away. It is time to bring back the deposit on a bottle so there is an extra incentive to encourage reuse of the bottle – it worked in the past and I sure it will be a success again’

Mike Hedges AM - Since devolution, there has been an increase in our municipal recycling rate from 5 per cent to 64 per cent, which is phenomenal. It's driven by policy, but can I say, it's driven more by landfill tax, so it has put pressure on local authorities to ensure that they do recycle?349

Recycling is, of course, only one of the three Rs to reduce waste into landfill. The others are 'reduce' and 'reuse' and I believe the other two are more important. Which is environmentally the better: use one plastic bottle 10 times or recycle 10 plastic bottles? The latter improves recycling rates. I would suggest that the former was environmentally much better, and I think that is an important point.350

Those who create their own compost do not count against recycling, although, obviously, they're recycling and they're cutting down on the amount of energy used to move things to be recycled. I speak as someone who is very much in favour of not just a deposit-return scheme, but one where you actually reuse the bottles afterwards. Those of us from the Corona pop age group will be well aware of taking a bottle back and getting 5p or 10p—it worked. I think it is important that—. Plastic, too often, has no value, and that's why people are quite happy to throw it away. You wander around football grounds and other parks and you'll see plastic bottles being thrown because they're of no value. I think that we need a deposit-return scheme.351

I also think that we ought to bring in some form of tax to level the playing field between glass and plastic. When I went to buy a bottle of vinegar a few weeks ago and it came in a plastic bottle, I was somewhere between amazed and surprised. The question is: should we be measuring recycling, or should we be measuring residual waste for incineration and landfill? Isn't that a better indication of how well we're doing? And would the Minister agree that that would be a better measure of environmental success, because otherwise we're penalising the reusers and we're penalising the reducers?352

17:05

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Hanna Blethyn AM  - I thank Mike Hedges for his contribution and the insight into different vinegar bottles in the local supermarket. You raise a very important point with that anecdote as well, and the importance of the three Rs in the waste hierarchy. Recycling is at one end, and we've got reduce and reuse before that, which is why the emphasis on a circular economy is so important, and the number of reuse organisations that we're supporting is expanding across Wales. You referred back to the days of Corona pop. I think I'm just about old enough to remember it, although I don't think it's the right public health message when I said I was allowed to keep the change to buy a 10p pick-and-mix bag in the shop. But you said about the DRS and the opportunities, potentially, there to incentivise people to collect bottles, or that you hear tales from elsewhere in Europe where they have got DRS, where enterprising young people, particularly after large major events, go and collect the bottles and then return them to wherever the product return facility is, and get the tokens or the receipts back for it. So, the Member raises very important and valid contributions, which I'm sure will be considered.

Beat flu this winter, urges Mike Hedges AM

Beat flu this winter, urges Mike Hedges AM

Vaccination is the single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza (flu), a potentially life threatening illness

The annual NHS Wales Beat Flu campaign, which encourages everyone eligible for flu vaccination to get protected, is now underway.

The free vaccine is being made more widely available to now include all primary school children and pre-schoolers aged two and three. For the first time the vaccine is also being offered to staff with regular client contact working in residential care and nursing homes this winter.

Annual flu vaccination is the best protection against catching or spreading flu, a potentially life-threatening infection. Every year over two thirds of those aged 65 and over and almost half of people in at-risk groups in Wales get their flu jab.

Over 820,000 flu vaccines were given by NHS Wales last year. 

Mike Hedges  AM, Assembly Member for Swansea East  is urging people to take advantage of the free vaccine on offer: “I have had the flu and was very ill, I lost a week of my life,  it is not a heavy cold it is a serious disease”

Developments for this year include:

·         All primary school children are now eligible for a free nasal spray flu vaccine, as well as children aged two and three years (age on 31 August 2018).

·         Staff in adult care homes who have regular contact with residents can have a free NHS flu vaccine at many community pharmacies. This will help protect care home residents who are more vulnerable to complications from flu and reduce the spread of flu.

·         To improve effectiveness different flu vaccines recommended for different age groups are being introduced this year. Delivery of supplies of certain flu vaccines to GP practices and community pharmacies will be staggered between September and November. Some people may be asked to wait until the most effective vaccine for them is available. It’s planned that everyone will be offered vaccination before mid-December when flu typically starts to circulate.

Pregnant women, people with long-term health conditions and everyone aged 65 and over are also eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination, along with unpaid carers and first aid volunteers. All health and social care staff with direct patient or client contact are also recommended to have the vaccine to protect themselves and those they care for. They can ask their occupational health department or employer about where and when to get their vaccine.  

Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Each year new flu viruses circulate, causing many people to be ill and some to face life-threatening complications. And flu vaccines are changed each year to try to match the flu viruses circulating in order to give the best protection.

“Last winter there were 2,680 patients with confirmed flu in hospitals – 192 in intensive care units. As well as the impact on these individuals, this places an additional pressure on the health service at a busy time of year.

“People with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems are over ten times more likely to suffer severe outcomes from influenza and we want to see even more people protected this year.”

While most NHS flu vaccines are given in GP surgeries, it is also available for adults in many community pharmacies across Wales.

Flu is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms generally come on suddenly, and can include fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches and fatigue.

Flu is spread via droplets which are sprayed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Direct contact with contaminated hands or surfaces can also spread infection. It can spread rapidly, especially in closed communities such as hospitals, residential homes and schools.

Find out more by visiting www.beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org or finding Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on Twitter and Facebook.

ENDS

Editor’s notes

This year, the vaccination programme has been extended to include all children of primary school age (reception class through to year 6) as well as two and three year olds. In 2017-18 flu vaccine uptake in two and three year olds was 50.2%, and in children aged between four and eight years it was 68.3%.

For the first time this year, staff who work in adult residential care homes and nursing homes who are in regular contact with residents will be eligible for the free vaccine via community pharmacies. Staff working in children’s hospices in Wales will also be offered the vaccine as part of the scheme.

Last year in Wales, uptake of flu vaccine in clinical risk groups (ages 6 months – 64 years) was 48.5%.

Vaccine uptake in those aged 65 and over was 68.8% in Wales last year.

For more information visit www.beatflu.org

About Public Health Wales

Public Health Wales is an NHS organisation providing professionally independent public health advice and services to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales.

Public Health Wales has four statutory functions:

• To provide and manage a range of public health, health protection, healthcare improvement, health advisory, child protection and microbiological laboratory services and services relating to the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases;
• To develop and maintain arrangements for making information about matters related to the protection and improvement of health in Wales available to the public; to undertake and commission research into such matters and to contribute to the provision and development of training in such matters;
• To undertake the systematic collection, analysis and dissemination of information about the health of the people of Wales in particular including cancer incidence, mortality and survival; and prevalence of congenital anomalies; and
• To provide, manage, monitor, evaluate and conduct research into screening of health conditions and screening of health related matters.
• More information on Public Health Wales is available at www.publichealthwales.org

Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges asks for further testing of Mud to be dumped in Bristol Channel near Cardiff.

Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges asks for further testing of Mud to be dumped in Bristol Channel near Cardiff.

Speaking after the Senedd Debate, Mike Hedges said…. I have been contacted by many constituents expressing concerns about the dumping of mud from the Hinkley C construction site. We have had a lot of conflicting opinions about whether or not the mud is radioactive, and if the right tests were used. I have therefore asked for the testing undertaken to undergo peer review by other scientists so that we can establish a correct picture. Failure of EDF to make the mud available for independent testing is very disappointing

Mike Hedges AM - I'll be very brief. I don't know if the mud is safe. It has been tested, and we've had the results of that testing. What I do know is that the public are not assured that it is safe.418

EDF offered me a briefing three times last week. Each time I asked that the mud be made available to bona fide academics to re-test. Each time that request was ignored. I wish once again, in public, to request that EDF make that mud available to bona fide academics. Science is a wonderful thing. If two people test the same sample, they'll come out with the same results within the margin of error. Scientists don't make up results. It would destroy their credibility as scientists if they did make up results and those results were so out of sync with everybody else who is producing results. So, what we want is to make people believe that it's safe. Have a peer review. Everything is peer reviewed. Why can this not be? I think I'll ask again, and hope that EDF will make that mud available to bona fide academics to peer review it. If the results produced by Cefas are correct, and I have no reason to think they're not, then exactly the same results will be produced by every other scientist who tests it. So that, I think, might give more reassurance to the public than they have at the moment.

MIKE HEDGES AM ASKS CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE TO CONSIDER DEFINNG EXPENDETURE WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO LONG TERM GOOD

MIKE HEDGES AM ASKS CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE TO CONSIDER DEFINNG EXPENDETURE WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO LONG TERM GOOD

Speaking after the Senedd Question Time to Mark Drakeford, Mike said….. I have long argued that it is better to spend money to prevent something than to deal with something after it has occurred, when it often costs more to remedy. Health expenditure is a good example of this and I strongly believe that more should be put into primary care such as provided by GP’s as opposed to Hospital services when you are often dealing with a problem which might have been avoided if managed earlier.

I made this point to the Minister at Question Time and a meeting I Chaired this morning with the BMA which allowed Assembly Members to have an update on GP services in Wales. Type 2 Diabetes was given as an exemplar of a condition where most hospitalisations could be prevented with better management of the condition at an earlier stage and the condition avoided all together through life style changes before medical intervention becomes necessary. Better resourced Primary Care would provide better quality of life for patients and reduce the need for expensive hospital treatment later on.

Mike Hedges AM  - Does the Cabinet Secretary accept that it is difficult to define preventative spend? For example, spending on home social care is preventative of needing residential care and hospital care. Expenditure on GPs is also preventative of hospital care. Would it not be better to define the expenditure as that which provides long-term good?9

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I thank Mike Hedges for that supplementary question. He will know that, when I was in front of the Finance Committee last week, I set out the new agreed definition that we have used in this budget of what we mean by 'preventative spend', a definition developed by the third sector and Public Health Wales in consultation with the commissioner for the well-being of future generations Act. And it's not perfect, I'm sure, and we'll develop it further, but it is a genuine step forward in having a common language. That divides what we mean by 'preventative spend' into a number of categories, from primary to acute. Any definition only helps us so far in the decisions we have to make, and Mike Hedges's idea of defining expenditure against long-term good, I can well see the sense that that would bring. By itself, it would not avoid decision making.10

Dirprwy Lywydd, I was reminded, listening to that supplementary question, of a day that I spent when I was health Minister. I had two pieces of advice on the table. One was to use a sum of money that would have made a profound difference in the lives of very few people in Wales—fewer than 20 people, each one of them at a very high cost per person. On the same day, I had advice that told me how I could spend the same amount of money on a new cadre of, as I remember, epilepsy nurses around Wales—people who would have been able to do good things in the lives of a far larger number of people but where that difference would have been incremental to services that they provided rather than transformative. Both of those were possibilities that would have promoted long-term good. So, whatever definitions we have, and helpful as they can be, in the end they can't make decisions for us, and decisions are always difficult when you are faced with a finite sum of money and many different ways in which that money could be usefully spent.

Mike Hedges AM asks for statement on Digitalisation Program for the Public Sector in Wales.

Mike Hedges AM asks for statement on Digitalisation Program for the Public Sector in Wales.

Speaking after the Plenary, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges said… I have long supported the Digitalisation Program of the Welsh Government and across the Welsh Public Sector. It is important that we receive statements on its progress so that we can clarify where things are going well –and publicise them – and check where things are not going so well so we can identify solutions. I look forward to the Ministers Statement in the near future.

Questions to the Government Business Manager 9 October 2018

Mike Hedges AM - I would like to ask for two statements. One is a Government statement providing an update on Welsh Government support and progress with the digitisation programme across the whole of the Welsh public sector

Julie James AM - In terms of digitisation, I am actually planning to make a statement on digital transformation sometime before Christmas, so I'll make sure that that gets timetabled accordingly.

Mike Hedges AM asks for oral statement re Closure of Virgin Media and Actions being taken.

Mike Hedges AM asks for oral statement re Closure of Virgin Media and Actions being taken.

Speaking after Plenary, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges said… ‘I am grateful for the written statement which we received yesterday. I welcome the support given to workers are the site. The Task Force is positive development but I remain concerned about some actions by the company. As members however, we need to have the opportunity to ask Questions of the Minister and I welcome the Government Business Manager agreement to discuss an oral statement with the relevant cabinet member’

Questions to the Business Manager

Mike Hedges AM I know we had a written statement from the Cabinet Secretary yesterday regarding Virgin Media closure and action being taken, but I would like to ask if we could have an oral statement on it for me and, I'm sure, you and other Members representing the area. The loss of what is the best part of 900 jobs is a substantial blow to the area. I would hope that we could have an oral question or statement to give us an opportunity to ask questions of the Cabinet Secretary over an issue that is, to you, like myself, a very important one.

Julie James AM - Yes. I will certainly discuss with the Cabinet Secretary the possibility of that, or of how we could communicate where we are with the taskforce on Virgin Media. I share the Member's concern about the actions of the company and some of the stories that are happening there. So, I'll certainly have that discussion with the Cabinet Secretary to see how we can best facilitate those discussions and public information on that.

Mike Hedges AM shows support for smart meter revolution

PRESS RELEASE

Mike Hedges AM shows support for smart meter revolution

Mike Hedges AM is urging local people in Swansea East to contact their energy supplier to get a smart meter fitted in their homes at no extra cost, so they can take control of how much energy they are using.

Mike Hedges AM said he was looking forward to seeing more smart meters installed across his local constituency after he heard about the benefits of the new technology from Smart Energy GB at Tŷ Hywel in Cardiff Bay.

As part of the event, and following on from International Coffee Day earlier this week, Smart Energy GB demonstrated that if everyone in Wales had a smart meter installed by their energy supplier at no extra cost, we could save enough energy to fuel the nation’s coffee drinking habits.

The typical annual energy savings from having a smart meter installed could save a single household enough energy to make 20,000 cups of instant coffee a year.

With more than 12 million smart meters already installed across Great Britain, Mike Hedges AM is looking forward to seeing this new technology in more and more homes across Swansea East.

Commenting on smart meters and the national rollout, Mike Hedges AM said:

“By getting a smart meter from your energy supplier at no extra cost, you’ll be able to see in pounds and pence how much gas and electricity you’re using not just to make your coffee, but also on every appliance within your home, helping you to identify where you’re wasting energy. 

“This means that you can save your energy and money for the things that you enjoy - like even more coffee.”

-ENDS-

N.B. Calculations undertaken by Smart Energy GB and available upon request

About the survey

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1,003 adults, of which 187 were from North Wales. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 17th September 2018.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Welsh adults (aged 18+).

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to get their gas and electricity under control. Our national campaign is reaching households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website smartenergyGB.org

About smart meters and the rollout

Smart meters replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They enable accurate bills, near real time information on energy use in pounds and pence, and greater control over the way we buy and use energy. The smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain’s energy infrastructure.

There are already more than 12 million smart meters installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Every household in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered one at no extra cost. Contact your energy supplier about getting your smart meter.

Smart Energy GB media contacts

For more information including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, infographics, photography and video content please contact the Smart Energy GB media team:

Helen Croney: helen.croney@smartenergygb.org 0131 322 6204 / 07921 458 041