Budget update

Last week’s budget from the Chancellor is set to bring more cuts and misery to communities across the Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney Constituency. We heard from Theresa May just a few weeks ago, that austerity was over. Last week’s budget demonstrates that that this Tory Government remains out of touch with the misery that they have inflicted on public services and local councils across the UK. This is a budget of broken promises. Since 2010, we have seen huge cuts to our public services, the block grant to the Welsh Government has been cut by 7.2%, meaning that has around £4 billion less to spend now than if the budget had kept pace with inflation. Unless this Tory Government changes course and starts to properly invest in our public services, our local services will continue to be hit badly and will likely mean further cuts to highway maintenance, grass cutting, libraries, community and leisure centres as well as have an impact on schools and school initiatives. Let us make no mistake, the ongoing cuts are down to the austerity being driven by this out of touch Tory Government in Westminster. This budget does not signal the end of austerity, the only thing it will deliver is more cuts and misery to families and communities. Welcoming Rhymney Silurian Male Choir to Westminster I was delighted to recently welcome Rhymney Silurian Male Choir to perform in Westminster for other Members of Parliament, Peers and staff. The Rhymney Silurian Male Choir was formed in 1951 and swiftly established a reputation for the quality of its performance and variety of its repertoire. So much so that the choir’s performance drew in numerous MPs and staff, including Shadow Cabinet members, Emily Thornberry MP and MP, Shadow Defence Minister, MP, and Shadow Women and Equalities Minister and Deputy Leader of , MP. Following their performance, members of the Choir were given a tour of the Palace of West- minster and a range of other MPs including Dennis Skinner. I was extremely pleased that the event was a success and I know that the Choir is grateful to Rhymney Community Council, Wales and West Housing and RPC bpi Recycling who contribut- ed towards the cost of transport for the choir.

Saying ‘Thank You’ to First World War Generation I was pleased to visit the Royal British Legion’s stand at Labour Party conference in September to hear about their work leading up to the centenary of the end of the First World War. To the miners who contributed to the war effort; to the women who kept our home fires burning; we should indeed say ‘Thank You’. The Royal British Legion has launched a movement to say ‘Thank You’ to all who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War. This year is the centenary of the end of the First World War and the charity is calling on mass involvement from the public to recognise the legacy left to us by the entire First World War generation. ‘Thank You’ honours not only the 1.1 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who lost their lives in the First World War, but also those who played their part on the home front, and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come. I also recently attended the opening of the World War One exhibition on display in Aberfan Library, with Dawn Bowden AM and Councillor Darren Roberts, which will remain open until 11th November.

Launching the extension of the Martyrs Business Network to Rhymney in Idris At the Business Dinner with Dawn Bowden Davies School with Phil Jones from AM and Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary Martyrs Business Network for Economy and Transport Universal Credit Universal Credit for new claims has now rolled out in both parts of the constituency. My office continues to receive complaints from constituents in hardship due to Welfare reform. In Westminster, the Labour Party is leading the opposition to these ill thought out changes that are causing such anxiety to families across the country. I highlighted this issue last week in Welsh questions, when I urged the Minister to reconsider the online system only and reintroduce telephone claims to help constituents who do not have access to a computer. I have received many emails from constituents calling for the rollout of UC to be paused. A report by the National Audit Office found UC may end up costing more than the benefit system it is replacing. It also stated that it cannot be proven UC helps more claimants into work and concluded it is unlikely to ever deliver value for money. In yesterday’s budget the Chancellor announced an extra £1bn to help welfare claimants transfer onto UC, the full details will be set out later this year. I am deeply concerned that UC is failing in its current form, which is why the Opposition has committed to a root-and-branch review of the social security system.

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Call: 01685 383739 Email: [email protected] Write to: Oldway House, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8UX Awarding Disability Confident Employers I recently opened a Disability Confident Event, organised by Merthyr Tydfil Institute of the Blind and Job Centre Plus to present certificates to local employers who are ‘Disability Confident’. Disability Confident is designed to help businesses recruit and retain disabled people and people with health conditions for their skills and talent. The event saw a range of employers attend, who heard from a number of employers and organisations, including Delsion, Next, Case-UK, Mer- thyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind, Access to Work. Employers were also able to sign up to Disability Confident. During the event, I also had the pleasure of presenting certificates to the employers for being Disability Confident. Our area is made up of diverse towns and villages and we recognise that everyone is different and we should treat these differences with respect. We really value the diversity of everyone that live and work in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Community meeting on Lloyds Bank closure Following the announcement by Lloyds Bank that they were closing their branch on the High Street in Rhymney, I along with Dawn Bowden AM and local Councillors, organised a community meeting in early September to listen to the concerns of residents before they met with Lloyds Bank to put the concerns to the bank and ask questions on behalf of local people.

Residents raised concerns around the alternative arrangements being suggested by Lloyds Bank including some mobile provision and are seeking guarantees to ensure that any alternative will provide the necessary facilities needed by residents and local businesses.

Having met with Lloyds Bank, Gerald and Dawn were able to advise that the mobile banking provision which Lloyds have promised will be starting on 7th January 2019 and will be in Rhymney three mornings a week: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

It was suggested that grants provided by Lloyds Bank be used to open a branch of the Credit Union in the town centre. This was welcomed by the meeting and Dawn and Gerald will now liaise with Caerphilly CBC & Smart Money Credit Union to further explore this option.

As a particular concern to residents, Gerald and Dawn also informed the meeting that they are arranging to meet with LINK regarding the availability of free ATMs in the Upper Rhymney Valley.

After serving the community for decades, in August 2018, Lloyds Bank announced they would be closing their branch in Rhymney on 23rd January 2019. Around the Constituency September

23rd –  Labour Party Annual Conference, Liverpool 26th

26th  Street surgery, Pentrebach

27th  Launch of new branch of Merthyr Business Network in Rhymney Valley

 Visit to Idris Davies Primary School, Rhymney

 Catch-up with local Neighbourhood Policing Team in Merthyr Tydfil October

1st  Community meeting in Rhymney with Dawn Bowden AM re: Lloyds Bank closure

2nd  Vaynor Branch Labour Party meeting

3rd  Visit to Ysgol Y Lawnt School in Rhymney

 Visit to 15 (Merthyr Tydfil) Squadron Air Cadets

4th  Visit to Phillipstown Primary School

 Annual Keir Hardie Lecture with First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM

5th  White Rose Primary School visit to Parliament

8th  Meeting with Veteran’s charity, Woody’s Lodge

 Business Lunch with Dawn Bowden AM and guest speaker, Ken Skates AM

 New Tredegar Community meeting

 Park Branch Labour Party meeting

9th  Rhymney Silurian Male Choir visit to Parliament

11th  Visit to World War 1 Exhibition in Aberfan Library

 Opening of Business in Focus in Merthyr Tydfil

12th  Disability Confident event at Morlais Castle Golf Club with Job Centre Plus and Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind

13th  Ynysowen Choir 50th Anniversary concert in Aberfan

19th  Fruity Friday in Georgetown, hosted by Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association

 Street Surgery in Twyn Carno, Rhymney

 Helping Hands 25th Anniversary concert