Jenny Randerson

Commenting on the publication of the Assembly Government’s Higher Education Strategy: For Our Future, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Education Minister, Jenny Randerson AM said: “Higher Education does need to change and I welcome the intentions behind this strategy, but without real detail on improving research and development and exploiting this to build a better economy, we will never build a world class Higher Education system.

“I am also deeply concerned that the parting gift from Jane Hutt that will be remembered, will not be this announcement but will be the devastating financial cuts in the draft budget and the ever widening gap between funding for Welsh Universities compared to England.

“Next year, Labour and Plaid Cymru are slashing 5% from across the University budget when they should be freezing central administration budgets and investigating the misspending of money in the NHS.”

Committee Chair Ann Jones AM said: “It is vitally important that people are able to work for as long as they want or need to

More tailor-made programs are needed to get older people back into the workforce according to a new report from the Equality of Opportunity Committee for the National Assembly for Wales.

An inquiry by the committee found previous periods of economic downturns have had a greater impact on older workers and initial figures suggested the current recession was no exception.

While evidence submitted for the report showed there were a wide variety of programs and policies that may be helping older people find employment, not all of them take the specific challenges they face into account.

Committee Chair Ann Jones AM said: “It is vitally important that people are able to work for as long as they want or need to.

“Enabling older people to work longer not only benefits the individual through allowing them to remain active and maintain social contacts, it eases the pressure on the pension system.”

“It also reduces pensioner poverty whilst making a valuable contribution to society as younger workers gain valuable skills and knowledge from older colleagues.”

While the committee found plenty of anecdotal evidence of discrimination against older people in the work place, a lack of available information meant establishing actual facts to back up the claims proved difficult.

“Another important finding in this report is the lack of robust monitoring and evaluation of the extent of discrimination, and the effect of outcomes of Welsh Government policies on older people,” said the Assembly Member for Vale of Clwyd.

“Therefore one of our recommendations is that the Welsh Government works in partnership with key stakeholders, including older people themselves, to reveal the nature and extent of employment related discrimination against them.”

Other recommendations within the report are:

• The Welsh Government ensures that the development of all employment related policies and programmes specifically considers the particular challenges facing older people, and encourages the same across the public and private sectors.
• The Welsh Government routinely monitors and evaluates its business and employment support programmes in relation to age, as well as other equality strands so that it is possible to assess the impact of a programme on, for example, older women or older disabled people. To inform flexible and prompt reactions in times of economic change, information must be readily available to enable the assessment of the impact of on older people.
• The Welsh Government urges the UK Government to remove the mandatory retirement age.
• The Welsh Government collects information on the age of candidates applying for positions of employment in the organisation, as well as the age of those actually appointed.

Jenny Willott MP for Cardiff Central

Commenting on today’s report from the Human Genetics Commission on the DNA database, Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said:

“The idea that the police are arresting people that they normally wouldn’t, in order to obtain their DNA, is deeply worrying.

“This report is right to highlight that the government has made the accumulation of innocent peoples’ DNA a national police priority. But there is no evidence to show that this has actually increased conviction rates.

“This is not only an abuse of the innocent until proven guilty pillar of our criminal justice system, it is extremely costly. Our research shows that it has cost well over £700m.

“The government’s new proposals are nearly identical to the old ones that were thrown out of the Lords only a month ago. I hope that Parliament treats these measures with the same level of respect.”

Jenny Randerson

Commenting on today’s unemployment figures for Wales, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Economy Minister, Jenny Randerson AM said:

“Another month, another set of figures show that Welsh families are more likely to be facing unemployment and hardship than most other places in the UK.

“We are continuing to see high unemployment, high economic inactivity, and high claimant counts.

“What is even more concerning for me is that all the data is beginning to show a trend of harsh and nasty unemployment among young people. We are at increasing risk of losing a generation to unemployment, poor health and resulting social problems.

“These are problems which will continue long after the recession comes to an end, and the Government’s cuts to the FE and HE budgets will make this situation worse.”

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan MP said: “Unemployment in Wales continues to be a blight on the economy and on the lives of workers and their families struggling to survive Labour’s recession.

“In the last year 600 jobs a week have been lost in Wales. And in the last quarter almost half of all UK jobs lost have been in Wales.

“It’s clear that Gordon Brown and Rhodri Morgan’s plans to help Wales through the recession simply have not worked.

“That’s why Labour needs to take up our plans to Get Britain Working as a matter of urgency, providing more support for young people and creating thousands more apprenticeships and training places to prevent a generation being written off because of Gordon Brown’s recession.”

Shadow Minister for the Economy David Melding AM added: “These figures demonstrate that the short-termism of the Assembly Government’s approach has failed to reverse this damaging rise in unemployment.

“We need answers as to why despite a small fall in unemployment over the summer, we are witnessing a surge in job losses in Wales far greater than other parts of the United Kingdom.”

David Melding AM: “40,000 businesses will pay more in rates next year."

Forty thousand businesses in Wales will be hit by higher rates next year, Welsh Conservatives have learned.

The Assembly Government’s own figures suggest firms across the country will be hit with bigger bills from April, despite ministers claiming to help businesses during the recession.

Welsh Conservatives have also warned that a rise due to revaluation will come on top of a planned 1.5% rise in rates due to the Assembly Government’s decision to phase in a 5% rise over three years.

Shadow Minister for the Economy David Melding AM described the Assembly Government’s decision to lower the level at which business rates bills are calculated as “a smokescreen”.

He repeated the party’s call for the rates revaluation to be postponed until at least April 2011, and said ministers should consider Conservative plans to scrap or reduce the level of business rates for as many as 90,000 firms.

And he warned that the overall uncertainty about the impact of business rates next year was having a destabilising effect on the SME sector.

David Melding AM said: “By the Assembly Government’s own admission 40,000 businesses will pay more in rates next year.

“Instead of helping small businesses during the recession Labour and Plaid Cymru ministers are making life more difficult for them.

“Yesterday’s announcement to lower the level at which rates are calculated, while welcome, is nothing more than a smokescreen.

“If ministers really were on the side of Welsh businesses they would do everything in their power to postpone the rates revaluation planned for April and deliver a meaningful relief scheme to lift thousands out of rates altogether.

“They also need to end the uncertainty about the impact of revaluation and possible rates rise so businesses can plan for the future.

“Businesses want real support from the Assembly Government at a time of economic difficult.

“I acknowledge and welcome the fact as many as 64,000 businesses could see a rates reduction next year. But for tens of thousands more their rates will rise.

“For those businesses the increase will make life even harder as they struggle to cope with the impact of the recession.

“And for some it could determine whether or not they remain trading, lay off staff, or shut up shop altogether.”

BUSINESS RATES TO RISE IN WALES

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, Assembly Government figures predict that around 40,000 businesses will see their rates rise next year [FSB press release, 27 October 2009]. Firms across the country will also receive bills based on the new valuation by April next year. The Valuation Office Agency says the revaluation is not designed to raise extra revenue from business rates – it is used to ensure that business rates liabilities are redistributed in line with changes in the property market.

Labour must not slam foor in the face of the Tories: Cheryl Gillan

Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has challenged the three Welsh Labour leadership contenders to say how they would improve relations between the UK and Assembly governments.

Mrs Gillan said the three candidates needed to demonstrate a mature attitude towards co-operation between Cardiff and London. She warned the three hopefuls not to “slam the door” in the face of any future Conservative government at Westminster, claiming Wales would suffer as a result.

In her Manchester party conference speech earlier this month she said if appointed Secretary of State in a Conservative administration she would operate an “open door” policy in dealing with the Assembly Government.

And in a speech to the Bow Group last night she said “continuity, commitment and connections” are needed to make devolution deliver for Wales.

Mrs Gillan said:

“In the interests of positive outcomes for Wales the candidates should explain how they are going to make devolution work better within the United Kingdom through constructive engagement with Whitehall and Westminster.

“The three Labour leadership candidates need to demonstrate that they put the interests of Welsh voters first.

“The people of Wales expect politicians to get on and deliver policies that make a real difference to their lives.

“I would be happy to hear from all three Labour candidates as to how they see this relationship working – and I hope they are willing to listen to Conservative plans too.

“The public would like to see devolution work better. We must tackle the current problems facing Wales together, and deliver real change for our country.”

“This is an astonishing admission of waste and an indication of how the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government’s centralised control culture has undermined the work and efficiency of NHS Wales.

“We are not talking about a small amount of money. We are talking about significant sums which if spent properly could have made a material difference to the delivery of frontline patient care.

“The Labour Health Minister has some very serious questions to answer – and she must answer them now, not via some long, drawn-out consultation or taskforce.

“This affects the lives of every single person in Wales who is either currently using the NHS or has had cause to do so over the last decade.

“At a time of budget cuts people will expect significant changes to be made to ensure not a single penny of NHS expenditure is wasted.”

Morgan: "WAG is failing Welsh firms"

Information obtained by Cardiff North AM Jonathan Morgan reveals that more than half of all local authorities and a third of health boards have procured less than 12% of information communication technology (ICT) services from Welsh businesses. The majority have procured less than 5%.

The information came to light following a Freedom of Information request and follows recent Assembly Government statements committing the Labour-Plaid administration to procuring more public sector contracts from Welsh companies.

In a communiqué following the second all-Wales economic summit held last November the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and Welsh Secretary said they would “continue to maximise opportunities for Welsh companies to benefit from public sector contracts, building on the success to date.”

They added: “We recognise the need for clarity and consistency in the procurement process across the Welsh public sector.”

After the first economic summit ministers said they would announce “improvements to our procurement process for SMEs”.

Cardiff North AM Jonathan Morgan said:

“The Assembly Government made a specific point during the first two economic summits last year that they would continue to maximise opportunities for Welsh companies to benefit from public sector contracts.

“These figures clearly show that there has been very little success in this area.

“With the public sector accounting for nearly third thirds of all employment in Wales, it is a vital business artery for small and medium sized Welsh businesses.

“It is one businesses should be encouraged by all levels of government to tap in to if they are to survive the recession.

“Despite the numerous economic summits and policy statements from the Assembly Government jobs continue to be lost across Wales at an alarming rate.

“Unless medium to long-term measures are put in place now – including a review of public sector procurement contracts – Welsh business will be severely weakened.

“It will mean the Welsh economy could take much longer to recover from the recession than many other parts of the United Kingdom.”

Shadow Minister for the Economy David Melding AM said:

“These figures highlight the failure of the Assembly Government and public sector bodies to work more closely with private sector firms in Wales,

“At a time when Wales is being disproportionately hit by rising unemployment businesses across Wales need to be given every possible support.

“While I accept public sector bodies have to undergo a procurement process when identifying goods and services there are clear advantages of sourcing close to home.

“The public sector runs the risk of contributing to rising unemployment by failing to support Welsh businesses.

“In turn the Assembly Government is also guilty of failing to fulfil the commitments made in a blaze of publicity only a few months ago.”

The demand follows a decision to transfer emergency neurosurgery at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff due to staffing problems earlier this year.

Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies

South Wales Central AM Mr Davies said: “Perhaps the Labour leadership contest has taken her eye off the ball, but the sooner the Health Minister resolves this issue the better.

“The suspension of services in Swansea due to staffing issues was supposed to be a temporary measure. But we are now mid-way through October and there are appears to be no resolution.

“The pressures on the service are growing and there is now a serious danger of neurosurgery services collapsing in South Wales unless action is taken – as was demonstrated by surgeons from UHW during a meeting in the Assembly last week.

“It is vital we have a fully functioning service to ensure patient care is not put at risk.”

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, with the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, at the National Assembly

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has  praised individuals in Wales for their “exceptional” contribution to helping people through difficult situations at the first Recognising Achievements Reception for people in Mid and North Wales.

The Recognising Achievement Receptions were born out of an increased sense of pride in Wales and the call for our achievements to be recognised. The first reception of its kind was held in Caerphilly Castle in June to celebrate the achievements of people in West and South Wales, while today’s event will acknowledge the achievements of people in Mid and North Wales.

The First Minister said:

“In the 10 years since devolution there has been an increased sense of pride in Wales and an appetite for recognising our achievements. The Recognising Achievements Reception gives us a chance to do just that.

“I am delighted to be a part of these awards and celebrate the work that the ordinary people of Wales do for others. These awards are not about day to day responsibilities, but are about the exceptional contribution people have made for others. It is very humbling to hear some of the stories connected to these awards and I am pleased that the recipients are getting the recognition they deserve.

“These awards are a really important development for Wales, as well as being long overdue. Now at last we have a chance to properly thank the people in our very own communities for their hard work and dedication.”

Each year the Recognising Achievement Receptions will be themed. This year’s theme is Helping People in Difficult Situations. The people being recognised range from those who have raised money for a worthwhile cause, including Elin Haf Davies who raised money for Breast Cancer Care when her and three other female rowers completed a rowing race across the Indian Ocean, to those who have cared for and rescued others, such as Phil Benbow who has been involved in Mountain Rescue for over 30 years and with the help of his dog Jet saved two children from Snowdonia and who was also involved in advanced rescue techniques during the Lockerbie disaster.

Another person receiving recognition at the event is Robert Jones, who in July this year saved two children who got into trouble while swimming in the sea in Jersey. Robert was on his holiday at the time and was on the beach when a riptide swept out three adults and two children. Robert, who has served with the Welsh Guards in Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, managed to save 12-year-old Abi Chapman and bring her to safety, before strapping a surf board to his ankle and returning to the sea to save 10-year-old Tyler Ryan who was hundreds of metres from the shore. Both children were later released from hospital after being treated for hypothermia and exhaustion.

The reception will also recognise a couple who have provided invaluable help to their community, particularly through their commitment to the well being and care of the elderly despite their own advancing years. Both Edward Howes and his wife Winifred Howes have been the driving force behind a Thursday Luncheon Club at the Calvary Baptist Church in Rhyl. The club provides a three course meal for up to 60 people between the ages of 50-95. The club also provides a free minibus service to people who are unable to access public transport, which they both help to raise funds for. Although they have both now stepped down from the more physically demanding aspects of the club, they continue to provide advise and are still involved in the support of the housebound through visits and telephone calls.