Author: admin

  • PRESS RELEASE : Support package announced for people affected by the closure of Menai Suspension Bridge [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Support package announced for people affected by the closure of Menai Suspension Bridge [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 30 November 2022.

    Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters will visit the Menai Suspension Bridge today where he will unveil a package of support to ease the transport pressures on people travelling to and from Anglesey.

    The Deputy Minister, who has responsibility for transport, will also meet with representatives from Gwynedd and Anglesey councils to discuss the important maintenance works.

    The new package put together in partnership with UK Highways A55 Ltd and Anglesey and Gwynedd County Councils, includes an extensive range of measures, including free parking, traffic flow solutions, access to active travel routes and additional bus stops to support people affected by the bridge closure.

    From 1 December free parking will be available at car parks in Menai Bridge town and at the two park and share sites throughout December and January. This practical support measure has been put in place to assist local businesses dependent on Christmas trade, help reduce the numbers of vehicles wishing to cross the A55 Britannia Bridge and ease commuting times for those seeking to travel to and from Anglesey. These steps have been taken in addition to other signage measures that are currently in place.

    To assist with the loss of bus services on the island following the closure of the bridge, the council has provided additional stops closer to the Menai Suspension Bridge to allow the general public to travel by bus and walk across the bridge instead of being potentially held-up in traffic on the A55. They are also using their community transport to help the more rural communities affected by the bridge closure.

    Local authorities are also considering active travel routes to allow cyclists to use ‘hire bikes’ to potentially be used in Menai Bridge and Bangor.

    An emergency services contingency plan to utilise Menai Suspension Bridge when the A55 Britannia Bridge is closed has been developed and the gates on the Menai Suspension Bridge to allow emergency access across the structure during very extreme events were installed last week.

    Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters said:

    We understand people’s frustrations and the inconvenience and disruption caused to the local community.

    “We have been working closely with UK Highways A55 Ltd and local authorities to introduce these measures to help alleviate people’s concerns and ensure disruption is kept to a minimum as essential work continues on the Menai Suspension Bridge.

    Anglesey Council’s Leader, Councillor Llinos Medi, said,

    We are pleased to see these support measures introduced today. Since the closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge, we have been strongly advocating for support to be provided to local businesses.

    The Menai Suspension Bridge is a vital gateway to and from the town centre. We are hopeful these set of measures will go some way to help support local businesses that have reported a fall in trade since the closure of the bridge.

    We are currently analysing the results from a recent online survey shared with local businesses. This work will enable us to continue dialogue with Welsh Government in respect of further support, if needed, throughout the closure period. Menai Bridge is very much open for business, and I encourage residents and visitors to visit the town and support local businesses in the area.

  • Julie Morgan – 2022 Statement on the Review into the Death of Logan Mwangi

    Julie Morgan – 2022 Statement on the Review into the Death of Logan Mwangi

    The statement made by Julie Morgan, the Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Services, on 29 November 2022.

    Diolch, Llywydd. The death of any child is a cause of great sadness and I want to start by expressing my own deep sorrow at Logan Mwangi’s death, and to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to Mr Ben Mwangi and Logan’s wider family for their awful loss.

    The publication last week of the child practice review following the murder of Logan has, I am sure, been an extremely difficult time for Logan’s father and family, especially as it has brought to public attention further details regarding the events that resulted in Logan’s life being taken at such an early age. My heart goes out to him and to everyone affected by Logan’s death.

    I have read the report very carefully and I understand and accept the learning themes and recommendations made. At this stage, it would not be appropriate for me to respond in precise detail to all of the recommendations made, as further conversations are necessary with service providers. However, I am wholly committed to doing everything in my power to protect children and to pursue through the courts those who inflict such dreadful pain and misery on the most vulnerable in our society, and I will keep Members informed as work progresses.

    The purpose of the child practice review is not that of investigation, but to consider our services and help us to learn what we can to improve what we can do to protect children. I am grateful to the review panel for ensuring that they considered areas of learning that have been identified in other reviews throughout Wales and England while conducting this child practice review. It is right that we continue to consider the learning from other such tragic incidents in formulating the approach that is required to make improvements to ensure the protection of children in Wales.

    It is, however, a sad and recurring fact that such reviews share, in many cases, similar themes, particularly regarding challenges in sharing knowledge and information across agencies, issues regarding systems and processes, and concerns about leadership and culture. We would all wish for a world where such events as these could never happen and that this would be the last case of its kind. That we cannot always identify individuals who could act like those convicted of Logan’s murder would suggest that it won’t be. However, that must not prevent us from doing everything in our power to reduce the risk as much as we can and provide the help that children in Logan’s position need and deserve.

    The review clearly demonstrates that there is scope for practice improvement. Our focus must be to concentrate on the four key learning themes identified within the review that must be considered with the same care and urgency as the 10 local and five national recommendations identified. The learning themes identified are described in the report as being systematic and not isolated instances of individual error or poor practice. It is clear to see from the review that the recommendations are not allocated to one single agency. Child protection requires a multi-agency approach and, as such, all actions required to address these learning themes and implement the recommendations must be taken forward together, based on shared responsibility.

    The National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 set out the statutory duties for local authorities and local health boards in Wales. While these agencies, of course, must always adhere to such legislation, I will be looking to strengthen the ways in which agencies in Wales work more closely together to deliver our essential services. We all have a responsibility to implement the learning identified within this child practice review and to work together to carry out the actions required to effect change in the systems in which our professionals work and to support them in delivering their work. I expect all relevant agencies to consider the child practice review in full, to take immediate steps to consider how each theme and recommendation applies to them, and to identify how the learning themes and recommendations can be acted upon within the areas for which they are responsible. I will be contacting the senior leaders of agencies who have a responsibility in taking forward the recommendations of the review to ascertain their intended course of action in terms of their response to the child practice review.

    Welsh Government has a key strategic role in protecting children, especially the most vulnerable, and I fully accept my role as a Minister in that. In the light of this review and following the report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and work already under way in relation to our children’s services transformation programme and elsewhere, I will be accelerating work on a national practice framework to help inform decision making in children’s services. The framework will be a key foundation for how we work in Wales to ensure the best outcomes for our most vulnerable children. It’ll help us achieve greater commonality and more seamless working at local, regional and national level so that we can support children to remain with their families, and provide them with the support they need as we transition to fitting services around people, not people around services.

    Care Inspectorate Wales have agreed to undertake a rapid review of structures and processes in place to inform decisions about how a child is added to or removed from a child protection register, and I will act on their findings, as necessary. I am aware of the calls for an independent inquiry into children’s services in Wales. Having now read the child practice review, I remain convinced that the time is now for action and not for further review. The findings and recommendations of the child practice review have been generated with consideration of other reviews in England and Wales, and it must be our priority to do what we can now and not wait for another report to tell us what we know already that we have to do.

    To improve the multi-agency approach that I have outlined today, I want to remind Members that we are in the final stages of developing the single unified safeguarding review, which has been developed jointly with stakeholders across Wales. The single unified safeguarding review has been developed to reduce the need for multiple reviews against a same single incident, enabling the swifter completion of reviews, such as child and adult practice reviews, to identify and implement all learning more quickly and on a pan-Wales basis. The draft statutory guidance to support the single unified safeguarding review will be subject to a public consultation exercise, which is planned for early in the new year.

    Whilst it’s not routine practice to respond to child practice reviews, I and my Cabinet colleagues felt that it was entirely appropriate to recognise the publication of this review, and I’d like to take this opportunity to personally apologise to Mr Ben Mwangi and his family for the failings that contributed to the tragic loss of Logan’s young life. Diolch.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Leeks secures protection [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Leeks secures protection [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 29 November 2022.

    Wales’ national vegetable and emblem, the Welsh Leek, is now officially protected as it gains PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) UK GI status.

    It becomes the third new Welsh product to achieve the highly sought-after UK GI status, following on from Gower Salt Marsh Lamb and Cambrian Mountains Lamb.

    Welsh Leeks also becomes the 19th member of the Welsh GI family of products, joining the likes of other great produce such as Anglesey Sea Salt, Welsh Lamb, Welsh Beef and Pembrokeshire Earlies. Each family member is Welsh to the core and uniquely linked to the landscapes and seascapes which nurture them.

    The UK GI scheme was established at the beginning of 2021, following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and ensures certain food and drink products can continue to receive legal protection against imitation and misuse.

    From now on, Welsh Leeks sold with the UK GI logo will promote the heritage and culture of Wales and provide the product and consumers with certification of quality and uniqueness.

    The application for Welsh Leeks PGI status was led by Pembrokeshire’s Puffin Produce, who already have Pembrokeshire Earlies PGI under their belt.

    Huw Thomas, CEO, Puffin Produce, said:

    The leek is an iconic emblem of Wales – we are incredibly proud to be able to grow Welsh Leeks and the GI status is hugely important to promote the quality and heritage behind this majestic crop.

    Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said:

    This is great news today and I congratulate all those involved in gaining this prestigious award for Welsh Leeks. Leeks are a historic symbol of Wales, known across the world, and I’m very pleased to see this product gain the recognition and prestige it deserves.

    Welsh Leeks are grown and harvested in Wales and are a product of several hybrid varieties, rather than one specific variety.

    The hybrid varieties used to produce ‘Welsh Leeks’ are those most suited to Welsh growing conditions. They produce a final product which has its own specific characteristics, such as the predominant long distinctive dark green flag which comprises over 40% of the overall length of the leek.

    ‘Welsh Leeks’ are normally planted from late February through to May and harvested from August through until April/May, with some crops remaining in the ground for up to 12 months. The leeks can be left in the ground without affecting their quality, leading to slower maturation providing more time for the peppery flavour and buttery aroma to fully develop.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Funding announced for culture, heritage and sport actions of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Funding announced for culture, heritage and sport actions of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 27 November 2022.

    The Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden has announced £4.5m over the next three years to support the delivery of the culture, heritage and sport goals and actions in the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

    The Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden has announced £4.5 million over the next three years to support the delivery of the culture, heritage and sport goals and actions in the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

    The Action Plan is part of the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government and the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru.

    More than £2.8 million has been shared between 22 local, regional, national or independently run culture, heritage and sport organisations across Wales.

    All projects receiving funding have a focus on co-production, demonstrating a commitment to placing lived experience at the centre of policy, service development and delivery.

    The Deputy Minister, said:

    Our national and local museums, galleries, libraries, theatres, and sporting venues need to be inclusive of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and places. Our culture, heritage and sports services must be culturally competent and reflective of the history and contribution made by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people to Welsh society.

    I am committed to delivering the goals and actions in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan and the Programme for Government commitments within my portfolio. I look forward to our continued progress as we deliver meaningful change with and for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people across Wales.

    Designated Member, Sian Gwenllian, said:

    When launching the Anti Racist Wales Action Plan we committed to take clear and pointed action to deliver our vision. This funding represents an important step towards realising the vision set out in the plan, and the breadth of organisations across Wales who have been awarded funding reflects an exciting opportunity to embed change through all of the projects and initiatives that will be supported.

    Sports and the arts can be powerful vehicles for creating meaningful change as we strive to reach our vision for an anti racist Wales. I am glad that through the Co-operation Agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government that we have been able to fund so many schemes in all parts of Wales.

    The Deputy Minister recently visited Monlife Heritage in Aberavenny and Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham, to hear how they will use the new funding.

    MonLife Heritage has received funding to improve interpretation of collections so they honestly tell their complex stories, better representing their links to slavery, colonisation and empire and respect their impact on communities past and present.

    Cllr. Sara Burch, Monmouthshire County Council’s cabinet member for Inclusive and Active Communities, said:

    We are proud to be part of the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. Ensuring that our heritage collections are truly representative and reflective of our diverse community is very important.

    We are determined that all Monmouthshire’s places of culture, arts and sport should be inclusive places and reflect the tremendous contribution of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members of the community. We are grateful for Welsh Government funding that will enable MonLife Heritage in Abergavenny Museum and Chepstow Museum to continue this work.

    Ty Pawb has received support for the future development of the recently established Multicultural Hub and the funding will support Tŷ Pawb’s Useful Art Space to host a range of activities led by Wrexham’s diverse communities; these will be directed by participants, and will include arts and crafts, music and dance, culinary exchanges, cultural celebrations and other exciting activities.

    Cllr Hugh Jones – WCBC Lead Member with responsibility for Tŷ Pawb:

    The grant funding award is fantastic news and will be key in supporting us to deliver the outcomes of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

    The funding will support the excellent partnership work being undertaken by Tŷ Pawb, our Community Cohesion team and Race Council Cymru, reaching out to local and regional diverse community groups and empowering them to actively lead and take advantage of cultural, arts, heritage and sport opportunities.

    I wish the teams every success with the project and look forward to seeing the development of the exciting new North Wales Multicultural HUB pilot.

    £1.67 million has also been awarded to the Welsh Government’s cultural and sport arm’s length bodies.

    Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, the Arts Council of Wales, the National Library of Wales, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales and Sport Wales will use the funding to build on existing and new programmes of activity, accelerating their work on anti-racism at a national level.

    Funding for Sport Wales will focus on the development and delivery of anti-racist training over a three-year period. The funding for the National Library of Wales will support several projects, including The Communities of Wales, which tells stories through the lens of people who moved to Wales. And the funding for Amgueddfa Cyrmru will enable more cultural programmes and events to be co-designed with community-based organisations, individuals and artists.

    Funding for the Arts Council of Wales will enable the appointment of more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic creative practitioners and funding for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales will develop the Places We Remember project, which records the heritage of Welsh Asian communities in Wales.

    Supportive comments

    Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE, Founder and CEO Race Council Cymru:

    Race Council Cymru is delighted that its Wrexham Multicultural Hub had worked with partners to propose a brilliant initiative which will make a huge difference to the lives of our front line and grassroots ethnic communities. We are looking forward to the transformational change this grant will bring

    Iolanda Viegas, Race Council Cymru, North Wales Representative:

    We are very thrilled and grateful for this funding that will support the Multicultural Hub to engage and work with the diverse communities from North Wales.

  • Jane Hutt – November 2022 Update on Ukraine

    Jane Hutt – November 2022 Update on Ukraine

    The statement made by Jane Hutt, the Welsh Minister for Social Justice, in the Welsh Parliament on 22 November 2022.

    Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide an update to Members about our ongoing work to support people from Ukraine seeking sanctuary in Wales.

    When I last updated you in October, Wales had welcomed just under 6,000 Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, including under our supersponsor route. Arrivals have continued at a slow but steady pace, and just over 6,100 Ukrainians sponsored by the Welsh Government and Welsh households had arrived in Wales by 15 November. There have been additional arrivals under the Ukraine family scheme, but we are not given that data by the UK Government.

    More than 8,450 visas have now been granted to people from Ukraine who have sponsors in Wales, so we can expect the number of arrivals to continue to grow. We are mindful that events in Ukraine can have a direct impact on the number of Ukrainians who may arrive in Wales, and although we have seen a small number of individuals seeking to return to Wales after a period back in Ukraine, we are not seeing a significant change at present.

    I was very disappointed not to see any clarity in the autumn statement about the financial future of the Ukraine schemes. We have repeatedly called for funding parity between the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the Ukraine family scheme and the Ukraine extension scheme. We urgently need confirmation of year 2 and 3 funding to support the delivery of public services, as well as continued and uplifted host ‘thank you’ payments. The latter would ensure hosting arrangements can continue despite cost-of-living impacts.

    Without certainty around future funding, Welsh Government, local government and Welsh hosts are all facing difficult choices about the support we can provide to Ukrainians seeking sanctuary. We hope the UK Government will provide this clarity quickly. In response to my letters to UK Ministers about these issues, I am pleased to say that I heard from the new lead Minister for Homes for Ukraine, Felicity Buchan MP, last week. Despite this uncertainty about the finances, a meeting has been convened for Thursday with the Scottish Government Minister, Neil Gray MSP, and myself, regarding our financial position.

    We remain focused on supporting people into longer term accommodation, so that they can have more settled lives. Over 700 Ukrainians being supported via the supersponsor route have now moved on from initial accommodation, over 500 of these within Wales, either with hosts, in the private rented sector or in other transitional and longer term housing. However, the wider pressures on housing across Wales mean that we cannot support people into longer term accommodation as quickly as we would like. We will therefore, continue to urge potential hosts to come forward and register an interest at gov.wales/offerhome. Hosting provides swift, flexible and cost-effective accommodation that enables people to regain some independence and to integrate with local communities. We know that some individuals and families have come forward to offer their homes and are still waiting to become hosts. I’m very grateful for their generosity. We are working closely with local authorities and Housing Justice Cymru to help support the matching process. But we still have nowhere near enough hosts to accommodate all who need support. We would also urge those thinking about hosting to visit Housing Justice Cymru’s website and join an introduction to hosting seminar to find out more.

    I’d like to focus the rest of this statement on an important commemoration that we discussed in this Chamber in May. This November marks the start of the ninetieth anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine. This was the man-made famine that caused millions to die and was bravely exposed to the world, in part, by Welsh journalist Gareth Jones. The debate in May was an important reflection on those events and we committed to commemorating the event in Wales.

    On the fourth Saturday in each November, Holodomor is commemorated internationally. We will be organising an event at Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff, alongside so many other important memorials to peace. The event will include participation by me, the First Minister and Counsel General, local government, religious leaders, and the deputy ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom. Ukrainians will be invited to attend and we will lay wreaths to remember those who suffered during previous actions perpetrated by a government in Moscow. After the commemoration, we will promote Holodomor remembrance on our social media channels to try to raise awareness further. Last week, we also wrote to hosts across Wales to ensure they knew about Holodomor and encouraged them to discuss plans with their guests.

    Putin’s current atrocities in Ukraine are part of a longer term pattern of aggression against the people of Ukraine stretching back many decades, and marking Holodomor in this way shines a light on this. Gareth Jones, the journalist from Wales, writing about the man-made famine instigated by Stalin made clear that the affected Ukrainians did not seek pity and he remarked upon their fortitude. I think we can all see those characteristics on show in Ukraine again today. And whilst we honour the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of Putin’s aggression, we also reaffirm our commitment to help Ukrainians here in Wales to record their knowledge of war crimes committed in more recent times.

    Through the founding of Donetsk and the reporting of Gareth Jones, as well as the more-than 500 Ukrainians who called Wales home before this conflict, our countries had several threads that connected us. Now, we are home to probably more than 7,000 Ukrainians and those many threads between our peoples bind us together more strongly than ever. I know all Members will join me in expressing Welsh solidarity with all Ukrainians on the anniversary of Holodomor.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Climate Change Minister announces major step towards zero waste and net zero ambitions during Wales Climate Week [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Climate Change Minister announces major step towards zero waste and net zero ambitions during Wales Climate Week [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 22 November 2022.

    “Recycling is what we do”. Those were the words of Climate Change Minister Julie James as she set out major steps Wales will take to combat the climate and nature emergencies.

    The Minister announced plans to increase the quality and level of recycling from businesses, the public and third sectors in Wales, ensuring they separate key recyclable materials in the same way the majority of Wales’ householders already do.

    They will build on the vast improvements Wales has seen in recycling rates thanks to Welsh Government investment of £1bn since devolution.

    The results speak for themselves with municipal recycling rates growing exceptionally from just 4.8% in 1998-1999, to more than 65% in 2021-22.

    Wales can also be proud that our recycling efforts already make a significant difference to emissions, saving around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 per year from being released into the atmosphere.

    Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said:

    Every person in Wales has played their part in increasing our recycling rates exponentially. It has been a real Team Wales approach and recycling is now a part of who we are.

    In the World Cup of recycling, as the third best recycling nation, we’d be a shoo-in for the semi-finals. But taking a page out of Cymru’s book, we want to go further.

    These proposals will deliver significant carbon savings, increase consistency in the way recyclable materials are collected across Wales and bring significant positive benefits for the economy.

    During this cost of living crisis especially, ensuring high quality material can go back into the Welsh economy is a key way in which we can improve the resilience of our domestic supply chains.

    Quite simply, these reforms are a key part of how we can build a stronger, greener economy – creating a more prosperous Wales, now and for future generations.

    Learning from the recycling success to date, the proposals support the Welsh Government’s ‘Beyond Recycling’ ambition which has set a bold target to achieve zero waste in Wales by 2050 by keeping resources in use.

    These recycling reforms not only help to move away from single use, but also decrease emissions and improve supply chain resilience, benefiting the economy as well as the environment by turning what was waste into recyclable commodities and reducing the damage to nature and biodiversity caused by the extraction and processing of raw materials.

    For individual businesses and organisations, the reforms will help support the move away from waste disposal being a significant cost, to one where that waste material is instead effectively captured and returned into the economy.

    The consultations will be open for 12 weeks, closing on Wednesday, February 15 2023.

  • Hannah Blythyn – 2022 Statement on Supporting Armed Forces and Veterans Communities in Wales

    Hannah Blythyn – 2022 Statement on Supporting Armed Forces and Veterans Communities in Wales

    The statement made by Hannah Blythyn, the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership in Wales, on 21 November 2022.

    Following the recent Remembrance period during which the country paid tribute to our Service People, Veterans and their families, I am pleased to inform Senedd Members of two significant and positive developments that will help support delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant across Wales.

    The Office for National Statistics and Office for Veterans Affairs launched a UK-wide Veterans Survey on 10 November.  The survey aims to learn more about the lives of the UK Armed Forces community, veterans and their families.  The questions in the survey ask about access to services and circumstances since leaving the Armed Forces.  It also asks about lifestyle, health and well-being.  The Welsh Government has been fully involved in the development of the survey, alongside our counterparts from across the Devolved nations.  The anonymous data from the survey will enable the Welsh Government, UK Government departments, public bodies and charities to further fine tune our plans for meeting the needs of Veterans into the future.

    Early indications are of a significant response to the survey, including from Wales. The survey is anticipated to close in February 2023 and Senedd Members can help in extending its reach.  The survey can be found at: Veterans’ Survey – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

    I am also pleased to inform Senedd Members that the Armed Forces Covenant Duty will come into force on 22 November 2022.  As I updated Members of the Senedd in October 2021, the duty will have implications for public bodies working in health, housing and education.  Bodies will be expected to pay due regard to the Covenant when developing, delivering and reviewing policies and decisions relating to the Armed Forces community and to help improve their access to public services.  We have worked with the UK Government to develop the Statutory Guidance to accompany this duty, which can be found at: Armed Forces Covenant Duty Statutory Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

  • PRESS RELEASE : “Fair access to Sustainable Farming Scheme for tenant farmers is vital for its success” – Welsh Minister Lesley Griffiths [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : “Fair access to Sustainable Farming Scheme for tenant farmers is vital for its success” – Welsh Minister Lesley Griffiths [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 21 November 2022.

    The first meeting of a new Tenancy Working Group has taken place with the aim of ensuring the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) is accessible and suitable for tenant farmers across Wales.

    In July the Welsh Government published its most detailed proposals so far on future support for farmers.

    The SFS is being designed to support farmers produce food sustainably, alongside taking action to lower their carbon footprint and benefit nature. Importantly, the scheme is being designed so all farmers can access it.

    The newly established Tenancy Working Group is made up of a number stakeholder organisations, including the Tenant Farmers Association, CLA, NFU Cymru and FUW.

    It will be exploring aspects of the SFS proposals such as contract length and practicality of the Universal Actions, which are designed to be met by all farmers including tenant farmers, as well as any other issues which would impact tenant farmers’ ability to join the scheme.

    The findings of this Tenancy Working Group will contribute to the final consultation on scheme design in 2023. Farmers will start transitioning to the SFS from 2025.

    Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said:

    Tenanted land makes up a significant portion of farmland in Wales and if the SFS does not work for the tenanted sector then it does not work at all.

    We must keep farmers on the land and all farmers should be able to access the scheme

    Engagement with the new working group we have established will help us make sure the scheme is accessible and suitable for tenant farmers across Wales.

    I am grateful for the ongoing support of our stakeholders in the continuing development of the scheme to support farmers in the sustainable production of food and helping to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

    The outline proposals include a series of actions separated into three layers:

    The first layer is a set of Universal Actions – actions that every farm should be able to deliver to receive a Baseline Payment. To prevent a barrier to scheme entry, all Universal Actions are being designed to be delivered by farmers on tenancy agreements.

    Farmers who want to go further, can receive extra payments by choosing from a range of Optional Actions depending on what suits their farm. Actions which cannot be delivered on short-term or restrictive tenancies will be in the optional layer unless there are suitable exemptions for tenant farmers.

    There will also be opportunity for farmers to work together on Collaborative Actions at a local or regional scale to deliver outcomes that cannot be delivered on a single farm.

    Working groups are also being established to explore other themes in relation to the SFS such as common land and new entrants.

     

  • Dawn Bowden – 2022 Statement on Delivering the Culture, Heritage and Sport Actions in the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan

    Dawn Bowden – 2022 Statement on Delivering the Culture, Heritage and Sport Actions in the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan

    The statement made by Dawn Bowden, the Welsh Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip, on 22 November 2022.

    I am pleased to announce grant awards of £4.5m over the next three years to support the delivery of the culture, heritage and sport goals and actions in our Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, and our related Programme for Government and Co-operation Agreement commitments. I am grateful for the support and contribution from the Plaid Cymru Designated Member as we take forward this important work.

    To eradicate institutional and systematic racism we must collectively and collaboratively work together to bring about change.

    I have awarded just over £1.67m to our cultural and sport arm’s length bodies and more than £2.8m to 22 local, regional, national or independently run culture, heritage and sport organisations across Wales. This builds on the investment I made last financial year of almost £350,000 to begin the preparatory work with organisations including the National Library for Wales, the Archives and Records Council Wales and Race Council Cymru.

    All the projects receiving funding have a focus on co-production, demonstrating our commitment to placing lived experience at the center of policy, service development and delivery.

    Our national and local museums, galleries, libraries, theatres, and sporting venues need to be inclusive of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and places. Our culture, heritage and sports services must be culturally competent and reflective of the history and contribution made by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people to Welsh society.

    Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, the Arts Council of Wales, the National Library of Wales, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales and Sport Wales will use the funding to build on existing and new programmes of activity, accelerating their work on anti-racism at a national level.

    Funding for Sport Wales will focus on the development and delivery of anti-racist training over a three-year period. The funding for the National Library of Wales will support several projects, including The Communities of Wales, which tells stories through the lens of people who moved to Wales. And the funding for Amgueddfa Cyrmru will enable more cultural programmes and events to be co-designed with community-based organisations, individuals and artists.

    Funding for the Arts Council of Wales will enable the appointment of more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic creative practitioners and funding for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales will develop the Places We Remember project, which records the heritage of Welsh Asian communities in Wales.

    The 22 other organisations to be supported are:

    • Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
    • Archives and Records Council Wales
    • Association of Independent Museums
    • Beyond the Border Wales
    • Butetown Arts and Culture Association
    • Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
    • EatSleep Media
    • GEM Cymru (Group for Education in Museums)
    • Glamorgan Archives
    • Gôl Centre
    • Dr Marian Gwyn
    • Hijinx
    • KIRAN Cymru
    • Makers Guild of Wales
    • Monlife Heritage
    • North Wales Regional Equality Network
    • Race Council Cymru
    • Show Racism the Red Card Wales
    • Tennis Wales
    • Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru
    • Tŷ Pawb and Wrexham County Borough Council Community Cohesion team
    • Women Connect First

    Last week, I visited two projects – Monlife Heritage and Tŷ Pawb – to hear how they will use the new funding and the difference it will make.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Every household in Wales can collect and plant a tree as over 50 hubs open across the country [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Every household in Wales can collect and plant a tree as over 50 hubs open across the country [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 18 November 2022.

    Households across Wales can collect their tree, free of charge, from tomorrow as part of an ambitious Welsh Government giveaway to tackle the climate and nature emergencies – an initiative called My Tree Our Forest.

    Over 50 collection hubs facilitated by Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, are set to open their doors to the public. Behind them is an army of dedicated volunteers ready to share expert growing advice in choosing the right tree for the right space.

    A whopping 295,000 trees are up for grabs and their planting will contribute to the National Forest for Wales. Ten different species of native and broadleaf trees are available to choose from. These are:

    • Hazel,
    • Rowan,
    • Hawthorn,
    • Silver Birch,
    • Crab Apple,
    • Sessile Oak,
    • Dogwood,
    • Dog Rose,
    • Field Maple,
    • Elder.

    As well as sucking carbon from the air, improving our mental health and cleaning the air we breathe, broadleaf trees are a haven for birds and wildlife.
    Speaking at a visit to Bedford Park in Bridgend where the first trees were being collected, Deputy Climate Change Minister, Lee Waters said:

    Trees are a lifeline to us and all of the amazing life that they support. Where would our birds, insects and animals be without them… where would we be without them?

    I want everyone in Wales to check out our website to find your nearest tree giveaway hub and pick up your free broadleaf tree from tomorrow. On site, our wonderful volunteers will be ready with their expert advice to help you choose the right tree for your space and situation.

    As COP27 draws to a close in Egypt, our continued Team Wales effort in fronting up to the climate and nature emergencies is essential.

    By growing a beautiful tree in your own backyard, you can kickstart your contribution and help grow a healthy and happy Wales for us and our future generations to benefit from.

    In order to become a Net Zero Wales by 2050, experts have advised that Wales must plant 86 million trees over the next decade.

    I would like to thank all involved at Coed Cadw for partnering with us to deliver this project and I look forward to seeing its impact on our environment.

    Natalie Buttriss, Director of Coed Cadw said:

    Trees have always offered simple and cost-effective solutions to the challenges we all face and through the My Tree Our Forest initiative, we hope to inspire people from all backgrounds, regions and walks of life to get involved, and as a result, feel more connected to the multiple benefits that trees can bring.

    Members of the Welsh public are encouraged to collect a tree, free of charge, from a regional hub near them. On collection they will receive advice from trained volunteers on how to plant and care for their new tree.

    For those unable to attend a hub to collect a tree, from the 21st of November, one can be ordered online and delivered to their door. Alternatively, a tree can be planted on their behalf, helping to grow a National Forest for Wales, home by home.