Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

Plaid Cymru Child Poverty Spokesperson Bethan Jenkins AM has today expressed her deep disappointment that the UK Government’s target of abolishing child poverty by 2020 has suffered a severe set-back.

Figures released today by the Department for Work an Pensions, reveal child poverty levels have risen for a second successive year – there are now an additional 100,000 children living in poverty, taking the total to 3.9million for the UK.

Speaking from the Senedd today Ms Jenkins said:

“Today’s figures are a huge blow to the efforts being made to eradicate child poverty in Wales. The most vulnerable in our society are paying the price for the UK Government’s missed opportunities in several Budgets. There is a moral obligation on Whitehall to come up with the necessary resources to reverse this damaging trend.”

Ms Jenkins has today called on the Assembly’s Counsel General to set aside time at the Assembly to debate the issue as a matter of urgency, and has also called on Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons to lobby the Westminster Government for the Assembly to have an enhanced say on Welfare policy.

Ms Jenkins added:

“Other countries across Europe continue to out-perform the UK in child poverty eradication. I fully support calls made by child poverty charities for an additional £3billion from the Treasury to be targeted at children in poverty using the welfare systems. If London continues to show impotence in this area then the Assembly will have an obligation to seek powers over aspects of the welfare system to deliver for our young people.”

Notes to Editors

Today’s figures show that:

• The number of children in the UK experiencing low income and material deprivation – those who can’t afford basic things such as sending their kids on a school trip – fell by 100,000 between 2005/06 and 2006/07.
• The number of children in relative poverty rose by 100,000, both before and after housing costs are taken into account, to 2.9million (BHC) and 3.9million (AHC) respectively between 2005/06 and 2006/07. Between 1998/99 and 2006/07 the number of children in relative poverty has fallen by 600,000 (BHC) and 500,000 (AHC).
• The numbers of pensioners in relative poverty rose by 300,000 to 2.5million (BHC) and by 200,000 (AHC) to 2.1million between 2005/06 and 2006/07. Between 1998/99 and 2006/07 the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by 200,000 (BHC) and 900,000 (AHC).

For Further information please contact Steffan Lewis on 07961 732 405.

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West will today (18.4.08) meet with the recently appointed Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler to discuss child poverty in Wales, and other important issues that affect young people.

Bethan Jenkins, Plaid AM and the party’s Child Poverty spokesperson at the Assembly said:

‘As well as visiting as many youth facilities across Wales as possible, I am also meeting with key players in the field of youth representation who have a direct impact on the lives of young people in Wales.

Wales was forward thinking in appointing a Children’s Commissioner in order to represent and communicate with young people, therefore it is important for me as the Child Poverty Spokesperson for Plaid Cymru to meet with the Commissioner.’

Bethan added:

‘I specifically want to discuss child poverty with the Children’s Commissioner and his thoughts on how we can best tackle this issue in Wales.

1 in 4 children still live in poverty in Wales, and the ‘One Wales Government’ is committed to action in this area.

Nevertheless, the London Government is failing to act in areas where the National Assembly have no control- in the realm of benefits and taxation. I will be particuarly interested to hear the Children’s Commissioner’s views on this.’

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins today (5/4/08) attended a presentation of an exciting new software concept, aimed at improving people’s health and lifestyle from their office chairs. The company Life Health Solutions are offering a new computer package which acts as a lifestyle guru for busy office workers, community groups and individuals. The idea is to encourage people to take advice on exercise regimes and lifestyle choices while at work at their computer, at a local centre or gym, which will then be fed in to a central system whereby advice will be provided by specialists and personal trainers on a suitable plan for the individual in question.

Plaid AM for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins said:

“At a time when childhood obesity is at an all-time high, and when the level of adults who are inactive in Wales amounts to nearly 50% of the population, it is imperative that we look at new, creative ways of encouraging people to live healthy lifestyles and to exercise on a regular basis. The idea of a virtual personal trainer that people can access on their computers or on systems in their local communities to provide them with advice is an excellent idea, and one that I am eager to endorse.

“The Wales Audit Office report on Increasing Physical activity in Wales shows that new measures to get people active are long overdue. In the area of Neath Port Talbot alone, it has the shocking statistic of merely 7% of adults taking the recommended National guideline of five times a week of thirty minutes exercise. This is a damning reflection on the Labour run Local Authority, who has shown a lack of leadership in taking the issue of healthy lifestyles and exercise forward on behalf of the people of the Borough.”

Bethan Jenkins Plaid AM added:

“There will be two pilot projects for this concept taking place in the Swansea area starting in July this year, and I will be writing to the Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart requesting that she accompanies me in visiting the pilot projects to see how the system works- with the clear intention of rolling out the scheme in other parts of Wales.”

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Notes:

For further information contact Bethan Jenkins on 07725144100.

Go to the website www lifehealthsolutions.co.uk for more information.

Mae AC Plaid Cymru, Bethan Jenkins, wedi adnewyddu’r alwad am gyfeiriad gwe .cym heddiw mewn cyfarfod llawn o’r Cynulliad. Gofynnodd yr AC Plaid gwestiwn i’r Gweinidog Diwylliant, Rhodri Glyn Thomas o Blaid yn ystod amser cwestiynau.

Dywedodd yr AC dros Orllewin De Cymru, Bethan Jenkins:

“Mae’n bwysig bod gan y byd fynediad i bob dim y mae Cymru’n ei gynnig ac rwy’n credu y byddai cyfeiriad gwe .cym yn un ffordd o lwyddo i wneud hyn. Byddai’n ardderchog wrth hybu digwyddiadau yng Nghymru a chymunedau yng Nghymru a thramor. Byddai’n agor cyfleoedd newydd i fusnesau â’u swyddfeydd yng Nghymru.

“Ro’n i’n wrth fy modd gydag ymateb y gweinidog i fy nghwestiwn. Mae’n amlwg ei fod yn cymryd diddordeb yn y pwnc ac mae e wedi bod yn trafod y cynnig gyda gweinidogion eraill ac ymgyrchwyr. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at drafod datblygiadau pellach gyda’r Gweinidog.”

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins has today (Wednesday 4th June) welcomed measures introduced by the Plaid deputy Minister for housing, Jocelyn Davies, which will increase the availability of affordable housing in rural Wales.

Plaid AM Bethan Jenkins has campaigned on affordable housing since being elected last May, and that the party has used its position in the One Wales government to take action on this.

The measures announced by Jocelyn Davies today include an expansion of the successful “Rural Enabler” pilot scheme, funds to develop the concept of ‘community land trusts’ and a new grant scheme to help first time buyers to make their homes more energy efficient.

Bethan Jenkins Plaid AM commented:

“Plaid Cymru has long argued that the shortage of affordable housing to rent or buy is one of the biggest barriers to community cohesion. In the 2007 elections, Plaid Cymru proposed a number of measures to tackle this problem. We ensured that these ideas were incorporated into the One Wales agreement when we went into government.

“Today’s announcements by the Plaid deputy Minister for housing, Jocelyn Davies, demonstrate her clear recognition of the problem facing our rural communities and the measures to tackle it. The measures that will be implemented by the Plaid-driven government will work to ensure a local and sustainable approach, and will contribute to making a difference to people living in our rural communities.”

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For further information contact Helen Bradley on 02920 898253.

Plaid AM Bethan Jenkins has today (3/6/08) raised the issue regarding the lack of public transport available for residents in Lewistown which is near Ogmore Vale. Local people have been campaigning for additional services to reach local amenities as there isn’t a pharmacy or a shop in the area.

Bethan Jenkins Plaid AM:

“I have been in contact with local residents in Lewiston who inform me that despite there being a bus-stop at the bottom of the hill in Lewistown, buses are not going through the village as it is awkward and unsafe. This is despite residents claiming that school buses go through the village.”

Bethan Jenkins AM added:

“Residents currently have to travel to Ogmore Vale to reach any local amenities or facilities, and bus services are therefore an important matter of concern. I hope that by raising this issue with the First Minister at the National Assembly that this issue can be rectified, and that an adequate bus service can be introduced to the area.”

I have already contacted the Council, but the First Minister has today reassured me that he will pursue the matter urgently with Bridgend County Borough Council.”

Diwedd / Ends

For further Information please contact Bethan Jenkins on 07725144100