Mike Hedges AM hosts WPD event to celebrate the future of carbon-free energy in Wales

Press Release

Mike Hedges AM hosts WPD event to celebrate the future of carbon-free energy in Wales

12 November 2019 – In Cardiff last week, Mike Hedges, Assembly Member for Swansea East, hosted Ysgogi Cymru – Innovating to Net Zero – a reception by Western Power Distribution (WPD) in the National Assembly for Wales.

Attendees heard how WPD is leading the way towards affordable decarbonisation of the South Wales energy system through harnessing the latest low carbon technologies - playing its part to help achieve Wales’ net zero ambitions. WPD representatives showed Mike and other AMs how it is decarbonising the South Wales energy system, via targeted investments in infrastructure, smarter networks and the implementation of low carbon generation and technologies. Over 26 WPD innovation projects have taken place within South Wales and over £182 million has been invested into the region’s network over the past twelve months.

Mike also met some of the young Welsh people who are building skilled careers as WPD apprentices, joining an over 1,000 strong team keeping the lights on in South Wales. Members of the WPD community team were also in attendance to detail how the organisation is addressing fuel poverty and supporting vulnerable customers within its network area, highlighting WPD’s Priority Services Register.

Over 91,000 Swansea residents are potentially eligible for WPD’s Priority Services Register which provides vulnerable customers with extra support in the event of a power cut. However, only 65.2% of those potentially eligible are currently registered with the service.

Commenting on the event, Mike Hedges said: “It was fantastic to hear how WPD is working to facilitate a net-zero future in Wales and within Swansea. It is clear to see that WPD is taking an innovative approach to delivering affordable, low carbon energy and opportunities in South Wales. I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the South Wales energy system. I would also urge the residents of Swansea East to sign up to WPD’s priority services register if they qualify. It is important that as many vulnerable residents as possible receive the extra support they are entitled to if a power cut happens.

I hope that people in my Swansea East constituency will sign up to be on the priority register. If people would like more information please contact my office.

Sean Sullivan, WPD’s Network Services Manager for Wales stated: “Whether it is through getting the network electric vehicle ready, connecting renewable sources or developing more flexible networks, WPD is working hard to get Wales to net zero. I was pleased to discuss our vision with assembly members and I look forward to working with stakeholders in the coming years.”

For more information on WPD’s work please visit www.westernpower.co.uk/. WPD’s Priority Services Register is a free service which provides extra support to vulnerable customers in the event of a power cut. For more information on the service ring 0800 096 3080 or email wpdpriorityservices@westernpower.co.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information on WPD’s work visit www.westernpower.co.uk/.

WPD’s Priority Services Register is a free service which provides extra support to vulnerable customers in the event of a power cut. For more information on the service ring 0800 096 3080 or email wpdpriorityservices@westernpower.co.uk.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) is the distribution network operator for the Midlands, South West England and South Wales.

It is responsible for delivering electricity to approximately 7.9 million customers in the UK and committed to investing around £1 billion on its network annually.

WPD is not an electricity supply company and does not bill customers in the UK. Its responsibility is to distribute electricity to homes and businesses.

The distribution element makes up around 17% of an average customer’s annual bill which is around £100 or 27p a day.  

In a power cut, call 105 for free 24 hours a day.

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES WLESH GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING CHILD HUNGER IN WALES.

Speaking after First Minister’s question at The Senedd, Mike Hedges said…. ‘It is simply staggering that in 21^st century Wales, children go hungry in school holidays, yet that is the stark reality faced by many families across Wales and within my Swansea Constituency. How would the families supported by my colleague Carolyn Harris have managed if she had not worked so hard to provide lunches for children last summer? Parents would have been going hungry to feed their children; is this how we want children to grow up in Wales?

Dealing with the problem of child poverty and ensuring that every child has the best start in life must be the priority of the Welsh Government and I am pleased with the ongoing commitment to dealing with child poverty and childhood hunger outlined by the First Minister today. I would like him to go further however  and commit to funding breakfast clubs within the school holidays so that children get 2 good meals a day during the school holidays.’

Mike Hedges AM - Will the First Minister make a statement on efforts to reduce child poverty? OAQ54648

Mark Drakeford AM 14:21:26

First Minister of Wales

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I thank Mike Hedges for that. The Welsh Government’s efforts to reduce child poverty focus on those practical mitigating measures that lie in our hands and which leave money in the pockets of families who most need it.108

Mike Hedges AM 14:21:40

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Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Every summer, children go hungry. many parents lose 10 free meals per child per week when schools are closed. I would commend the work of my colleague Carolyn Harris, who fed well over 5,000 children during the summer in Swansea East, but that certainly was not getting to all those who were losing out on the free food. Will the First Minister cost a continuation of free school breakfasts across the summer holiday, and then look to fund it? This would be probably the best way of dealing with child poverty in Wales. 109

Mark Drakeford AM 14:22:12

First Minister of Wales

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I thank Mike Hedges for that very important question. It's a sobering fact, Llywydd, that we can hear a sentence in this Assembly that says 'every summer children go hungry here in Wales'. We surely ought not just to be willing to hear that as though it were a matter of course and something that we shouldn't do something about. Of course, I commend the work of Carolyn Harris in Swansea, which gained a lot of interest and attention over the summer of this year.110

Llywydd, there are over 61,000 children in Wales who are receiving a free breakfast in our primary schools at the census date at the start of this year. The funding has long gone into the revenue support grant, as we would expect it to do. In this Assembly term, our focus as a Government has been on the school holiday enrichment programme, SHEP. We funded it to the tune of £0.5 million in the first two years of this Assembly term. That rose to £900,000 in this financial year, and, when money is so scarce, it really is an indication of the priority that this Government puts on dealing with the practical impact of poverty in the lives of those children who need our help the most. The SHEP programme provides a meal for children, but much more than a meal. It involves parents in the preparation of that meal. It involves a focus on nutritional standards. It provides physical activity for children as part of the programme. It deals with holiday learning loss. It's been now rolled out to 21 of the 22 local authorities across Wales, and that additional funding—£100,000 of that has gone to third sector organisations, and some of that for the first time will be used to relieve holiday hunger during the recent October half term.111

So, I absolutely agree with the points that Mike Hedges has made about the importance of this subject, and want to celebrate something of the achievements of those organisations who are working, with our support, to make such a difference in the lives of children. 

SWANSEA EAST RESIDENTS URGED TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION

SWANSEA EAST RESIDENTS URGED TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR

council tax reduction

Local Labour AM Mike Hedges is urging people across Swansea East to take a few moments out of their day to check if they are eligible for help with their council tax bill.



The Welsh Labour Government’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme provides support to a range of people in Wales including low-income households, students, people who are severely mentally impaired and disabled people.



Swansea East AM said:



“The Welsh Labour Government has made sure that council tax reductions are in place for those who need this help the most.” 



“Vulnerable people across Wales are struggling with the effects of the UK Government’s welfare reforms and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme can offer valuable support for many of these households. I want to see more eligible people in Swansea East accessing the help they are entitled to.”



“I would strongly urge anyone who thinks they might be eligible for a council tax reduction to call Swansea City Council  on 01792 635382 or visit the Welsh Government’s online eligibility check at: https://gov.wales/council-tax-discounts-and-reduction .”



“The check only takes a few minutes, but could make a real difference to those who are struggling to make ends meet.” 



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Are you eligible for a council tax reduction?

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has today [Tuesday 5 November] launched the next phase of an awareness campaign, which aims to help everyone across Wales understand if they are entitled to support with paying their council tax bill.



Our Council Tax Help webpages and social media campaign have already helped over 60,000 people access the vital information they need on the many forms of council tax support available, since the launch in 2018.



The next phase of the campaign will specifically target low-income households, and those receiving or migrating to Universal Credit, by raising awareness of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme in Wales.



Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said:



“We know that the most vulnerable households across Wales are struggling to cope due to the UK government’s approach to welfare reform. However, despite this there has been a gradual decline in the take-up of our Council Tax Reduction Scheme.



“So today I am pleased to announce that we are extending our efforts to ensure that those people who are struggling to make ends meet are aware of the support that they could be entitled to.”



This is one of a number of measures that the Welsh Government is taking to improve local taxes and the wider local government finance framework so that we can respond to the needs of local services during these challenging times.



Our phased programme of short, medium and long term reforms is wide-ranging and has been in place since 2017. A report out today highlights some of the progress we’ve made this year. This includes:

• Removing the threat of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax in Wales from 1 April 2019 and continuing to work with local authorities to improve council tax collection and debt management
• Standardising, for the first time, how all local authorities treat vulnerable and struggling households through a new Council Tax Protocol
• Delivering a new exemption for care leavers and standardising the application process for people with a severe mental impairment who need to apply for a discount or exemption
• Providing a total of £230m of relief to support businesses with rates bills
• Exploring more fundamental reforms for the next term and beyond, working with expert institutions to look at ideas such as local taxes based on land value, more progressive council tax or local taxes based on income.

MIKE HEDGES AM URGES PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSULTATION ON (DRAFT) NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

MIKE HEDGES AM URGES PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSULTATION ON (DRAFT) NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK



Speaking from his Swansea East office, Mike Hedges AM said.. ‘ I am aware of the controversy surrounding large green energy projects. The consultation on the National Development Framework allows individuals, communities and community groups to have a say on the sort of project that gets priority in the next 20 years. I would urge everyone to look at the Draft plan and if you are in an area affected, make your views known!



Consultation details can be accessed on –



https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2019-10/draft-national-development-framework-consultation-document.pdf

Notes

The Welsh landscape could be destroyed if more wind farms are built, campaigners have warned.

They accept the need for renewable energy but are concerned about the impact on tourism in some areas.

A draft National Development Framework (NDF) identifies where big projects should go over the next 20 years.

It has highlighted 14 "priority areas" for wind and solar energy but the Welsh Government said it would not comment while a consultation was ongoing.

The NDF, which also looks at projects such as housing and transport, will be the highest tier of development plan in Wales.

All other plans - including council local development plans - would have to conform with the NDF.

MIKE HEDGES AM URGES WOMENT TO TAKE UP CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AS NEW FIGURES SHOW 25% OF WOMEN IN WALES DO NOT ATTEND SCREENING.

MIKE HEDGES AM URGES WOMENT TO TAKE UP CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AS NEW FIGURES SHOW 25% OF WOMEN IN WALES DO NOT ATTEND SCREENING.



Speaking from his Office in Swansea, Mike Hedges AM said…. ‘These new figures are quite shocking; all of the experts agree that early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Cervical screening is not a pleasant procedure but it can offer indications of cell changes at a very early stage which if dealt with then can prevent more serious problems developing. A small amount of discomfort is surely worth the chance of dealing with this condition at the earliest stage possible.

I would urge women to take advantage of the screening services available and beat this illness!’

Today, the latest annual cervical screening coverage has been released showing that, across Wales, screening uptake has fallen and is now at 73.2%. This means over one in four women are not attending.



The data showed:

• Variation between health boards, ranging from 73.1% in Hywel Dda University Health Board to 78.0% in Powys Teaching Health Board.
• The age group with the lowest uptake was 25-29 year olds at 67.2%
• The highest was amongst 50-54 year olds at 78.5%.

You can see a breakdown of the statistics by age and Health Board here.

Mike Hedges AM backs ambitious plans to ban single use plastics

Mike Hedges AM backs ambitious plans to ban single use plastics



Local AM Mike Hedges, has welcomed far reaching plans to ban the most commonly littered single use plastics in Wales.  The plans were set out by Hannah Blythyn the minister responsible, during a Senedd debate yesterday.



The Minister stated that the Welsh Government is to consult on restricting the sale of a wide-range throw-away plastics.  This would include straws, stirrers, cotton buds and cutlery



The ban could be in place as early as next year and see Wales once again leading the way on single use plastics.

Wales has a proud record when it comes to recycling, the Welsh Government led the way in the UK on the single use plastic carrier bag charge and Wales is ranked third in the world for amount of waste recycled.

Mike Hedges AM said:



“I am immensely proud that Welsh Labour have led the way on recycling and am delighted that we are looking to do the same by banning single use plastics.”



“It is clear that we need to act know to address the issue of single use plastics, and the damage that they are doing to ecosystems globally.”



“Welsh Government have to consult before instigating such a ban and I would urge residents in Swansea East  to support these proposals.”

Mike Hedges AM backs democracy week with call for UK Government to scrap plans that would suppress voter turnout

Mike Hedges AM backs democracy week with call for UK Government to scrap plans that would suppress voter turnout

Local AM Mike Hedges AM has called on the UK Government to scrap controversial plans to prevent people from voting unless they carry photographic ID at polling stations.

This week (14-20 of October) is national democracy week which is about local representatives using their experience, insight and passion in their communities to increase democratic participation.



The Assembly Member believes that UK Government proposals announced in the recent Queens Speech will see millions of voters unable to cast their vote. The Electoral Commission has reported that 3.5 million electors – 7.5% of the electorate – would have no acceptable piece of photo ID.  Under the government’s proposals, these voters would either be denied a vote entirely, or in other trial areas, required to produce multiple pieces of ID.



The proposals are in stark contrast to Welsh Labours successful campaign to allow sixteen and seventeen year olds to vote in the next Senedd elections.



Mike Hedges AM said “These plans risk denying residents in Swansea East the vote.”



“It is clear these proposals will disproportionately affect people on low incomes and other vulnerable groups.  These are groups that have been most impacted by ten years of Tory austerity.”



“I am proud to be part of a Welsh Labour Party that wants to extend the franchise and has successfully campaigned for votes for 16 and 17 year olds.”



“I call upon the UK Government to think again about disentrancing voters in our community.”

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