Gerald Jones MP Putting and Rhymney at the heart of Parliament February 2020 Newsletter Cash machines in and New Tredegar made free to use as joint campaign continues Following my joint campaign with Dawn Bowden AM and Link, the operator of the UK’s cash machine network, I’m delighted to confirm that the cash machines in Lifestyle Express, Bedlinog and Premier Mount View Stores, New Tredegar have now been made free to use. Over the past year Dawn and I have been campaigning for more free cash machines in the area, holding meetings with Link resulting in the ATM in Fochriw Village Store being made free to use in August 2019. Before the ATM in Bedlinog was made free, the nearest free machine for people to use was over 3 miles away in , while the nearest free machine for residents in New Tredegar was over 2 miles away in Aberbargoed. forcing local people to make difficult journeys to use a free With Tarsem Singh, Manager of Premier Mount View ATM, or pay charges to withdraw cash. Stores in New Tredegar

Many people in our area still rely on cash to pay for everyday expenses, and Dawn and I will continue to work with Link to look to secure more free-to-use cash machines in Merthyr Tydfil and the Upper Rhymney Valley. Dawn and I are also campaigning to improve the provision of Post Office services in the local area, and we met with Cllr Eluned Stenner, the New Tredegar Residents Association and Post Office representatives earlier this month for an update on the situation with Post Office

services in New Tredegar.

At the meeting we also had an update on Post Office services in Treharris, Bedlinog and , and it was clear that more work needs to be done to improve services - Dawn and I will keep constituents updated as things progress. With Dawn Bowden and Balakumaran Kandy, Manager of Lifestyle Express in Bedlinog Calling for action on policing: the Government must go much further Over the past month in Parliament, I’ve pushed the UK Government to take the safety of people in our area and across the UK seriously, and invest more in our police. A decade of Tory austerity has devastated our public services, and meant 20,000 fewer police officers on our streets now than in 2010. The Government’s proposed recruitment drive of 20,000 new officers is not enough, and even when this is complete - who knows when that may be - we will still have fewer officers on our streets than we had in 2010. There has been a 68% increase in knife crime in England and in this time, and in Parliament I urged the Government to go further and give our police the resources they desperately need. Earlier this month I also spoke in a debate on the apprenticeship levy, and called on the UK Government to provide Welsh police forces with their fair share of the levy to fund vital police degree-level apprenticeships. Welsh forces currently pay £2 million a year into the levy but receive nothing back, with the Government arguing that it’s not their responsibility to provide the funding since apprenticeships are devolved to Wales. This is a typically weak excuse from the Government, as policing itself is not devolved to Wales, and it must step up and provide Welsh forces with the funding they desperately need. Calling for Welsh Police Forces to be paid their share of the apprenticeship levy in Parliament

Campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit and save free TV licences for over-75s continues There are now only four months left before the policy of free TV licences for people aged 75 and over is abolished in June, following the Tory Government’s shameful decision to offload responsibility for the concession onto the BBC, without providing the funding to implement it. I’ve called on the Government various times to protect this policy, raising it again in Business Questions earlier this month to urge them to save the concession before it’s too late. I’ll continue to do all I can in the months ahead to push them to reverse the move, and make sure as many people as possible who could be affected are aware of the upcoming change. After June 2020, only those over 75 who are claiming Pension Credit, a means-tested benefit designed to help pensioners out of poverty, will be able to get a free TV licence. Many people who may be eligible to claim Pension Credit often don’t realise, with 80,000 pensioners in Wales - including over 3,000 households in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency - missing out on Pension Credit they’re entitled to, which totals almost £6 million in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. The Government’s lack of effort to raise awareness and increase take-up of the benefit is shocking, and in the weeks and months ahead I will be continuing my campaign to make sure that everyone who’s eligible to claim Pension Credit is aware of their entitlement. To check if you’re eligible, visit: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility. Gerald Jones MP Putting Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney at the heart of Parliament This month in Westminster

Calling for action on PIP claim appeal delays Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day 2020

Earlier this month, I called on the Government On 27th January I joined with MPs and to address the appalling situation of delays for Holocaust survivors to mark Holocaust appeals to Personal Independence Payment Memorial Day 2020, attending a ceremony at (PIP) claims. Westminster Central Hall to honour all those who died at the hands of the Nazis. Meeting It is completely unacceptable that some survivors was truly humbling - we must never people are currently waiting for almost a year forget the lessons history teaches us. for a decision on their claim.

Supporting Cancer Research UK in Urging the Government to rethink the Parliament on World Cancer Day 2020 Universal Credit system

I was proud to join with Cancer Research UK The benefits system Universal Credit is a shambles, in Parliament earlier this month to support and is currently forcing people further into poverty World Cancer Day 2020. rather than helping them out of it. Cancer impacts so many of our lives, and at In a debate in Parliament last month I urged the the event in Parliament I pledged to work Government to take action now, rethink the roll-out with Cancer Research to improve outcomes of the system and ensure it stops punishing some for cancer patients wherever it is possible. of the most vulnerable in our society. Gerald Jones MP

Putting Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney at the heart of Parliament This month around the constituency Supporting EE’s community support initiative in Merthyr Tydfil town centre New jobs and investment great news for Rhymney

I was pleased to call in and support EE and BT Dawn Bowden AM and I were delighted to hear Wales’ community initiative in Merthyr Tydfil the news this month that a £650,000 investment town centre last month, with staff giving up their by the Welsh Government in Rhymney-based time to collect school uniform and food company Williams Medical Supplies will create donations to help local families. 91 new jobs for local people. The collections raised over £1,000 over two The investment is a real sign of confidence in the weekends - congratulations again to all those Upper Rhymney Valley, and I want to thank the who helped out for such a worthy cause. Welsh Government for making this possible.

Joining local schools for a personal safety workshop Out talking to local residents in Treharris

I was delighted to attend a safety workshop with It was great to be out in Treharris for a street pupils from Pantysgallog Primary and Ysgol advice surgery last month, with Dawn Bowden Coed y Dderwen in Merthyr Tydfil last month, AM, Cllr Gareth Lewis, Cllr Gareth Richards and hosted by Crucial Crew, an initiative providing colleagues. interactive personal safety workshops for school pupils in Wales. We had a good response from local residents, discussing a range of local and national issues It was great to see so many important safety and concerns. messages being provided to keep our young people safe. Gerald Jones MP

Putting Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney at the heart of Parliament Upcoming advice surgeries

March 2020 Friday 13th 10.30 - White Rose Centre March 11.30am Cross Street, Elliots Town, New Tredegar

NP24 6EF Deri Community Centre 12 - 12.30pm

9 Riverside Walk, Deri, Bargoed CF81 9GE Friday 20th Merthyr Tydfil Civic Centre (Meeting 4.30 - 5.30pm March Room 1) Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN Friday 27th Gellideg Foundation Wellbeing Centre 10.30 - 11am March Heol Tai Mawr, Gellideg, Merthyr Tydfil

CF48 1ND 11.30am - The Willows Centre 12pm Bridge Street, Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil

CF48 4DX Upcoming door knocking sessions Over the next few weeks, I will be out door knocking with Dawn Bowden AM and other colleagues in different wards across the constituency. Details of our upcoming sessions are below:

Twyncarno ward Saturday 7th March 10.30am - 11.30am

Park ward Friday 20th March 3pm - 4pm This month’s diary January Visited Bedlinog Primary School, to attend the Special Assembly and meet the Pupil Voice 17th Group to talk about their ideas and future projects Met with Philippa Marsden, Leader of County Borough Council, to talk about

current and future initiatives in and around the Upper Rhymney Valley

20th Spoke in the debate on the Government’s Queen’s Speech to call for an end to austerity

Urged the Government to rethink its decision on free TV licences for over-75s in Business 23rd Questions in Parliament 24th Held drop-in advice surgeries in and Pontsticill

27th Marked Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 at an event in Westminster Central Hall

31st Held drop-in advice surgeries in Pontlottyn and Phillipstown

February Spoke in debate on Government’s Agriculture Bill to highlight the need for greater 3rd commitment to reaching net zero emissions and supporting Welsh and British farmers Marked the 25th anniversary of the National Lottery in Parliament, and learnt about the 4th causes in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency made possible with lottery funding Attended a meeting in Parliament on post-Brexit funding to discuss the needs of

communities in Wales and across the UK post-Brexit Pledged to support the campaign to make medical cannabis available to patients who 5th need it at an event in Parliament

8th Held a street advice surgery session in Rhymney with Cllr David Harse and colleagues

Held drop-in advice surgery in Redhouse Cymru, Merthyr Tydfil town centre Attended the LGBT flag raising event at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, with 10th colleagues and local residents and organisations Joined with Marie Curie in Parliament to support their campaign to stop terminally ill 12th people having to prove they have less than 6 months to live to receive benefits

14th Held drop-in advice surgeries in Abertysswg and Rhymney

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www.geraldjones.co.uk Call — 01685 383 739 Email — @GeraldJonesLAB [email protected] /GeraldJonesLabour Write — Oldway House, Castle Street, @GeraldJonesMP Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8UX