Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins has today called on the Assembly Government to consider changes to post-19 education for students with additional learning needs to ensure the voice of such students is heard and to improve the opportunities for them to study in Wales.Ms Jenkins made her calls during a debate in the Senedd today on post-19 education for students with additional learning needs.

Following the debate Ms Jenkins said:

“I have had correspondence from carers and parents who tell me the educational wishes and aspirations of students with additional learning needs are not being heeded to satisfactorily. Governments have a commitment to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, but it is clear that many young students are having their educational options limited due to their additional learning needs, especially during the transition period between children and adult services.

“I have also raised the point that we need to look at the provision of specialist colleges in Wales and strengthen community provision. It costs the Assembly Government £94,000 per student per year for them to receive their education in specialist colleges in England. It makes sense that enough provision is available in Wales, where young people can be close to their family and friends. ”

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Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today pressed for action from the Assembly Government on the case of Swansea-based asylum seeker, George William who she has supported throughout the family’s campaign to seek asylum in Wales.Mr William and his family are applying for asylum in the UK for fear of persecution if they return to Pakistan. Last night, Mr William and his family were detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre for a second time.

Speaking from the Senedd today, Ms Jenkins said:

“Unfortunately our National Assembly has no powers over immigration or asylum policy and today I asked for intervention from the Assembly Government specifically in relation to the welfare of Mr William’s children who have been receiving education during their time here. Their detention in clearly detrimental to their education and I have written to the Assembly’s Minister for Social Justice asking him to assert pressure on the Home Office so that Mr William’s children can be released and return to their studies.”

Ms Jenkins reiterated the importance for the UK Government to change its policy of detaining asylum seekers, including children:

“The act of effectively imprisoning vulnerable people is appalling and I urge the UK Government to abandon this disgraceful practice. Under international law the UK Government has a responsibility to grant asylum to those fleeing persecution, and that asylum must protect people’s dignity and human rights.”

Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today called for a debate on the future of the Monarchy following reports today that taxpayers funded the work of Prince Charles to the tune of £3m last year – an annual rise of almost a quarter.Figures released by Clarence House show a rise of 48 per cent in official travel by air and rail, which totalled £1.7 million.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins said:

“I find this news scandalous. At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, whilst people fear losing their jobs and homes, an unelected individual has been subsidised to the tune of three million pound by the tax-payer.

“It is unacceptable that Price Charles travelled more than 50,000 miles to attend 658 official engagements during his 60th birthday year – his world is quite clearly far-removed from the day-to-day realities of ordinary people.”

Ms Jenkins also emphasised her dismay at the fact that Prince Charles’ personal income rose by 8 per cent in 2008 and 1 per cent in 2009. She added:

“Prince Charles’ personal income rose considerably last year and yet he has spent more tax-payers money on an over-indulgent series of birthday jollies, add to that the fact that his tax bill has been slashed by 10 per cent and it leaves a bitter taste.

“It’s time we had a full debate on the future of the Monarchy, and serious consideration needs to be given to the case for an elected head of state to replace an out-dated, out-of-touch and costly Royal Family.”

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today (19/06/09) met with South Wales West co-coordinator, Les Evans from the Communications Workers Union to discuss the campaign against the Labour Government’s plans to privatise the Royal Mail. Bethan Jenkins AM also met with Union members in Cardiff Bay earlier this week when the CWU took a giant post box with them across Wales to raise awareness of the campaign.

Speaking from Neath today , Ms Jenkins, said:

“The Royal Mail is a vital public service for the people of Wales. It is astonishing that a Labour Government wants to privatise a successful public company in this way. All Plaid Cymru MP’s have signed the Early Day Motion against the privatisation agenda, and Plaid Cymru as a party will continue to fight in favour of the retention of the Royal Mail as a key public service’.

Bethan Jenkins AM added:

‘I urge people to contact Peter Mandelson- the Minister with responsibility for this issue to tell him loud and clear that they are against privatising the Royal Mail. As an unelected representative in the House of Lords, the least he could do at this stage is listen to the people and the workers who do not want to see such changes.

The Royal Mail makes nearly £1 million profit every day. It’s a successful public company that should be modernised under full public ownership. ‘

Plaid Cymru MPs and AMs have responded to today’s Government report on ‘Digital Britain’, by calling for greater clarity in plans for the future of broadcasting and broadband in Wales.

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for media, culture and sport, Adam Price MP challenged the Minister by repeating calls for a properly funded, independent Welsh media commissioning service.

Reacting to news that the Government is planning three pilot funding mechanisms for news and public broadcasting, including one in Wales, Plaid’s Adam Price said:

“We need greater transparency in the Government’s plans for this scheme.

“The National Assembly’s advisory body on broadcasting estimated that around £50million would be required to fund an Independent Welsh media commissioning framework.

“Last week’s report by the Assembly’s communities and culture committee said that at least £25million would be needed. I have pressed the Minister for an answer as to how much will be available and I will push for a prompt response. There simply must be enough money to get the job done.

“Plaid has repeated calls for the Government to consider 5MB per second as standard rather than the 2MB target that they have published. This can only be achieved by solving problems with ‘not-spot’ areas and ensuring that rural access to web services are on a par with urban areas.”

Bethan Jenkins AM, Plaid’s Assembly broadcasting spokesperson, added:

“Local programming plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy democracy in Wales. Welsh audiences need to be able to see their own lives and culture reflected in the media. They need to be kept informed of what is going on in the democratic institutions that represent them.

“The London government needs to come up with solutions that safeguard Welsh programming both in terms of news and non-news.”

Diwedd / Ends

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins has today (16/6/09) called for a debate on the floor of the National Assembly for Wales on access to politics and politicians for socially excluded people, especially people with a learning disability. This action is supported by Mencap Cymru who will next week be hosting a number of events at the Senedd to celebrate ten years of successfully supporting people with a learning disability in accessing political decision making in Wales.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins, said:

“ I think it is important that we debate issues such as how people access politics and politicians, especially those who are socially excluded and already face barriers to accessing information . I commend the work that Mencap Cymru has done in this area in accessing the petitions committee, and in communicating so effectively with Assembly Members and politicians on every level of government as to issues affecting their members.

There is still much more to be done, and therefore I reiterate the importance of engaging with people in our communities, so that everyone is included in the decision making processes- regardless of age, sex, disability or race.”

Wayne Crocker from Mencap Cymru said:

‘ Mencap Cymru has been at the forefront of supporting people with a learning disability toave access to politics in Wales. Our partners in politics project has been groundbreaking in supporting young disabled people to see that they have the power as citizens to change things ‘ .

Notes to Editors

Plaid Cymru’s Bethan Jenkins AM has requested a meeting with Assembly Environment Minister Jane Davidson to raise concerns on behalf of constituents and campaigners who fear new regulations on opencast mining may not be enough to protect the health and wellbeing of communities in Wales.

On the 20th January the Minister issued a statement called the Minerals Technical Advice Notes: Coal (Coal MTAN), which included the implementation of a 500 meter buffer zone for future opencast developments. Campaigners and residents have however voiced concerns that the Coal MTAN includes a number of exemptions that could result in opencast mining without the stipulated 500 meter buffer zone being observed.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins said:

“There is concern amongst those who have contacted me with regards to the exclusions identified to the implementation of a buffer zone as shown in Section 49 of the document. Campaigners and constituents alike state that the ‘exceptional circumstances’ are far too wide ranging, and therefore mitigate the effectiveness of the implementation of the 500m buffer zone.”

Neath-based Ms Jenkins said she hoped to meet with the Minister as soon as possible to raise such concerns directly. She added:

The ‘exceptional circumstances’ are numerous and varied and it is important that they do not transpire into loop-holes for developers.”

Ms Jenkins added her belief in a presumption against opencast mining being allowed, adding:

“I am of the firm view that a strict ‘presumption against’ opencast coal mining for any new applications or extensions, especially in Green Wedge areas is essential for the sake of our communities. I am also of the view that the use of economic regeneration as a premise for expansion in opencast mining should be abandoned.”

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Notes to Editors

Exceptional circumstances:

Exceptionally, having considered the evidence put forward with a

surface or underground coal working application, coal working may be permitted

within 500m of settlements. Factors to be considered include:

• where coal working provides the most effective solution to prevent

risks to health and safety arising from previous mineral working;

• to remediate land damaged by shallow coal workings or mine waste,

where coal extraction appears to be the most sustainable option;

• where topography, natural features such as woodland, or existing

development, would significantly and demonstrably mitigate impacts;

• where major roads or railways lie between the settlement and the

proposed operational area and coal working would not result in appreciable

cumulative and in-combination effects;

• where the surface expression of underground working does not

include the significant handling or storage of the mineral or waste;

• when the proposal is of overriding significance for regeneration,

employment and economy in the local area; or

• where extraction would be in advance of other, permanent,

development which cannot reasonably be located elsewhere.

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins, has called for legislation to tackle abuse against older and vulnerable people.

During First Minister’s questions on the 3rd of June, Ms Jenkins cited a recent BBC Panorama investigation into abuse of elderly people. Ms Jenkins has backed calls by numerous campaign groups including Action on Elder Abuse who argue that the current guidance system is insufficient.

Speaking from the Senedd, Ms Jenkins said:
 
“Whilst the guidance issued to local authorities on elder abuse has been useful in terms of establishing mechanisms for protecting older and vulnerable people, a lack of legislative duty has lead to inconsistencies across local authority areas in terms of funding and indeed in the level of protection for older and vulnerable people.

“I believe clear legislation, matched with increased investment will create effective mechanisms to protect older and vulnerable people and I call on the Assembly Government to consider this.”ENDS

Notes to Editors

Bethan Jenkins AM has called on all owners to ensure that their pet is microchipped as part of National Microchipping Month 2009, run by Petlog.

National Microchipping Month runs throughout June and aims to encourage and promote responsible pet ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent pet identification. The scheme is run by Petlog, which is owned and managed by the Kennel Club, and has over 3.7m pets registered, with 40,000 new pets added to the database each month.

Last year Petlog handled nearly 100,000 calls relating to lost and found pets and reunited many animals with their owners. Petlog runs the only 24/7 pet reunification service in the UK from its dedicated call centre in Aylesbury, and is also a member of Europetnet, which ensures your pet can be identified if lost in over 20 European countries.

Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club, said:

“Throughout June, we aim to show more people than ever just how quick and easy the process of having your animal microchipped is. Deciding to have a pet is an important decision and one that results in a commitment to that pet for its entire life. An essential part of being a responsible pet owner is identifying them permanently.”

Miss Jenkins, AM for South Wales West said:

“All pet owners should ensure their animals are microchipped as National Microchipping Month so rightly stresses. Petlog helps reunite a large number of missing pets with their owners, and I urge vets as well as pet owners to spread the word of just how vital microchipping is.

“It’s very distressing for any owner to lose their beloved pet, but through microchipping it gives peace of mind that should they become separated, they can generally be easily reunited.”

Petlog will be running further events throughout June to promote National Microchipping Month – to find out more information, or to get involved, visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk

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12th June 2009
[188.09]

Caption: Assembly Member Bethan Jenkins supports National Microchipping Month.

For further press information or interview requests please contact:
The Kennel Club Press Office
020 7518 1008
press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk
www.thekennelclub.org.uk

Notes to Editors
• Petlog is the UK’s largest pet reunification service and is owned and managed by the Kennel Club.
• Petlog holds the details of over 3.7 million animals and their owners and every month around 40,000 animals are added to the database.
• Petlog manages and operates the 24/7 central reunification telephone service.
• In 2008, the Petlog after care service line staff answered over 115,000 calls from vets, owners, animal wardens, animal welfare centres and police.
• In 2008 the 24/7 central reunification line staff answered over 97,000 calls in relation to lost and found pets.
• Petlog Premium membership is just £10 for the lifetime of your pet which will allow you to make any number of amendments without incurring any additional costs.

Wales has a role to play in ending child Labour. That was the message from Plaid AM Bethan Jenkins on the world day against child labour. Ms Jenkins has called on people in Wales to use their purchase power to bring an end to child labour around the world by ensuring that the products they buy aren’t the products of under aged workers. 

This year’s world day against child labour organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of their convention 182. The convention addresses the need for action to tackle the worst forms of child labour. While celebrating progress made during the past ten years, the world day will highlight the continuing challenges, with a focus on the exploitation of girls in child labour.

Plaid spokesperson on child poverty, Bethan Jenkins, said:

“Most child labour is rooted in poverty and girls can face particular disadvantages. Girls often have to combine long hours of household chores with some form of economic activity outside the household. The real danger of this is the negative impact on any opportunity for the girl to attend school or get an education.

“Research has proven that educating girls is one of the most effective ways of tackling poverty. Educated girls are not only more likely to have better lives, but they are also more likely to ensure that their own children are educated. Tackling child labour among girls and promoting their right to education, is therefore vital.

“I call on everyone in Wales to think carefully before they buy anything and to not buy anything that is a product of child labour. This Way the people of Wales can do their bit to help end child labour.”