Jobcentre Plus failings in north Wales revealed by Plaid

Plaid — 2010-02-08T10:35:24+01:00

More than £275,000 has been handed to claimants by Jobcentre Plus in payments for failings in its service across Wales over the last two-and-a-half years, and the north of Wales features prominently in figures obtained by Plaid Cymru. The pay-outs cover loss of benefit due to benefit errors, maladministration, delay, gross inconvenience and embarrassment and severe distress. In the 2007-08 financial year the total paid out in Wales was £104,537. That rose to £118,271 in 2008-09 and was £52,718 in the first six months of 2009-10. These latest figures reveal that the north and mid Wales region accounts for almost 50% of the total. Both in 2007-08 and 2008-09 benefit entitlement was the top area of complaint, representing 32 per cent of all complaints in 2007-08 and 35 per cent in 2008-09. According to Jobcentre Plus, while the number of staff in Wales have increased from 4,562 to 5,398, unemployment claimants have rocketed from 45,419 in January 2007 to 78,234 in October 2009. ... full story

Plaid concern at Swansea teaching jobs threat

Plaid — 2010-02-05T15:49:07+01:00

Plaid Cymru's Swansea based AM Dai Lloyd has learnt that up to 150 teaching jobs and an additional 150 teaching support staff could be cut this September by the Lib Dem led Swansea Council. Plaid understands that next week, Swansea council will announce cuts to the Education Budget of between 5% and 10%. Dr Lloyd described the news as deeply concerning, and said it was further evidence of historical mismanagement by the Lib Dem Swansea Council, and the underfunding of Wales from Westminster which is hitting communities hard. ... full story

Conservatives lose their President to Plaid

Plaid — 2010-02-04T10:26:32+01:00

A senior councillor in Aberconwy has resigned from the Conservative Party and joined Plaid Cymru. Deganwy Councillor Dennis Tew has stood down from the Conservative Party, the Conservative Group of councillors on Conwy County Borough Council and from his position as President of Aberconwy Conservative Association. Councillor Tew, who had been a member for 46 years, has written to all constituents in the Deganwy electoral division to explain his decision. In his letter he explained that he had wrestled with his conscience for months before finally acting: ... full story

Plaid minister announces £17.4m tourism project

Plaid — 2010-02-03T10:44:34+01:00

Plaid Cymru AM and Minister for Tourism, Alun Ffred Jones, has unveiled a new £17.4m tourism project. The project is designed to ensure that the Welsh tourism industry benefits from the latest digital technology developments in areas such as on-line marketing, booking systems and business management. The money will be used to fund a series of projects over the next four years which aim to ensure the tourism industry takes full advantage of current and future digital technology. It will be funded by £9,213, 866 from the European Regional Development Fund, £4,451,939 form the Plaid driven Welsh government and £3,740,781 from the private sector. ... full story

Plaid AM urges opposition rethink on abstention threat

Plaid — 2010-02-03T09:51:59+01:00

Plaid Cymru's Deputy Leader in the National Assembly Helen Mary Jones AM has reacted with concern to opposition threats to abstain from next week's trigger vote on a referendum. She warned that to do so could undermine the people's faith in their AM to do what's best for their constituents. Ms Jones said that the future effective governance of Wales should not be endangered over a timing issue which will be addressed at a later stage. ... full story

Plaid in government moving Wales forward

Plaid — 2010-02-02T14:30:27+01:00

Trigger vote - Opportunity for opposition to prove their commitment to devolution Plaid Cymru's deputy Leader in the National Assembly, Helen Mary Jones AM, has described the 'Trigger Vote motion' as an important first step in moving Wales forward. Helen Mary Jones AM explained that the referendum was about making the system work better, giving the National Assembly better tools so that they could do a better job of fulfilling the needs of the people and communities of Wales. She added that a commitment to a referendum was a key part of the One Wales agreement, but she urged opposition parties to prove their commitment to effective devolution by supporting the motion next week in the Senedd. ... full story

Llyr's local loyalty call: a Cymru Card

Plaid — 2010-02-01T10:59:14+01:00

Supermarkets and other stores in Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Kinmel Bay and Ruthin are being urged to reward customers with a loyalty bonus for buying local produce. Plaid's Clwyd West Westminster candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd has written to stores in the constituency suggesting that a 'Cymru Card' would boost the local economy. Llyr Huws Gruffydd is urging stores to consider a Cymru Card scheme, which could be linked to existing supermarket loyalty card schemes, for example Tesco and the Cooperative, on the one hand, or 'shop local' cards in different towns. Alternative schemes would be explored with those supermarket groups who do not have a loyalty card scheme, such as Morrisons and Asda. ... full story

Plaid leader marks Holocaust Memorial Day

Plaid — 2010-01-27T14:32:26+01:00

"Prejudice and bigotry will not be tolerated in Wales." On the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Plaid leader and Deputy First Minister of Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, has called on the people and communities of Wales to reflect on the events which led to the Holocaust and to commit to working towards a more tolerant and just society. Marking Holocaust Memorial Day, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said that it is important that communities come together to eradicate bigotry and racial hatred. ... full story

New legislation will make a difference for Carers - Plaid

Plaid — 2010-01-26T17:14:31+01:00

Plaid Cymru Health spokesperson, Helen Mary Jones AM, has today said that a statement from the deputy Minister for Carers signals the beginning of the end of the long wait for new legislation for carers. Back in early 2008, Helen Mary Jones received cross party support to introduce legislation to improve the rights of Carers. Ms Jones's proposals were then adopted by the Deputy Minister as part of her legislative package for carers. ... full story

Don't be fooled into gold rush, say Plaid

Plaid — 2010-01-25T10:17:28+01:00

Don't rush headlong into taking instant cash from firms advertising on television what they claim are good prices for gold items. Plaid Cymru Clwyd West candidate for Westminster Llyr Huws Gruffydd has warned that these tempting offers might be far from the best available when people need cash. ... full story

Plaid Cymru Heritage Minister announces over £400,000 restoration grants

Plaid — 2010-01-22T15:26:23+01:00

Plaid Cymru Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones has announced over £400,000 in conservation grants that have been awarded to sites across Wales by the Plaid driven government. The Plaid driven One Wales government grants, ranging from £5,000 to £162,000 have been offered to carry out essential repairs and restoration work to 12 buildings across Wales from a mid 16th century town house in Powys, to a "Tardis" in Newport, to a School room in Denbighshire. The grants total £410,478. ... full story

Plaid AM blasts Tory Hypocrisy on Health spending

Plaid — 2010-01-22T15:35:13+01:00

Plaid Cymru Health spokesperson Helen Mary Jones AM has reacted in amazement to the decision by the Conservative party to hold a debate on future funding for Wales' health service. Ms Jones said that the Conservative party is threatening to cut funds for public services in Wales, including Health. ... full story

Plaid concern over Chevron announcement

Plaid — 2010-01-22T15:21:03+01:00

Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, Nerys Evans, has expressed concern regarding potential job losses at the Chevron Refinery in Pembrokeshire. The firm has told staff that it is planning to restructure its activities. Ms Evans said that she has contacted the company to request an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of its announcement. ... full story

Pensioners' 'heating or eating' dilemma highlights need for Living Pension

Plaid — 2010-01-20T11:06:31+01:00

A new report highlighting the dilemma of "heating or eating" for many older people is more evidence of the need for a Living Pension for all OAPs, according to Plaid Cymru AM Janet Ryder. Plaid 's Janet Ryder AM said that the annual report of the Older People's commissioner backs up the Plaid election pledge for a "Living Pension". The annual report, to be debated in the Senedd later today (Tuesday 19th January) highlights the problems that older people face in living off a fixed income, particularly at a time of soaring fuel bills. According to the report, older people are facing the terrible choice between heating their homes and buying food and have said that they are in desperate need of an increase in the basic pension to help them have a reasonable quality of life. Yesterday, outlining the party's proposals for the general election, Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said that by raising the basic state pension to the level of the pension credit and making it universal for all citizens, thousands of pensioners would be taken out of poverty. Janet Ryder AM hit back at the London parties' criticism of Plaid's policy. She said that while they are all content to prioritise spending £100bn on nuclear weapons such as trident, she said that Plaid's priority would be to spend £20bn on making sure that no Welsh pensioner has to suffer the indignity of living in poverty. ... full story

New Living Pension and public services at heart of Plaid's election campaign

Plaid — 2010-01-19T10:58:56+01:00

Plaid's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM will say today that "Pensioners in Wales cannot afford to wait until Britain's back in credit before receiving help to keep them above the poverty line." Mr Jones will outline his party's proposal in this General Election for a "Living Pension" during a keynote speech in the Cynon Valley. The party leader will say that by raising the Basic State Pension to the level of the pension credit and making it universal for all citizens, thousands of pensioners would be taken out of poverty. The party announced its pledge as it emerged that last year there was a shocking 74% increase in winter deaths in Wales - largely as a result of high fuel bills. Meanwhile, £5.4 billion of benefits for older people are left unclaimed in the UK each year because pensioners find the process of applying for Pension credits complicated and intrusive. ... full story