local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM has supported Welsh Government proposals to introduce a ban on microbeads in Wales.

local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM has supported Welsh Government proposals to introduce a ban on microbeads in Wales.


The ban will apply to the supply and manufacture of ‘rinse-off’ personal care products which contain plastic microbeads.
Plastic microbeads are a common ingredient in many hand cleansers, face scrubs, toothpastes, shower gels, cosmetics and other personal care products. When washed down the drain, they are too small to be filtered out in sewage treatment systems, so a proportion enter the marine environment, causing harm to marine life.
The ban will make it an offence to manufacture any rinse-off personal care products which contain plastic microbeads. It will also be an offence to supply rinse-off personal care products which contain microbeads.
The ban will come into force on 30 June.
Mike Hedges AM said:
“Microbeads are harmful to our oceans and are completely unnecessary. This ban is about stopping these pollutants from entering our seas and harming sea life.”
“We are working hard in Wales to reduce waste and our record as the best recycling nation in the UK is one to be proud of.”
“I also welcome Welsh Government plans to develop water refill points at key points along our Wales Coast Path, helping reduce further the amount of plastic entering our seas”
“We can all do our bit and I would urge residents in Swansea East to consider their use of single use plastics”

Mike Hedges welcomes news that Autism services in Wales improving

Mike Hedges welcomes news that Autism services in Wales improving

More people with autism in Wales are now experiencing quicker access to better services as a result of additional investment put in place by the Welsh Government, Health and Social Services Secretary Vaughan Gething said today.

Mike Hedges said… This is great news for people in my constituency! I have met families affected by Autism and it is debilitating condition for people suffering with it and their families and carers. The 2016 plan outlined the Welsh Government’s commitment to addressing the issues affected by Autism and their families. I am aware of new facilities for pupils with Autism in Birchgrove Comprehensive and how the pupils attending the facility are benefitting from the new facilities.

In 2016, the Welsh Government published a new Autistic Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan, backed by a £13m investment in new Integrated Autism services across Wales.

The first annual report on the delivery of the Action Plan is being published today, and sets out what has been achieved during the last year.  

Achievements include:

·         Improving services - The establishment of a National Integrated Autism service is creating consistent support for autistic people across Wales. Services are already operating in Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf, Gwent and Powys, it will be launched in North Wales next week and will be operational in Western Bay and West Wales later this year. 

·         Improving waiting times for assessment - Since 2015 the Welsh Government has invested an additional £2m a year in children’s neurodevelopmental services. In November 2017, a new 26 week waiting time standard from referral to first assessment appointment was introduced, which is now being piloted. 

·         Raising awareness - The extension of the Learning with Autism programme. In addition to the primary schools scheme, the secondary school and early years schemes have been launched and are being rolled out. 80 schools have now completed the primary school programme, with nearly 13,000 children becoming autism super heroes. The Can You See me campaign is also being delivered, aimed at improving awareness of autism in local communities.  The campaign film and resources are being rolled out in partnership with local parents, carers and businesses across Wales.

Mike Hedges AM supports Cervical Screening Awareness Week and urges more women to attend the potentially life-saving test

Mike Hedges AM  supports Cervical Screening Awareness Week and urges more women to attend the potentially life-saving test

Mike Hedges AM, is supporting Cervical Screening Awareness Week (11-17 June) to highlight the potential life-saving benefits of cervical screening (smear tests).  Cervical screening prevents up to 75% of cervical cancers from developing and saves an estimated 5,000 lives across the UK every year. However one in four women do not attend when invited.

During Cervical Screening Awareness Week, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the UK’s only charity for women affected by cervical cancer and abnormalities, is warning that more needs to be done to make it easier for women to access a screening appointment. The charity is calling for a greater range of appointment times at GP practices, increased access through sexual health services and innovation including the introduction of self-sampling.

Cervical screening is largely delivered in GP practices with five million women invited every year in the UK. However, new research[1] by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has found a worrying one in eight women find it difficult or even impossible to book an appointment. 7.4% of women were told no appointments at their GP practice were available the last time they tried to book.

Mike Hedges AM, said: “I am delighted to be supporting Cervical Screening Awareness Week, and the work of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. It’s extremely concerning that more than one in four women do not attend cervical screening. Part of the reason for this is that many women find it hard to get an appointment time that suits them and I support Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s calls for action to tackle this.”

Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have the support of Mike Hedges  Despite cervical screening protecting against 75% of all cervical cancers, one in four women don’t attend. Our research shows that access to cervical screening across the UK is unequal and inconsistent and this needs to change. We have a free Helpline women can call if they have any questions about cervical screening, no question is too big or small. We would like all women to feel they can make an informed decision in attending this potentially life-saving test.”

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For further comment, interviews or case studies please contact media@jostrust.org.uk or call 020 3096 8100 / 07772 290064

Notes to editors

Cervical Screening Awareness Week runs from 11-17 June (www.jostrust.org.uk/csaw) and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has launched a new report ‘Computer says no’ (https://jostrust.org.uk/access) highlighting unequal access to cervical screening in the UK.

About Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) is the UK’s only dedicated charity offering support and information to women of all ages and their loved ones affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. The National Helpline is on 0808 802 8000.

About cervical cancer

•       The majority (99.7%) of cervical cancers are caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which causes changes to the cervical cells

•       220,000 UK women are diagnosed with cervical abnormalities each year

•       Over 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 890 women lose their lives every year

•       Around 5 million UK women are invited to cervical screening each year yet one in four do not attend

•       Women aged 25-49 are invited every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years

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[1] 2,031 women aged 25-64, fieldwork was undertaken from 21.05.2018 - 23.05.2018 by Censuswide

Mike Hedges AM welcomes assurance that Welsh Government are not going to Introduce Passport checks in Welsh Hospitals prior to providing treatment

Mike Hedges AM welcomes assurance that Welsh Government are not going to Introduce Passport checks in Welsh Hospitals prior to providing treatment

Mike said ‘I fully support the position of the Welsh Government on this; treatment on the basis of medical need should be the first priority of hospitals, not checking if people have the right paperwork; Do we stop treating a child with cancer if the parents can’t provide the correct paperwork? The Windrush situation shows the dangers which lurk within the idea that immigration status should be checked before treatment can be accessed.’

Mike Hedges AM - The second question I have is: have the Welsh Government any plans to implement immigration checks in the NHS in Wales? To refuse treatment to cancer sufferers and children would be massively inhumane. To fail to treat people who have highly contagious diseases would be a danger to each and every one of us living in Wales. So, can the Government give an assurance they're not intending to go down the direction of the NHS in England? 

Julie James AM - Yes, on that second one, the Cabinet Secretary for health has made it more than plain that we have absolutely no intention at all of charging for any treatment or care received in Wales for any asylum seeker, including those who have failed to get leave to remain. Welsh Government guidance to NHS Wales sets that out very clearly, and I applaud that policy for the reasons that Mike Hedges set out very succinctly there.

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Mike Hedges AM welcomes Welsh Government announcement to make inclusive education a reality

Mike Hedges AM welcomes Welsh Government announcement to make inclusive education a reality

Local Labour AM Mike Hedges  has applauded the Welsh Labour Government’s landmark move that will make Relationships and Sexuality Education a statutory part of Wales’ new curriculum.

Thirty years ago the regressive Section 28 was introduced by the Thatcher government into schools across Wales, England and Scotland and sought to ban the ‘promotion of homosexuality’, but this week the Welsh Government has announced that LGBT+ inclusive Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) will be taught in schools.

Mike Hedges AM said: “I am proud that the Welsh Labour Government is leading the way in promoting inclusivity and diversity in our schools.”

“I hope this major step forward in the curriculum will go a long way in helping us challenge stereotypes, tackle ignorance and ensure our young people have the knowledge and skills to develop healthy relationships as they go through life.”

RSE will places an emphasis on forming and maintaining healthy, happy and fulfilling relationships. At present it is down to schools to decide their approach to the subject and this sometimes doesn’t stretch beyond the biological aspects of human relationships.

Learners will also be given a much broader understanding of sexuality that is fully inclusive of LGBTQI+ learners and includes wider issues such as consent, domestic abuse and respecting diversity.

The decision to change the focus of this area of study to relationships and sexuality, as well as the decision to make it statutory, reflects its immense importance in terms of how learners understand themselves, each other, their community and society.

Wales’ new curriculum will be in place by 2022, RSE will become statutory from the age of 5 to 16, but learners will not be taught about topics for which they are not developmentally ready.

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MIKE HEDGES AM QUESTIONS FIRST MINISTER ON WHAT THE WELSH GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO TAKLE KNOTWEED INFESTATION.

MIKE HEDGES AM QUESTIONS FIRST MINISTER ON WHAT THE WELSH GOVERNMENT IS DOING TO TAKLE KNOTWEED INFESTATION.

Speaking after First Minister Questions, Mike Hedges said …. Knotweed problems have again appeared in great number in correspondence with constituents this summer. I have seen at first hand the damage that can be done by this invasive plant; I have seen it come under walls and into gardens; it is a terrible problem if even it is close to a property if the homeowner wishes to sell it. I welcome the First Ministers reply – it confirms the Welsh Government remains committed to the dealing with this awful plant. I have asked many questions on this topic and I will be assuring the candidates in the upcoming First Minister leadership election that I will continue to pressure the new First Minister on this issue no matter who wins!

7. Will the First Minister make a statement on efforts to tackle the problems caused by Japanese knotweed? OAQ52298

First Minister of Wales

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We do work with partner organisations and the public to tackle the threats of invasive non-native species in Wales. I recognise that Japanese knotweed is a significant problem. We have actively funded innovative trials. Two things: first of all, chemical treatments, but secondly, bio control, through using a natural psyllid predator. Of course, you have to be careful doing that in case you introduce an even greater problem, as the Australians will tell you, with some of the things that they've done—with sugar cane, particularly. But nevertheless, those trials are ones that we have funded in order to get to grips with the problem.69

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Can I thank the First Minister for that response? Knotweed is a serious problem in Swansea, especially in my constituency, but I'm sure Julie James could tell you exactly the same for Swansea West as well. Whilst the experiment with a natural predator and improved chemical treatments are to be welcomed, we have areas of green wedge where knotweed has become a problem. Has the Welsh Government got any plans of stopping green-wedge land becoming fully infested by knotweed, so instead of being a green belt, it'll be a knotweed belt?70

Carwyn Jones AM 14:07:07

First Minister of Wales

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Well, ultimately, of course, it's up to the landowner to control Japanese knotweed on their land. I can say that we recently awarded £50,000 to five councils via the green infrastructure funding scheme to undertake a project to combat invasive non-native plant species at over 1,000 sites throughout those five counties. It will also train community volunteers to help to control those plants, and we did recently publish an updated information sheet aimed at community and voluntary groups, with advice on action on land they manage.

Mike Hedges AM welcomes £6m to support older people to live at home

Mike Hedges AM welcomes £6m to support older people to live at home

The Housing and Regeneration Minister has announced nearly £6m of Welsh Government funding will go to Care & Repair agencies to support their work to support vulnerable older people.

Mike said…. ‘We all know that people prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible, but they have to be assisted to do so in a safe and secure environment. This money will enable this to happen. Care and Repair in Swansea support people in my constituency and I have seen for myself the good outcomes for my constituents that flow from this.

This is an investment that will have a real impact on people’s lives and is to be welcomed!’

Care & Repair agencies work in every part of Wales and provide services to help older people live as independently as possible in their own homes. As well as delivering small adaptations to properties, agencies also provide free home visits to help keep residents safe and warm, and protect their health and well-being.