MIKE HEDGES MS PRAISES WORK OF MORRISTON AND LLANSAMLET GROUPS IN LOCAL ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES

 MIKE HEDGES MS PRAISES WORK OF MORRISTON AND LLANSAMLET GROUPS IN LOCAL ARMISTICE DAY SERVICES 

speaking from the Senedd after First Ministers questions, local Swansea East member, Mike Hedges, said … ‘many of us attend services at this time of year and we often notice the presence of local voluntary sector groups, but we do not recognize their contribution, nor recognize that their involvement in such events is often planned over many months, and it is right that we recognize such contributions to our local communities. I thank groups such as Morriston Salvation Army Band and Llansamlet Historical Society who give up their time to help organize and take part in remembrance day events 

 

I am pleased that the Welsh government is considering establishing a web page where all relevant information can be gathered together so that a person can look quickly at what is happening in their area. 

We all owe our servicemen and women a huge debt of gratitude and I hope that others will join me over the next few days in attending remembrance services in our communities.’ 

 

 

Mike Hedges MS14:15:39 

 

  

Like most if not all Members of the Senedd, I will be attending remembrance services on Thursday and Sunday. I congratulate and thank the Royal British Legion and others such as the Morriston salvation band and Llansamlet historical society who will be putting on events within my own constituency. A request for the Welsh Government: could you provide a list of events on your website, so that people can look on it and find out what is happening in their area?59 

 

Mark Drakeford MS14:16:04 

  

First Minister of Wales 

  

I thank Mike Hedges for that. He draws attention, Llywydd, to the importance of those local events that happen in so many communities across Wales, and so many Members of this Senedd will be involved in them. I know very much that the Morriston salvation army band, for example, has very long played a part in Swansea in the commemoration events that will be taking place there. We are at the moment exploring with our armed forces liaison officers the possibility that such local events could be publicised through the new Covenant Wales website. That website is under development, it's due to be in place by the end of this year, and it would be, I think, a very appropriate place for events of the sort that Mike Hedges referred to, to be listed and publicised and drawn to the attention of more people as a result.  

 

Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Government Building a confident future for electric car users

 Mike Hedges MS welcomes Welsh Government Building a confident future for electric car users 

Speaking from his Morriston office, local MS, Mike Hedges said…. ‘ I welcome this announcement as I have been contacted by many local people over the last year or so with queries about public charging points. People are would like to make the switch to electric vehicles but are worried that charging the vehicles will be a problem, especially if they live in flats or terrace houses which makes home charging difficult. These new fast charging points will make it much easier for people to make the switch to Electric Vehicles.  

We all need to do our bit to combat climate change and this initiative will ease the process for lots of people.’ 

Ambitious plans that set out how the Welsh Government will be investing in infrastructure and working with the private sector to give people in Wales the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles have been unveiled today. 

With already more than 1,000 public charging points across Wales, one for every six battery electric vehicles, the plans set out an approach to ensure that the number of charging points continue to grow to meet increasing demand as fossil fuel vehicles are phased out. 

The EV Charging Action Plan also sets out how the Welsh Government will be working closely with the private sector, with the aim of delivering a charging point facility for every 20 miles of the strategic trunk network across Wales by 2025, providing further reassurance to electric vehicle drivers.  

With transport generating around 17% of all carbon emissions in Wales, improving electric vehicle infrastructure is just one step that the Welsh Government is taking to reduce the impact transport is having on both the environment and our health. Llwybr Newydd, the Welsh Government’s transport strategy sets out how we will shape our transport system in Wales over the next 20 years encouraging more people out of cars and using public transport, walking or cycling.  

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said: 

“We need to do more in the next ten years than we’ve done in the last thirty if we’re to reach our NetZero target by 2050. Changing the car dependency culture that has been created in the past and encouraging more people to use public transport will be key, but for those essential car journeys, making the switch to an electric vehicle is another way we can make a difference. 

“The plan I’ve published today sets out the action we will be taking to deliver high quality electric vehicle infrastructure across Wales. Working with the private sector we have ambitious plans in place to increase the number of charging points across the country, so drivers feel confident to make the switch as demand for electric vehicles increases.” 

The Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund has already provided a kick-start for many EV projects across Wales. 

Carmarthenshire Council was awarded a £350k grant to develop a rapid charging facility on the A48 in Cross Hands. The multi-point charging facility will serve one of the main tourist routes through Wales. The facility comprises five rapid chargers from 50kW to 150kW under a solar canopy with capacity for further expansion and is expected to be operational later this year. 

The next round of ULEV funding will open for bids in December 2021. The fund will help local authorities deliver more than 300 publicly accessible fast and rapid charging points across Wales this financial year.  There are also plans in place to increase both public and private sector delivery in line with the Welsh Government’s strategy in future years. 

  

Notes to editors 

Notes to editors 

In April 2021 the Welsh Government published the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy, setting out its plans for charging electric cars and vans in Wales. It is written within the context of Llwybr Newydd: a new Wales Transport Strategy and establishes an ambitious vision for charging in Wales. 

Link to EV Charging Action Plan 

https://gov.wales/electric-vehicle-charging-strategy-wales-action-plan 

 

Senedd election- view from a re-elected member by Mike Hedges Swansea East MS

Senedd election- view from a re-elected member by Mike Hedges Swansea East MS

In an article written immediately after the General election in 2019 published on, I described that election as the Brexit election, in the same way the Senedd election of 2021 was the COVID election. The handling of the COVID crisis in Wales and the vaccination programme was the major issue during the election in the many discussions I had with voters.

Mark Drakeford’s careful handling of the lockdowns and our coming out of them may not have played well with the keyboard warriors on social media but was immensely popular with most of the electorate. People wanted to be safe, and they wanted their families to remain safe and for us to come out of the pandemic. Having the best vaccination rate in the four nations and the lowest number of cases per 100,000 people was a positive electoral asset. Following the science and keeping people safe in Wales was endorsed by the people in Wales at the ballot box or in many cases at home filling in their postal vote. People were stopping me on the street during the election to say that they were “glad they had lived in Wales over the last twelve months because they felt they have been kept safe in Wales”.

The Conservative campaign revolved around building roads to deal with traffic jams that no longer occurred, due to the substantial growth in home working. If the election had taken place in 2019 it may have worked but by 2021 it no longer resonated with the electorate, the traffic jams had gone and, I believe, following the growth and success of home working, for ever.

Plaid Cymru’s campaign saying it was time for change failed to get the electorates support and the presidential way that Plaid Cymru fought the election was off putting to voters, because people wanted a continuation of the way COVID was being dealt with not a change.

The many far right parties, some of which came from the UKIP split, failed to gain a seat in the Senedd and that is something that must please all Labour supporters. When UKIP won seven seats in 2016 it came as a shock and it was so pleasing to see them, and the other far right parties disappear from the Senedd.

This was an excellent result returning to the 30 seats won in 2011. For Labour, the Rhondda was gained back, Vale of Clwyd lost but replaced by a North Wales regional seat giving a net gain of one and importantly Labour now holds half the seats in the Senedd. Although you would not think it from the media, it was a better result in terms of seats than the SNP in Scotland.

Positive lessons to be learnt include candidates matter and incumbency is a huge advantage with across Wales only one sitting Senedd member was defeated and that was Leanne Wood in Rhondda. Rhondda was won by Buffy Williams a well known local community activist who lives in the Rhondda. Ticking the three boxes of Labour, local and active within the constituency. This can be observed by her action on Sunday, the day after being elected, taking up flooding problems in the constituency.

There is substantial number of Labour loyalists, who know Labour is the party who best represents their interests and are prepared to continue to vote for it. The campaign slogan of “if you value it, vote for it” enthused people to believe that voting Labour was important to them and keeping them and their family safe.

One constituency seat, Vale of Clwyd, was lost and although in Senedd seats it was made up by winning a regional seat in north Wales, it must obviously be a disappointment. The Conservatives continually pointed out the many failings of Betsi Cadwalladr (north Wales health board) but to the voters its importance was mainly overridden by people’s views on the vaccine roll out.

A very good result for Labour matching 2003 and 2011 but we must not be complacent and must keep on campaigning and more importantly listening to the electorate. I am looking forward to another five years of Labour controlling the Senedd in Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIKE HEDGES MS WELCOMES NEWS THAT UP TO 6 PEOPLE CAN MEET IN PUBS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS FROM MONDAY

MIKE HEDGES MS WELCOMES NEWS THAT UP TO 6 PEOPLE CAN MEET IN PUBS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS FROM MONDAY

 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, local MS Mike Hedges said.. This is great news for local hospitality business who have struggled through the pandemic. It is also news for families who can meet up again for family get togethers in restaurants etc.

I would encourage local business in the hospitality sector to look to see if they are eligible for the new business support which the Welsh Government is making available to coincide with the reopening of the hospitality sectors.

I would urge a degree of caution however, given the concerns regarding new variants. We cant take our eyes off the ball yet for we don’t want to see new variants emerge and spread through the community. I would urge everyone to exercise a degree of caution and common sense when enjoying the lifting of some restrictions next week. Please do not attend mass gatherings or indoor parties; we have come too far to risk the progress made.

Mike Hedges AM Urges Dog Owners to act responsibly when walking their Dogs

Mike Hedges AM Urges Dog Owners to act responsibly when walking their Dogs 

 

 

Following recent reports of Sporting fixtures being disrupted by incidents of dog mess having to be cleared up from sports fields, Mike Hedges AM for Swansea East has urged dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their dogs.  

 

‘Recently I heard about rugby practice being disrupted at Glais RFC by the need to deal with dog mess on playing fields. I am aware of other instances where this issue has disrupted football and cricket matches in our area.  It is not a good situation for dog mess can cause horrible complications if it enters the body through cuts and causes infections. People playing in sports fixtures should be able to do so without the worry of what is on the grass. 

 

I would really urge dog owners to be responsible and clean up after their dogs have been to the toilet. I am sure people don’t want to risk the health of children and adults playing sport. I will be raising the issue of enforcing legislation regarding dog fouling with the local authority – no one wants to resort to enforcement but the problem is becoming more and more acute – PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOGS!

Speech to Senedd on Welsh Government Budget March 2021

 MIKE HEDGES MS SUPPORTS WELSH GOVERNMENT BUDGET BUT ASKS FOR EXTRA SUPPORT FOR PUPILS TO RECEIVE FREE SCHOOL MEANS IF PARENTS ARE ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND EXTRA ENVIRONMENT FUNDING 

 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, Mike Hedges said… ‘I Support the Welsh Budget but it is not unqualified support. I feel more could have been done to support children whose parents are on universal credit and I feel that funding should be available to enable NRW to carry out its functions with regards to monitoring air and water pollution. 

The Welsh Labour Government has to construct its budget for the coming year against a difficult background and with a variety of uncertainties as to the future; more could have been done to support children and our environment and I will continue to press for this support to be provided if I am reelected in May.’

 

 

 

 

MIKE HEDGES MS

This budget may very well be replaced by a substantially changed budget in the first supplementary budget produced post May, depending on the result of the election. Whilst council tax funding is set for the year, all other areas of expenditure can be either increased or decreased. With less than nine weeks to go to polling day, it would be helpful if the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru produced their own spending plans, and actually made them balance. Plaid Cymru have identified a large number of areas they want to increase expenditure in, but have not identified where that funding is coming from. The Conservatives have a policy of cutting taxes and increasing expenditure, which, as we all know, is impossible.322

Whilst I will be supporting the budget, it is not uncritical support. Firstly, I am disappointed that money has not been found to provide free school meals to children of parents on universal credit from September when they return to school after the summer holidays. Hopefully, this will be resolved in the first supplementary budget.323

Secondly, I do not believe this budget is for a post-COVID world, with an expectation of mainly a return to March 2020. That seems to be the theme of an awful lot of people who have been speaking prior to me. Working at home, online retail and online meetings have become the new normal. There will be a small return to pre-March 2020 activity in these areas. We have seen the changes mentioned above become the new norm, which was the direction we were moving in pre COVID. I know a number of people thought the fourth industrial revolution was going to be artificial intelligence. They were wrong; the fourth industrial revolution is about home working.324

I would urge the Welsh Government to postpone road schemes that are not yet started until we see what demand is like. Certainly, I would again urge the Welsh Government to be very wary of using the mutual investment model. The National Audit Office found little evidence that Government investment in more than 700 existing public-private projects had delivered financial benefit. The cost of privately financing public projects can be up to 40 per cent higher than relying solely upon Government money, auditors found. Anyone who thinks that the mutual investment model leads to the private sector taking the risk is deluding themselves. The risk will be factored into any bid. Even an additional 10 per cent would cost £10 million for every £100 million contract.325

Turning to the environment budget, the environment is always a top priority for everybody in the Chamber, except for when we get to budget time. Then it makes its way down, unfortunately. I welcome some of the things the Welsh Government is doing in terms of the environment, like increased budget allocation for fuel poverty. I hope that it will be sufficient to deliver progress to meet the proposed fuel poverty target set out in the plan. I further welcome additional money for delivering home energy efficiency via Arbed and Nest. The expectation that 5,500 homes will benefit from Arbed and Nest, plus the many thousands who benefit from home energy efficiency advice from Nest, is welcome. Too many people in my constituency and others are living in cold, damp homes. Far too many people live in homes that are very expensive to heat, which affects everything from their health to their children's educational attainment. I also welcome the Welsh Government's energy service, providing support for public sector bodies to help them develop energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes. I'm also aware of public sector organisations using invest-to-save to improve energy efficiency. The public sector needs to lead on improving energy efficiency. I hope we'll get a further update on what invest-to-save has done to improve energy efficiency in the near future.326

Last August, the clean air plan for Wales to take a strategic direction on developing capacity and capability across Wales came in. If you believe, as I do, that the short-term reduction in transport is likely to be long term as more work from home at least some of the time, then air pollution from vehicles will reduce. I welcome the additional money for pilots to promote ultra low emission vehicles across the public sector. I also welcome the progress made by councils such as Swansea on increasing the number of electric vehicles they're using.327

I would urge the Government to bring in an extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging. An easy win would be for all wrapping paper and card to be just paper as opposed to plastic and paper or glitter coated. That can actually be achieved at no cost. Whilst funding for additional producer responsibility is not in the budget, the Welsh Government should get funding from its share of any expenditure from Westminster on this.328

Finally, I would urge the Welsh Government to look again at funding for NRW. When they cannot carry out basic air pollution and water pollution activity that the Environment Agency used to do, there is a problem. Thank you.

Mike Hedges MS 1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu hawliau dynol pobl anabl? OQ56381 1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect the human rights of disabled people? OQ56381

 MIKE HEDGES QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT MINISTER ON WHAT WELSH GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 

Speaking from his Morriston Office, Local MS, Mike Hedges said….. ‘ I acknowledge that the Welsh government does a lot for disabled people but there is much to be done when it comes to supporting people who have hidden disabilities where they often face barriers which people with visibible disabilities would not face. 

People often make assumptions about disabilities and expect to see certain things; a lot of disabilities are invisible and people with such conditions face discrimination and worse as they go through their daily lives. An example of this would be the need for people with Colosotomy and Stomas to use diabled toilets and changing facilities. There is no outward sign they have any issues but they face significant problems if they have to use traditional toilet cublicles for their needs. I have met several people with these conditions who have been abused for using disabled toilets. 

The Welsh Government needs to engage in education programs so that the general public are more aware of the issues of hidden disabilities amd need to make sure that discrimination for hidden disabilities is tackled so that our fellow citezens can enjoy the same lives we have. 

Mike Hedges MS 

1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu hawliau dynol pobl anabl? OQ56381

1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect the human rights of disabled people? OQ56381

Jane Hutt 

Deputy Minister and Chief Whip

Thank you very much for that question, Mike Hedges. The Welsh Government is committed to leading the way in eliminating discrimination towards disabled people. Our disability equality forum has led the way in highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people during the pandemic.82

 

Mike Hedges MS

 

I thank the Minister for that response. People with a disability, especially those with hidden disabilities like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myalgic encephalomyelitis and deafness, often feel overlooked. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that more support can be given to people who have these types of disabilities to ensure they are not disadvantaged?83

 

Jane Hutt MS

I recognise the significant challenges, as the Member said, that people living with conditions like MS, ME, arthritis and deafness face. And, also, the additional impact, of course, that COVID has had on carers, friends and families. I know the Member recognises the social model of disability, which the Welsh Government is committed to using, and it makes that important distinction between impairment and disability, recognising that people with impairments are disabled by barriers that commonly exist in society. And we also recognise that not all impairments, as you say, Mike Hedges, are visible, and that hidden impairments must be given the same weighting. And the social model does support those with a hidden disability.84

I think it's important to recognise that, in our disability equality forum, we do have a broad membership, including the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, the Wales Council for Deaf People, the MS Society, as well as many other disabled organisations. And we've just employed a network of six disabled people as employment champions, who are going to be working with employers and recognising these hidden impairments, in terms of the barriers and the opportunities we have to overcome them.