MIKE HEDGES AM CALLS ON WELSH GOVERNMENT TO BAN NEW INCINERATORS FOR NON MEDICAL WASTE

MIKE HEDGES AM CALLS ON WELSH GOVERNMENT TO BAN NEW INCINERATORS FOR NON MEDICAL WASTE

Speaking after the Plenary session at the Assembly, Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges said… ‘I live in an area with high asthma rates and high rates of other respiratory diseases. Some of the schools in my constituency have the highest incidents of childhood asthma in Swansea and the figures are rising all of the time. Improving air quality ought to be a no brainer; one way to do this would be to ban any development of new incinerator facilities, especially ones which burn plastic, building waste and unpleasant products. Science changes, and  if we discover in future years that PM2.5s and PM10s cause more damage than we now realise, it will be too late for the health of people with respiratory diseases, better to stop the development of incinerators now.’

16:40

Mike Hedges AM 16:40:19

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I welcome the statement. One of the problems we have is that PM2.5s and PM10s cannot be seen, but they do damage to lungs by irritating and corroding the alveolar wall and, consequently, impair lung function. We need clean air. Will the Minister, in conjunction with ministerial colleagues, consider the following: banning new incinerators except for medical incinerators to deal with pathogens; produce plans to reduce air pollution in areas such as Hafod and Fabian Way in Swansea, where it is not the speed limit but the slow-moving and stationary vehicles that are causing the problem; and, finally, banning the burning of waste by individuals in their gardens, which often includes plastics and other items that do serious damage to the air? 295

Lesley Griffiths AM 16:41:04

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I'm certainly very happy to have those discussions with a range of ministerial colleagues. Clearly, air quality is a matter across Government, and it's certainly discussed in Cabinet. But I will look at all those issues and write to you further

Mike Hedges AM welcomes new legislation introduced to provide further quality in Welsh health and social care

 Mike Hedges AM welcomes new legislation introduced to provide further quality in Welsh health and social care

A new Bill which aims to improve quality and public engagement in health and social care will officially be introduced to the National Assembly for Wales by Health and Social Services Minister Vaughan Gething today.

Speaking after the introduction of the Bill, Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges said… ‘I welcome this new bill; it is important that we have openness and transparency in the operation of the Health Service. This Bill puts this on a firm legislative footing which can only be a good thing. I also support the closer integration of Health and Social Care which this bill brings a step closer. There is much to be commended in this bill, and I will look forward to supporting it as it progresses through the Senedd.’

The Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Bill will embed a system-wide approach to quality in health for future generations. This will be achieved by reframing and broadening the existing duty of quality on NHS bodies, and placing an overarching duty on the Welsh Ministers in relation to their health service functions. This will ensure that when they make a decision they actively consider if it secures improvement in quality and outcomes.

Through the establishment of an organisational duty of candour, the Bill will support a culture of openness, transparency and candour that is widely associated with good quality care and further ensure NHS organisations are open and honest with patients and service users when things go wrong. 

Its introduction builds on the work that has already been undertaken for transparency amongst NHS bodies in Wales, and supports an environment that is consistently learning and improving, whilst maintaining the trust and confidence of patients and service users.

The Bill will also see the creation of a new independent citizen voice body, which will replace the current Community Health Councils. This single body will represent the voice of the public and provide complaints advice and assistance for individuals in relation to their health and social care experience. 

This reflects the aims of the Welsh Governments plan ‘A Healthier Wales’ by supporting the drive towards closer integration of health and social care and putting people’s voices at the heart of the design, delivery and improvement of services.  

The Bill will also give Ministers the opportunity to appoint a Vice Chair on NHS Trust boards if they consider it appropriate to ensure consistency across Local Health Boards and Trusts, and strengthen leadership and governance arrangements.

Protect over 75s free TV licence” says Mike Hedges AM

“Protect over 75s free TV licence” says Mike Hedges AM

Swansea East local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM is backing a UK wide campaign to protect free TV licenses for over 75s. 

Mike Hedges AM is extremely “angry” that the Tory Government has broken its promise to older people, having promised in 2017 to keep the TV licence free for everyone over 75. 

159,280 households in Wales will be hit by the changes including 3120 households in Swansea East.  

Mike Hedges AM said

“I am really angry with the Tories about this, older people from Swansea East have already been in touch, worried about the impact on their finances.”

“These residents are on fixed incomes and will be hit hard by these cuts.”

“I urge everyone to support the campaign to stop this Tory cut”

Support the campaign here https://action.labour.org.uk/page/s/tv-licence

Speaking during First Ministers questions about TV licence cuts, Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Mark Drakeford said:

“A pretty dark day for those families, where in future many of them will get no help at all.”

End

MIKE HEDGES AM SPEAKS AT THE ASSEMBLY TO HIGHLIGHT WORK OF CALON LAN SOCIETY IN SWANSEA

MIKE HEDGES AM SPEAKS AT THE ASSEMBLY TO HIGHLIGHT WORK OF CALON LAN SOCIETY IN SWANSEA

Speaking at the Assembly during the period set aside for members to speak for 90 seconds on a topic of their choice, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges spoke about the work of the Calon Lan society in Swansea.

Speaking after the event, Mike Hedges AM said…. ‘Calon Lan is one of the great symbolic Welsh Hymns, known around the world; few people know much about Daniel James the writer, and the fact that the Hymn was written in Swansea. I therefore thought it appropriate to pay tribute to the band of volunteers who have come together to form a society in the memory of Daniel James and to organise and promote a series of events to commemorate his death in March 2020. I wish to pay tribute this group of local people for the time and effort they are putting into organising these festivities. I look forward to attending these events in the coming year.’

90 Second Statement 12 June 2019

Mike Hedges AM - I want to highlight the work of the Calon Lân Society in Swansea. The sixteenth of March 2020 is the hundredth anniversary of Daniel James, who was was better known as Gwyrosydd, the writer of one of, if not the favourite Welsh hymn, 'Calon Lân'. Daniel James came from Treboeth in Swansea. His father died when he was young. He became a puddler at Morriston ironworks, and then worked at Landore tinplate works.224

The recently formed Calon Lân Society are intending to hold a number of events and projects culminating in the publication of the complete poetical works of Daniel James and their translations into English. Also, on the centenary of his death on 16 March, it is intended to have a mass singing of 'Calon Lân' in iconic locations in Wales and worldwide, hopefully including the Senedd.225

Other projects include a memorial stone in the grounds of the King's Head public house where he wrote a number of hymns and poems, commemorative stained glass windows in the six local schools to Treboeth, poems and pints, which I'm sure best exemplifies him, and concerts to be held at Ysgol Gyfun Bryntawe and at capel Caersalem. 226

I thank the Calon Lân Society for what they are doing to commemorate the life of a working-class Welsh poet and hymnwriter from Treboeth in Swansea. 

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEWS THAT SWANSEA CENTRE FOR DEAF PEOPLE RECEIVED OVER £200 000 FROM NATIONAL LOTTERY

MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES NEWS THAT SWANSEA CENTRE FOR DEAF PEOPLE RECEIVED OVER £200 000 FROM NATIONAL LOTTERY

Swansea East AM Mike Hedges welcomed news that Swansea People for Deaf People have received a grant of over £200 000 from the National Lottery. I have done a lot of work with this group over the years and know the fantastic work they do for the deaf community in Swansea. I am sure that this money will make a huge contribution to their future work and I look forward to visiting the facility in the future to seeing this money at work.’

£ 219,000

The Swansea Centre For Deaf People 02.08.2018

Swansea Centre for Deaf People: Education & Learning Resources

The project, based in Swansea, will extend the Swansea Centre for Deaf People to provide additional space for education and social activities for its' members as well as the wider community. The facilities will include an IT studio, gym room/hall, ground floor kitchen, second floor classrooms and toilets with storage area.

Mike Hedges AM asks Welsh Government Minister what can be done to encourage Council House Building in Wales

Mike Hedges AM asks Welsh Government Minister what can be done to encourage Council House Building in Wales

Speaking from the Assembly, Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges AM said… There was a time when Swansea had over 16000 council houses, now it has well under half that; the need for social housing has not decreased however. Some of the council houses my generation grew up in remain some remain some of the best houses in Swansea. It is important that the Welsh Government encourages and does all that it can to assist Local Authorities to build houses again. I am so pleased that Swansea Council are building houses again and I was pleased to accompany the Minister on a visit to the new council house building site in Birchgrove, Swansea. These new energy efficient homes show what can be achieved and I hope that Swansea – and other local authorities – build with the same enthusiasm as was shown in the post war house building boom.

Mike Hedges AM - We know that only twice since the First World War have houses been built in the numbers necessary to meet demand. Once was in 1930 when there was very little control over development; I think that was what Mohammad Asghar was asking for earlier. And the second time was in the 1950s and 1960s when we had the large-scale building of council housing, and not only large-scale building of council housing but the necessary infrastructure to go with it. I wish to stress the importance of large-scale council house building to meet housing need; I believe it's the only way we actually are going to be able to meet the needs of housing, because it's not in the best interest of private developers to build sufficient because that would depress prices, and their aim is to maximise profit. So, they wish to increase prices as much as they possibly can. That's how Redrow made just under £400 million profit last year. What is the Government doing to enable this to occur?126

Julie James AM 14:28:57

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Julie James AM - I agree with Mike Hedges; I think we're on the same page entirely. Traditionally, local authorities were indeed the prime providers of social housing across the UK with, of course, the massive house building programme that came in the post-war period. And those houses are still very popular homes today for some of the most vulnerable residents in our communities. But the building programmes were curtailed by financial restraints imposed by the UK Government on Welsh and other local authorities, and that has largely meant that large-scale council housing has been severely limited for a generation; in fact, since Margaret Thatcher introduced the right to buy legislation back in the late 1980s.127

So, we do recognise the important role councils have in building new homes for local people, and I'm very enthused that we are potentially on the cusp of a new golden age for social housing in Wales. The Member, Mike Hedges, is completely right that the biggest increase in the scale and pace of social housing is expected to come from our local authorities, now they're able to build once again. The borrowing cap has finally been lifted by the UK Government, who've seen the light it seems, and there is an opportunity to turn council house building ambitions once more into results.128

I've just had the affordable housing supply review published, and I'll be responding to those recommendations shortly. That review specifically considers what support local authorities will need to help them build again at pace and scale. We are welcoming of both the review and the lifting of the cap. We want to work very fast now to see whether we can get a revolution in social housing once again in Wales

Mike Hedges AM welcomes the 20th Anniversary of Devolution by reflecting on its Impact on Education in Wales.

Mike Hedges AM welcomes the 20^th Anniversary of Devolution by reflecting on its Impact on Education in Wales.

Speaking in his Swansea East Constituency, Mike Hedges AM said… ‘20 years is a long time and when we think back to schools in the 1990s, we think of a school estate of crumbling buildings with a large number of classes of over 30 children. Since devolution there has been over £1.4 Billion invested in education and within my area of Swansea, we have had new secondary schools such Ysgol Bryntawe, new primary schools such as Burlais and Ysgol Lon Las, new facilities for programmes such as Flying Start, and the introduction of Free School Breakfasts.

The Welsh Labour Government is committed to giving children the best possible start in life; initiatives such as Flying start, the Breakfast clubs and the Foundation Phase all aim to focus on getting things right from the very start. Embedding children’s rights in to every area of our work ensures we never lose sight of the importance of children in our communities.

I look forward to seeing continued improvement in the lives of our children as we move forward to the next decades of devolved government.’

·         Free school breakfasts

·         The Foundation Phase, changing the way our children learn.

·         21^st Century Schools - the biggest investment in new school buildings since the 1960s. The first wave of funding provided though the Programme will see investment of more than £1.4 billion over the five year period ending 2019.  This will support the rebuild and refurbishment of over 150 schools and colleges across Wales. More than 100 schools have already been built or refurbished and a further 63 schemes are under construction or approved to proceed. A second phase of the programme will begin in 2019 bringing total investment to over £3.8bn.

·         Investing to reduce infant class sizes.

·         30 hours a week of government - funded early education and childcare for working parents of three and four year olds, for up to 48 weeks of the year.

• Introduced the Welsh Baccalaureate which gives broader experiences than traditional learning programmes, to suit the diverse needs of students.

·         Wales is consulting on new guidance for Relationships and Sexuality Education - It will better support schools in engaging with a range of important topic, including healthy relationships, domestic violence and LGBT issues.

·         Flying Start - provides services to children under the age of four in some of Wales’ most deprived postcode areas.

·         Children’s commissioner, first in the UK

·         Made the UNCRC law in Wales. This law is called the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011.

·         Introduced a Bill to remove the defence of reasonable punishment

·         Allocating an additional £12m to ensure that more young people will be in receipt of free school meals.

·         The most generous package of support for students anywhere in the UK.  Listening to the voices of students and the NUS.

Schools to get free sanitary products.