90 Statement to Senedd RE John Hughes of Mynyddbach

 

Diolch, Llywydd. I'm going to talk about John Hughes. During the past year in Swansea we have been celebrating 'Calon Lân' with words by Daniel James, better know by his bardic name of Gwyrosydd. While not underestimating the importance of the words of the hymn, we must not forget the importance of the tune. When listening to Radio Wales in early February, I heard someone in America trying to remember a hymn from their childhood. They could not remember the words, but they could remember the tune, and that was instantly recognisable on being hummed as 'Calon Lân'. The tune was created by John Hughes, who was a Welsh composer who is best known for 'Calon Lân', but that's not the only thing he did. He wrote a number of other hymn tunes for cymanfa ganus in the Swansea area. He wrote the tune for 'Calon Lân' because he was asked to by Gwyrosydd, who knew how good a composer of tunes he was. He was from Pembrokeshire originally, and the house where he was born bears a plaque. There is also a memorial plaque in Treboeth. He worked his entire career in the Dyffryn steelworks in Morriston, starting off as an office boy, and ending up as a marketing manager. He travelled internationally with the company and taught himself six languages besides his native Welsh. He is buried at Caersalem chapel in Treboeth, and he has a granddaughter who still lives in Ynystawe. Although his name is not instantly recognisable, his tune is.

Mike Hedges MS encourages unpaid carers that aren’t registered with their GP to register for vaccine

 Mike Hedges MS encourages unpaid carers that aren’t registered with their GP to register for vaccine

 

Mike Hedges  MS is encouraging unpaid carers in Swansea East who are not be registered with their GP to complete a new online form which will help make sure they receive their Covid-19 vaccine as part of priority group 6.

 

Welsh Labour’s Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, has published guidance to outline who is eligible for a vaccine as part of priority group 6. Within the guidance eligible unpaid carers are those who are the sole or primary carer of someone who is at increased risk were they to catch coronavirus.

 

Those clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 include children with severe neuro-disabilities, those who are designated clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), adults who have underlying health conditions and those who need care because of advanced age.

 Swansea Bay University Health Board online form will be available on their website in the coming days. Further details can be found here: https://gov.wales/get-covid-19-vaccine-unpaid-carer

 

Once the form is submitted, the health board will arrange for the information to be uploaded to the Welsh Immunisation System (WIS) and a vaccine appointment will be issued.

 

Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges, said: 

 

“I want to thank unpaid carers for everything they are doing. I know that many unpaid carers have put their lives on hold to care for vulnerable people during the pandemic.

 

“The guidance issued by the Welsh Government should provide clarity and relief to those who are in priority group 6 and I’m urging unpaid carers in Swansea East  who are eligible and not already registered with their GP to complete the online form.

 

“When you are invited for a vaccination, I would urge you to accept in order to protect yourself, your loved ones and those you care for.”

 

Everyone within groups 5-9 will be invited for a vaccination by mid-April. Those already registered as an unpaid carer with their GP should receive an invite in the next couple of weeks and do not need to complete the online form.

 

ENDS

 

 

Mike Hedges MS backs Welsh Labour Government’s mission for more prosperous, equal and greener economy

 Mike Hedges MS backs Welsh Labour Government’s mission for more prosperous, equal and greener economy

 

As Wales continues to navigate the many challenges of coronavirus, Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges has backed the Welsh Labour Government’s mission for how it will work to reconstruct and rebuild Wales’ economy, so it is more prosperous, equal and greener than ever before.

 

The Welsh Labour Government has published its Economic Resilience and Reconstruction Mission which sets out how it will work to rebuild Wales’ post Covid economy so that it values and prioritises wellbeing, drives prosperity, is environmentally sound, and helps every person in Wales to realise their potential.

 

The mission sets out the values and priorities that will shape the Welsh Government’s decisions now and, in the future, so that people, businesses and Wales’ communities are supported to succeed and prosper.

 

Priorities include strengthening the everyday sectors of the Welsh economy, increasing the incidence of fair work across Wales and reinvigorating our town centres. There is also a focus on supporting firms to innovate and diversify, speeding up business decarbonisation and investing in climate resilient infrastructure.

 

This includes making available an additional £270m to support business through the Development Bank of Wales. Operating alongside other Development Bank support, this represents a major investment in accessible finance for business and will help Welsh firms focus on their long-term success.

 

Backing the mission, Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges said:

 

“This last year has been incredibly difficult for all of us and while we continue doing all that we can to combat the virus, it is important to think about what comes next.

“I’m glad that our Welsh Labour Government is taking the opportunity to look to the future and reconstruct our Welsh economy with the fundamental goal of achieving long term well-being with dignity and fairness for people.”

As part of the mission, the Welsh Labour Government will maximise future major investments through ‘magnet projects’, which will attract longer term investments and provide important employment, skills, and innovation and development opportunities.

The Welsh Government’s Covid Commitment will ensure the impact of the pandemic leaves nobody behind and that there is every possible opportunity for people to retrain and upskill in new and high-growth areas.

The Economic Contract will also be refreshed and strengthened helping businesses to embed fair work, low carbon and climate resilience into their operations.

Mike Hedges MS added:

“The Welsh Labour Government has a clear, ethical and coherent vision for economic resilience and reconstruction, anchored on social justice. With the commitment of our people, communities and the businesses that make up our economy, we can succeed in building a prosperous, fair economy and future that works better for everyone.

 

“I share that vision.”

 

ENDS

 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Labour Government’s budget to protect public services and boost Wales’ economy

 Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Labour Government’s budget to protect public services and boost Wales’ economy

 

Mike Hedges MS has welcomed the unveiling of the Welsh Labour Government’s Final Budget which includes plans to protect public services and the Welsh economy, providing timely support to protect lives and livelihoods in the months ahead.

 

Building on the £320m reconstruction package that was announced last October, the Welsh Labour Government’s Budget delivers a further injection of £224.5m capital funding to support reconstruction efforts and stimulate demand and jobs.

 

This investment includes:

·       An additional £147m to ramp up housing programmes. 

·       And an extra £30m to accelerate the ambitious 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, helping to support economic growth, sustainable jobs and training opportunities across the sector.

 

The new package also boosts the significant investment dedicated to flood and coastal defence in this Senedd term. An extra £8m will be invested to help local authorities and Natural Resources Wales repair the damage caused by flood events in December and January and protect communities in Swansea East that are at risk of flooding.

 

In recognition of the benefits of active travel for accessing employment, education and key services, the Welsh Labour Government is allocating an additional £20m for new schemes and infrastructure. This takes total planned 2021-22 investment for active travel in Wales to around £75m.

 

The Final Budget also confirms more than £630m to support the NHS and local government over the next six months as they continue to respond to the pandemic.

 

Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges  said:

 

“The Budget published by our Welsh Labour Government today will help to inject investment, jobs and demand into our economy. And it provides the NHS and local government with the certainty they need as they respond to the challenges of the year ahead.

 

“The Welsh Labour Government knows that local businesses, which have been hit hardest by the Coronavirus pandemic, need certainty too. I’m glad that the Welsh Government has responded by providing the most generous package of business support anywhere in the UK, allocating more funding than they received as a share of the package in England.

 

“The measures outlined today protect our vital public services and our economy, build a greener future for us all and create change for a more equal Wales – a vision that I wholeheartedly support.”

 

The Final Budget also sets aside £200m in reserves for additional business support next year to respond to the evolving challenges of the pandemic.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

1.    The Welsh Government’s final Budget 2021-22 will be published here along with the associated documents.

 

 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Labour Government ‘We’re in Your Corner’ campaign

 Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Labour Government ‘We’re in Your Corner’ campaign

 

Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges,  is encouraging local businesses to take advantage of the support available to them, as the Welsh Labour Government launches its new campaign to promote the important support available to help them deal with the continued pressures of Coronavirus and plan for a brighter future.

 

The ‘We’re in Your Corner’ campaign will encourage firms the length and breadth of Wales to take advantage of the skills and employment advice and guidance that is on offer through the Skills Gateway for Business online portal.

 

A range of support and advice is available, including developing the capabilities of staff and recruitment and training programmes. This will help businesses move forward through the coronavirus pandemic and thrive in the future.

 

Welsh Labour’s Economy Minister, Ken Skates said the ‘We’re in Your Corner’ campaign is crucial in supporting the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience and Reconstruction Mission which was launched earlier this week. It aims to reconstruct the Welsh economy so that it is more prosperous, fair and green than ever before.

 

The Welsh Government’s Covid Commitment, which has been supported by a £40m funding boost during this financial year, is a key part of the support offer to help anyone wanting to get into work, looking to retrain, or start their own business.

 

Welcoming the ‘We’re in Your Corner’ campaign, Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges, said:

 

“The last year has placed incredible pressure on constituents and businesses in Swansea East.  We’re very lucky in Wales that we’ve got a Welsh Labour Government that has responded at pace to protect thousands of businesses and jobs, with a package of financial support worth more than £2bn – the most generous offer of support anywhere in the United Kingdom.

 

“I’m firmly in the corner of businesses, and this campaign will be crucial in ensuring businesses across Swansea East are aware of the support that is available to help meet the challenges and opportunities that today and tomorrow present.”

 

“I’m glad that our Welsh Labour Government will continue to do all it can to back businesses and people as we all continue to navigate these difficult and uncertain times.”

 

Businesses can find out more about the programmes on offer by calling Skills Gateway for Business on 0300 060 3000 or by visiting https://businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/. 

 

ENDS

 

 

 

Mike Hedges welcomes Senedd passing a motion calling for a Sign Language Law.

 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, local MS, Mike Hedges said…. ‘this is one of my proudest days as a Senedd member; I have been involved with the deaf community for many years through my sister. I know the isolation and lonliness faced by deaf people and how difficult it can be for them to do things which most of us take for granted such as get jobs. 

 

If people could be encouraged to learn British sign language (BSL) and for there to be recognised qualifications such as GCSE, it would be a big step forward for the Deaf community. We need to break down the barriers faced by deaf people and enable them to join main stream society enjoying so many of the things which we take for granted. 

 

Passing this motion is a big step forward, even if time is going to mean it has no chance of becoming legislation. I therefore hope that after the Senedd Elections in May, the new Government will take this motion on board and come forward with a Welsh Sign Language Bill which will provide a legislative frame work as I called for during my speech. 

 

Today, the Senedd can be proud – we spoke for a group of disabled and excluded people who cannot speak for themselves. The New Senedd needs to pick up the challenge from this motion and bring forward a Sign Language Bill as  matter of urgency.’

 

 

 

 

Speech to Senedd 24 February 2020

 

First of all, can I put on the record that my sister is profoundly deaf and uses sign language? I will be supporting the Member's legislative proposal today, but we're so close to dissolution it is very unlikely to succeed in becoming law before we dissolve. But that's no reason not to support it. In 2018, the Petitions Committee produced four recommendations, all which I agreed with. If you want to know what it's like being deaf, put the television on, watch a drama and turn the sound off, because that's the life they live. That is what watching television is like for people who are deaf. 

 

272

The Welsh Government should support British Sign Language as a minority language, and encourage local authorities to recognise it as the first language of very many deaf people. Because you've got to remember that we have three first languages in Wales, and British Sign Language is one of them. And before somebody says, 'What about Welsh sign language?', because of the way sign language exists, it's much more akin to Japanese and Chinese and other languages that are based on pictures and signs, as opposed to vocabulary. 273

 

 

The Welsh Government should give consideration to the development of a national charter for the delivery of services and resources, including the education of deaf children and young people. We need deaf people to be educated through sign language, because that's what they understand. We believe—and this what the Petitions Committee said—that a charter underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 would enable local authorities to plan and resource support, with a nationally recognised framework to ensure consistent arrangements throughout Wales—we haven't got consistency of provision; some areas are better than others—and the importance of sign language to actually get information across. The Petitions Committee also welcomed that the Welsh Government has indicated British Sign Language is actually being considered in the new curriculum. It needs to be part of the curriculum, not only for deaf children, but for children who aren't deaf, so that they can speak and correspond with children who are deaf.274

 

 

A lot of basic sign language can be learnt relatively quickly, like a lot of most languages can be learnt very quickly. It gets much more difficult with time, but there are probably over 50 or 60 signs that would get you around quite well. So, it's really important. And, saying that, we should have a GCSE in sign language. We've got nowhere with that—'It's because there are not many applicants or potential applicants.' I've looked through some subjects the WJEC supports. A number of them have under 100 people entering them each year. So, that is no excuse. This just demands, and I really am pushing for this, somebody to take this on and show some leadership and aim of doing something on behalf of the deaf community in Wales. 275

 

 

We need as a minimum to introduce a minimum standard of BSL qualification for learning assistants supporting deaf children and young people. There isn't any. I could work as a learning assistant in a school with deaf children because I know a small amount of sign language. I don't think I'd be suitable. I'm sure you don't think I'd be suitable either. 276

 

 

Finally, we've had petitions, we've had debates, before, but I have come, unfortunately, around to the conclusion that the only way we're going to get action is by legislation. So, I will be supporting this legislative proposal, even though I'm doubtful that we will get it done before we break in March.  

 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes news that Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, has today announced expanded testing and faster vaccine delivery to help Wales-reopen safely.

 Mike Hedges MS welcomes news that Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, has today announced expanded testing and faster vaccine delivery to help Wales-reopen safely.

 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, local Swansea East MS said … ‘ I welcome the Minister’s announcement to extend testing and faster vaccine delivery. We are all feeling the strain of living under restrictions for long periods of time and we are anxious to meet up with families and loved ones again. The plans announced by the Welsh Government today speed up this process and offers clear steps to achieving this cherished goal while safeguarding the progress we have already made. 

 

I know that it is tough for people but I would urge people to hang on in there and follow the guidelines so we may make progress to our goal of beating this virus. 

 

I would like to thank our key workers for the work they do keeping us safe from the virus – your work and sacrifice during the pandemic will not be forgotten’

 

 

 

 

Mr Gethin confirmed Wales will aim to offer the vaccine to all eligible adults by 31 July and will publish an update to the national vaccination strategy on Friday.

Workplace and community testing will also be expanded.

The scheme for workplaces to carry out testing and set up their own test sites is now being extended to public and private organisations with more than 50 employees.

Mr Gething said: “Our vaccine and testing programmes are key to safely re-opening up our society and economy.

Our vaccine programme continues at pace and on Friday I’m publishing a revised vaccine strategy with detail on how we will, subject to supply, offer every eligible adult in Wales the first dose of the vaccine by the end of July.

Workplaces with more than 50 employees will now be eligible for support to regularly test their workforce, helping reduce the spread of the virus and allow them to operate safely.

And from next week targeted community testing will begin in parts of Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf. This will help find those who show no symptoms of coronavirus.

We have already set out our revised plans for the careful and cautious re-opening of Wales’ society and economy. The measures announced today will play an important part in achieving that as safely and quickly as possible.”

The revised vaccine strategy will provide more details on current and forthcoming priorities, including – subject to vaccine supply – the bringing forward of target dates for key milestones

The support available to workplaces in Wales to introduce a testing scheme includes the provision of rapid lateral flow devices, training, access to an online testing portal and clinical standard operating procedures and guidelines.

The community testing programme will use Lateral Flow Devices. Everyone who attends will be given a test using the devices, which can turnaround results within 20 -30 minutes. Anyone who tests positive via a LFD test will be asked to return home so they can self-isolate immediately and arrangements will be made for a follow-up PCR test.

Although community testing will initially be available in three local authorities, further discussions are taking place with partners in North Wales and it could be rolled-out more widely based on local circumstance and need identified.

ENDS

 

Notes to editors: 

The workplace testing framework setting out the criteria and support available has been published here -  https://gov.wales/covid-19-workplace-testing-framework