Port Talbot Waterfront Enterprise Zone Created
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David Rees AM, Unit 6, Water Street Business Centre, Gwyn Terrace, Aberavon 01639 870779 PORT TALBOT WELSH WATERFRONT GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISE RESPONSE TO UK GOVERNMENT ZONE CREATED BUDGET Welsh Labour’s Economy Minister Edwina Hart has announced the establishment of the Port Talbot Waterfront Enterprise Zone to help Welsh Labour’s Finance and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt has responded to create economic growth and jobs for the area recently hit by steel job losses. the UK Government’s Budget. The Enterprise Zone status will offer financial incentives to companies based there, including tax and business rate breaks, and was one of the key actions to come out of the Jane Hutt said: “This Budget is the third in ten months. Tata Steel Task Force to help support the steel industry. Plans announced in November have been reviewed already. Port Talbot Waterfront is already well placed to become an Enterprise Zone because of its This chaotic stop-start approach is not helpful to us in terms high skill levels, location, infrastructure, and connectivity. The Enterprise Zone will be based of our own Budget planning or for businesses who need around established and potential employment sites in the area which have significant consistency not constant change. We have barely agreed our plans for 16-17 and the underlying figures have changed capacity for supporting new businesses. again. This contrasts sharply with the stability and certainty The Enterprise Zone will be based around the employment sites of: that the Welsh Government seeks to provide in our budget process. • Baglan Energy Park • Baglan Industrial Estate and “The small addition to our Budget, does not reverse six • Habourside / Port Talbot Docks. years of austerity. Yet again it is the most vulnerable in our A map of the area will be made available shortly. Port Talbot Waterfront Enterprise Zone is society that will be on the receiving end of these further Wales’ eighth Enterprise Zone. As of end of September 2015, the other seven Zones had spending cuts and welfare changes. As we’ve seen so often created, assisted or safeguarded over 7,795 jobs in Wales and paved the way for further from the Chancellor, there has been no hesitation to apply investment and development. yet more needless austerity despite the consequences.” 1% PAY RISE FOR ALL “As a Government, we have always been clear that austerity is a choice and we are providing an alternative clear way forward despite austerity. We have a track record of WELSH NHS STAFF delivering in these difficult financial times and will continue to do all we can to mitigate the effects of these further cuts NHS Wales employees will receive a 1% pay to public spending in Wales. We have never shied away rise, the Welsh Government has announced. from investing in our infrastructure during the recession. I was pleased that after months of detailed negotiations, we More than 7,000 of the lowest paid NHS staff will also receive a backdated pay rise as were able to secure a City Deal for the Cardiff Capital the uplift to the living wage applied from 1 January – the living wage has risen to £8.25 Region - it will have a positive long term economic impact from £7.85. The Welsh Labour Government has led the way with its commitment for the across the region. Yesterday’s City Deal has opened the NHS in Wales to be a Living Wage employer which means that the lowest earners in door for other areas of Wales including the Swansea Bay NHS Wales are paid a fair salary, as recommended by the Living Wage Foundation. Region’s bid and North Wales. We look forward to working Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford has accepted the recommendations with these regions to support their ambitions.” on pay from both the NHS Pay Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration. The pay rises, including the living wage, will cost an estimated “We’ve always called for the abolition of the Severn Tolls - £40m a year. the Chancellor has half listened but should have gone published by David Rees AM, Unit 6, Water Street Business Centre, Gwyn Terrace, Aberavon, Port Talbot SA12 6LG The deal includes: further and abolished them. It is disappointing once again • A 1% consolidated pay increase for all Agenda for Change staff in the Welsh NHS; that there is nothing on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon in • A 1% consolidated pay increase for salaried doctors and dentists; this Budget. It is also disappointing that the UK Government has decided to continue its procrastination over the rinted and • A 1% increase to the minimum and maximum of the salary range for salaried GPs; P devolution of Air Passenger Duty. This discriminatory • GPs in Wales will receive an overall uplift of 2.2% in pay and expenses on a similar basis to that in England; approach is unacceptable and unjustifiable and we will now • Dental contracts will increase by 1.1% for pay and practice costs.; look at ways of offsetting the impact of this tax on our • No pay rise for NHS Senior Executives; national airport and our economy.” EXTRA STAFF TO WELSH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT NEW PUBLISHES ALTERNATIVE WALES BILL MOTHERS The Welsh Labour Government Welsh Labour’s Health and Social Services Minister Mark has published an alternative to the Drakeford has announced that new perinatal mental health UK Government’s draft Wales Bill, services will be set up across Wales, with 30 new one which would deliver a stable, specialist staff backed by £1.5m of new investment. long-term devolution settlement for the people of Wales. The new community -based specialist services in every Welsh health Welsh Labour’s First Minister, Carwyn Jones said his government was taking the board will help to improve mental health outcomes for women with unprecedented step in the spirit of moving the devolution process forward. perinatal illnesses, their babies and their families. The teams will include doctors, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals who The Government and Laws in Wales Bill is designed to bring clarity and stability to will provide prenatal and postnatal care. They will work closely with the Welsh devolution settlement within the context of a strong United Kingdom. It general mental health services and maternity services to offer has been designed to put a full stop to the years of constitutional wrangling which treatment and support at this important time for women and their has been a feature of the Welsh devolution story over the last 18 years and would babies. bring the Welsh system more closely into line with devolution in the rest of the UK. Figures show that that between one in 10 and one in 15 mothers The Welsh Government’s Bill includes a reduced number of ‘reserved’ matters, experience postnatal depression and around one in 500 mothers can based on the principle of subsidiarity and careful consideration of which matters experience severe but treatable mental illness. need to be dealt with at a UK level. It also introduces a future-proofing element by including the areas the Silk Commission envisaged would be devolved over the next Each health board has submitted proposals which have been agreed decade, including responsibility for the civil and criminal law and the administration for collaborative and multi-disciplinary perinatal services, which will of justice. In the meantime, the Bill provides for a distinct legal jurisdiction for Wales, build on existing services and can be rolled out across their local area. along lines which the National Assembly for Wales has already supported unanimously. NEW CHOOSE PHARMACY NEW AUTISM SERVICE FOR WALES TO BE ESTABLISHED SCHEME TO BE ROLLED OUT ACROSS WALES A new national autism service for Wales, which will provide lifetime support for children and adults, will be set up in Wales, Welsh Labour’s Pharmacists across Wales will provide new NHS services for Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford has announced. people with minor illnesses, Welsh Labour’s Deputy Health The service is a key part of the Welsh Labour Government’s refreshed Autistic Minister Vaughan Gething has announced. Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan, which has been launched for consultation. The Welsh Government published its original strategic action plan in 2008, which was the first of its kind in the UK. The refreshed Autistic Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan focuses on raising awareness of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD); ensuring information, advice and training is available to all; improving assessment, diagnosis and support for people with ASD; addressing support needs and ensuring The Choose Pharmacy service will see pharmacists take responsibility for people have access to a good education and career advice and support. For more informatin contact Lisa on 01639 870779 managing a range of minor ailments. People will be able to see their pharmacist for free treatment instead of making an appointment to see their GP. The scheme will help to free up GP time to deal with people with more complex needs – up to 18% of GPs’ workload and 8% of emergency department consultations are estimated to relate to minor ailments, such as coughs, colds, ear ache, hay fever, conjunctivitis and head lice. @DavidReesAM Choose Pharmacy will also see pharmacists undertaking medication reviews when people are discharged from hospital and providing an emergency supply of prescribed medicines at evenings and weekends. http://www.david-rees.com These services will also help demand on both out-of-hours GPs and emergency departments. Community pharmacies in Wales will be fully integrated with GPs and hospitals as part of a £750,000 investment from the Welsh Government’s https://www.facebook.com/DavidReesAMAberavon Efficiency Through Technology Fund.