Vaccination against cervical cancer to be introduced in Wales

All 12 and 13 year old girls in Wales are to be vaccinated against the virus that causes most types of cervical cancer thanks to the Labour led Assembly Government.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed Welsh Labour Health Minister Edwina Hart’s announcement that the vaccination against the virus will be available from September 2008. There will also be a two-year catch-up vaccination campaign starting in Autumn 2009 for all girls up to the age of 18.

Neath AM and Deputy Health Minister GWENDA THOMAS said:

‘’Tackling cancer is one of Welsh Labour’s top priorities. The immunisation of girls from next year is a long-term investment in cancer prevention.

‘’Prevention is always better than cure and this vaccine will prevent many women from catching the virus in the first place and will save hundreds of lives.

‘’Women in Neath and their families are going to benefit from this vaccine for generations to come.

‘’This is an ambitious programme and I am pleased that the Health Minister is committed to working closely with the Neath Port Talbot LHB to ensure its success.’’

Responding to the Fire Authority's decision this morning to continue with the downgrade of Pontardawe fire station from a whole-time station to a day-crewed station, Gwenda Thomas AM said:

"I'm very disappointed that the Fire Authority has this morning taken the decision to downgrade Pontardawe fire station, despite receiving strong representations against such a move from myself as the local AM, by councillors in both the Swansea and Amman Valleys and also by the over 2,500 local people who signed the petition against the downgrade which was organised by the FBU.

"The evidence that has been presented by the FBU to me and to the Fire Authority against the downgrade is compelling. The figures used by the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service to justify the downgrading of Pontardawe did not seem to include the number of cases where the appliance at Pontardawe is called out to back-up other fire appliances at emergency calls outside of its area of responsibility, such as at the incident a fortnight ago at the Gwyn Hall in Neath. The strategic importance of Pontardawe fire station should have been recognised.

“I will now be seeking an urgent meeting with Dr. Brian Gibbons AM, the Assembly Government minister with responsibility for the fire and rescue services in Wales to see what if anything the Assembly Government can do following this morning’s decision.

An extra £20 million every year could be freed up for education in Wales if schools saved money when buying everyday equipment such as stationary and computers.

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas is backing Welsh Labour’s Finance Minister Andrew Davies in his drive to get schools to link up with the rest of the public sector when buying materials and facilities. Schools would then save money by buying in bulk.

Schools in Wales have already saved around £1.3 million through the School Revenue Project. Getting better value for money will mean schools in Neath have more money for teaching and better equipment.

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’Welsh Labour wants to free up more money for teaching in Neath.

‘’Our schools should be making every effort to save money through smarter purchasing.

‘’Our schoolchildren will be the first to benefit if schools can get better value for money when buying everything from pens and pencils to computers.

‘’I would urge all schools in Neath Port Talbot to join this scheme.

‘’The project is part of the Labour led Assembly Government’s drive to reform public services in Wales and get better value for money.’’

Notes

It’s estimated that 1800 Welsh schools spend around £200 million every year on items such as stationery, exercise books, paper, photocopiers, whiteboards, computers, and other teaching materials.

A saving of just 10 per cent on this spend would translate into an annual windfall of £20million – or on average over £11,000 per school.The drive includes the recruitment of two senior teachers to spread the message to Welsh schools.

David Bullock – former Deputy Head Teacher of Llantwit Major School in the Vale of Glamorgan – is covering South Wales and Gwilym Hughes – Head Teacher at Ysgol Eifionydd, Gwynedd – is covering North Wales.

A search for four outstanding young Welsh people who will act as global ambassadors on climate change has been welcomed by Neath's Labour AM Gwenda Thomas.

The AM is calling for young people in Neath to enter the Assembly Government’s 'Climate Change Champions' competition and persuade their friends, families and communities to do their bit to tackle climate change.

The champions will spend a year 'in office' spreading the word in Wales and Europe about how people can take simple but effective steps to reduce their carbon footprints.

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’Welsh Labour is committed to tackling climate change. We owe it to future generations to do all we can to teach people about the benefits of making small changes to their lifestyle to help stop climate change.

‘’Young people have a vital role to play as champions amongst their friends, families and communities. I would be delighted to see one of our own young people here in Neath representing Wales on the most important issue facing the world today.’’

Notes

The competition is open to any young person in Wales aged between 11 and 18 years at secondary school or college. Entrants will be required to submit a news report demonstrating how they would encourage their friends, family, school or community to make positive steps to reduce their carbon footprint. This could take the format of a newspaper front page, web design, TV or radio recording. The deadline for entries is 9 November 2007.

More information about the competition and climate change can be found at http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/climate_change/champions/?lang=en or by emailing .

Young people who want to discuss climate change and ideas with their peers can log onto www.myspace.com/ccc4w.

KEEPING the kids occupied and active over half term doesn’t have to cost you a penny extra if you send them swimming, Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said today.

Local leisure centres are offering FREE swimming sessions and lessons to children and young people under 16, thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government’s highly popular school holiday free swimming scheme.

The £2.5m idea has proved a great success - with more than two million swims taken up around Wales since Labour introduced the scheme in 2003.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’This half term, and every school holiday, it’s the kids who can splash out so Mum and Dad and other members of the family don’t have to. Children can get fit, stay active and have fun over the school holidays without parents getting hit in the pocket.

‘Swimming pools and leisure centres across Neath Port Talbot are offering free swimming sessions and lessons during the holidays and I’d encourage as many parents and children as possible to get involved .

“As a government, we want to see more children and young people using their local leisure centre. Free swimming is a way of making sure every local child gets a chance to use the pool or even learn to swim over the holidays.

‘‘It sends out all the right messages to children about the importance of staying fit and active. Labour is committed to encouraging healthy lifestyles which are so important for the health of the nation.

‘’The whole point of this Welsh Labour inspired scheme is to help families that might have been put off by the cost to use and enjoy their local leisure centres. I am delighted the scheme has proved to be a huge success in my constituency and hope this continues.’’

Wales is committed to making sure all people with a learning disability are full citizens, equal in status and value to other citizens of the same age, with the same rights as every other person in the country.

A team of learning disability professionals, parents and people with learning disabilities headed up by a professor from Cardiff University School of Medicine has guided the Welsh Assembly Government in developing a learning disability policy for the 21st Century.

The Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group, co-chaired by Professor David Felce, Director of the Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities in the Department of Psychological Medicine, advised the Assembly on the implementation of a new Statement on Policy and Practice for Adults with a Learning Disability.

“It sets out a vision for the future for people with a learning disability and will guide the future design and delivery of Wales’ health and social services to people with learning disabilities”, explains Professor Felce.

The Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group was established in 2003 by the Welsh Assembly Government to advise on the implementation of the All Wales Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities.

The Group’s ongoing advice and guidance of was praised by the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM, during the official launch of the Statement at the Senedd.

She said:

“This group has provided helpful and thoughtful advice to the Welsh Assembly Government on a wide range of issues that affect the lives of people with learning disabilities. It has played a key role in developing our new contemporary statement.

“I am sure that these new principles will be absorbed and embraced quickly by all learning disability stakeholders and will soon become an integral part of the cultural and philosophical approach that will help guide the future design and development of service and support arrangements for adults with a learning disability.”

The Advisory Group is working on an Action Plan to follow up the policy statement.

On Friday morning, having visisted the scene of the devestating fire at the Gwyn Hall in Neath, I released the following statement:

“I have visited the scene of the blaze at the Gwyn Hall this morning, and I’m shocked and saddened that such an iconic and much loved building by everyone in Neath has suffered such severe damage. It is especially sad considering that the hall is currently undergoing a significant multi-million pound refurbishment.

“I would like to praise the efforts of the fire-fighters of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service for their excellent work during the night, and their effort has ensured that the fire did not spread to nearby buildings. Fire-fighters attended the scene from all across Wales, from as far as Llandrindod Wells. Their commitment and bravery is very much to be commended.

“I also hope that this incident will trigger further consideration of the risk reduction plan of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. The appliance from Pontardawe, as well as the main appliance and a specialist vehicle with a high pressure water pump from Ammanford, played a vital role in tackling the blaze, which proves categorically that both stations play a vital strategic role.

“I will, as Neath’s Assembly member, do all I can to assist the Local Authority in whatever way I can in the days and months ahead.

YOUNG people can offer so much to their local community if they’re given the chance, Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said today as extra money was announced to develop youth volunteering in Neath Port Talbot.

Welsh Labour Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons AM has announced over £800,000 to encourage more young people in Wales to take up volunteering. The extra money has been earmarked to pay for volunteer projects and organisers to support young people to get involved in the local community.

Money has also been set aside to encourage young people who don’t traditionally volunteer to take up the opportunities that the extra funding will provide.

Neath's Labour AM Gwenda Thomas said:

‘’I have a great deal of admiration and respect for young people who volunteer and I am delighted that the Labour led Assembly Government has made this commitment to give more support to our young people.

‘’Young volunteers in Neath already make a huge contribution to our community. Local schools, hospitals, youth clubs, scouts, guides, sports clubs and environmental groups all benefit from young volunteers.

‘’And in turn young people get a great sense of satisfaction from volunteering and from making a positive contribution to their community.

‘’I want all of our young people to benefit from this extra funding – which is why I am keen to see more young people from disadvantaged or ethnic minority communities to get involved.’’

-WELSH LABOUR FOCUSES ON KEY SKILLS

Neath's schoolchildren are set to benefit from a new and improved learning experience thanks to the Labour led Welsh Assembly Government’s new school curriculum.

Neath's Labour AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed the announcement by the Assembly Government's Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Jane Hutt AM, that a distinctive Welsh curriculum for 3-19 year olds will be introduced in September 2008. It comes after four years of expert, public and local consultation.

The new curriculum will;

• Transform early years education through the Foundation Phase, 3 – 7 year olds will learn from interactive educational play inside and outside the classroom;
• Focus on developing children’s key skills in key subjects from the age of seven including communication, numeracy and information technology skills;
• Offer a full range of personal and social education to cover diet, health, sustainable living and active citizenship.

Gwenda Thomas AM said:

‘’I am delighted that once again Welsh Labour is taking the lead on transforming education for children in Neath.

‘’Welsh Labour is committed to meeting the aspirations of our young people and this new curriculum will equip our schoolchildren with the skills they will need later in life.

‘’This new education plan will transform early years education and will ensure that from the age of seven our children will be equipped with the personal, social and new technology skills they need for the twenty-first century.

‘’The Foundation phase will move early years education away from a rigid desk and blackboard style of teaching and will help young children to develop their speaking and listening skills.

‘’This new curriculum and Welsh Labour’s promise to end child poverty by 2020 proves that Welsh Labour has the ideas, vision and commitment to make sure every child in Neath reaches their full potential.’’

- Welsh Labour announces £2.5m fund for arson hotspots and fire protection for local schools.

A MAJOR new drive to reduce arson attacks in Neath and protect local schools against fires in underway thanks to the Labour led Assembly Government.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed Welsh Labour Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons’ announcement of a £2.5m fund over the next three years for the Arson Reduction Team in Neath Port Talbot.

The teams are made up of police and fire service personnel who use educational and crime prevention measures to reduce arson attacks, such as deliberate school fires. The extra money will allow the teams to undertake a full crime reduction survey of local schools and offer grants for extra fire protection.

Since the Arson Reduction Teams were set up in 2005 there has been a 30% reduction in deliberately set fires attended by the Fire and Rescue service of Wales – saving the Welsh economy almost £24m.

Gwenda Thomas AM said:

‘’Welsh Labour is on the side of local parents, teachers and pupils with our zero tolerance approach on arson.

‘’Extra funding for the Arson Reduction Teams will cut the number of arson attacks and prevent the devastating impact arson attacks can have.

‘’Arson attacks on schools cause widespread damage and disruption to our students and local community.

‘’The local Arson Reduction Team will be able to undertake a crime reduction survey of local schools and offer funding for security measures like secure fencing and secure bin storage.

‘’Thanks to Welsh Labour’s tough action on arson attacks our communities and schools are much safer.’’

My column in the Neath Guardian, 17 October 2007:

"Since becoming Neath’s AM in 1999, I have always represented my constituents on many of the controversial issues that have stoked public opinion, based on their views and their opinions. This was the case with the proposed secure unit in Glynneath, the proposed residential development at the site of the Cimla Court Hotel, and the opposing of the relocation of the Neurological Unit from Morriston Hospital to Cardiff.

I am very much aware of the deep sense of resentment within the community regarding the proposals to build wind farms across the Neath and Dulais Valleys. I’m also aware that there are many people who welcome such developments, and actively promote wind turbines as a means of tackling the causes of climate change.

As your Assembly Member, I feel it is my duty to listen to your views, and I remain fully committed to doing so. I will be holding advice surgeries this Friday evening between 5pm and 6pm at my Constituency Office at 7 High Street, Pontardawe, and on Saturday morning between 10:30am and 11:30am at the Co-op store in Glynneath, where I would be delighted to meet with anyone who has an issue they would like me to help them with, or for a chat about issues that you feel that you want to raise with me as your AM.

Last week in the Assembly, my colleague Ann Jones, the AM for the Vale of Clwyd became the first member of the Assembly who is not a member of the Welsh Assembly Government to begin a process that could allow for the introduction of a law that would require all newly built houses, from 2010 onwards to be fitted with a sprinkler system. This has been welcomed by the three Fire Services in Wales, and would dramatically cut the number of deaths caused by fires in the home.

It was also announced last week that the Assembly Government have given Swansea University the go-ahead to establish a full four year medical degree at its Medical School. This is excellent news and is yet another significant boost for the university.

SURGERIES FOR 2009;

Gwenda Thomas AM will be holding advice surgeries throughout the constituency for 2009 on the following dates;

January

SATURDAY 10th - Industrial Club, LOWER BRYNAMMAN - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 10th - Memorial Hall, CWMLLYNFELL - 11am-11.45am

February

SATURDAY 21st - Bryncoch Community Centre, BRYNCOCH NORTH - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 21st- Caewern Community Centre, BRYNCOCH SOUTH -11am-11.45am

March

SATURDAY 14th - Tonmawr Community Centre, PELENNA - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 14th - Community Centre, CIMLA - 11am-11.45am

April

SATURDAY 25th - Neath Day Centre, Orchard Street, NEATH - 10am-10.45am

May

SATURDAY 9th - Community Centre, RESOLVEN - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 9th - Community Centre, LONGFORD - 11am-11.45am

June

SATURDAY 20th - Town Hall, GLYNNEATH - 10am-10.45am - TO BE CONFIRMED

SATURDAY 20th - Welfare Hall, Cwmgwrach, BLAENGWRACH - 11am-11.45am

July

SATURDAY 11th - Community Centre, ABERDULAIS - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 11th - Community Centre, CILFREW - 11am-11.45am

September

SATURDAY 19th - Community Centre, SEVEN SISTERS - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 19th - Community Centre, CRYNANT - 11am-11.45am

October

SATURDAY 10th - Community Centre, RHOS - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 10th - Community Centre, ALLTWEN - 11am-11.45am

November

SATURDAY 14th - Trebanos Hall, TREBANOS - 10am-10.45am

SATURDAY 14th - Ynysmeudwy Hall, PONTARDAWE - 11am-11.45am

December

SATURDAY 12th - Community Centre, GWAUN CAE GURWEN - 10am-10.45am

Gwenda will also be available for appointments on Fridays at the Constituency Office.

Bydd Gwenda ar Gael Hefyd am Apwyntiadau ar ddydd gwener yn y swyddfa etholaeth

SURGERIES FOR 2008:

Gwenda Thomas AM will be holding the following advice surgeries throughout the constituency during 2008.

SATURDAY March 8th - Melin Advice Centre, Briton Ferry Road, MELIN - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY April 12th - Neath Day Centre, Orchard Street, NEATH - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY May 10th - Tonna Community Centre, TONNA - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY June 14th - Rhos Community Centre, RHOS - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY July 12th - Ystalyfera Community Centre, YSTALYFERA - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY September 20th - Glynneath Town Hall, GLYNNEATH - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY October 11th - Neath Day Centre, Orchard Street, NEATH - 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY November 15th - Gwaun Cae Gurwen Community Centre, GWAUN CAE GURWEN- 10:30am-12pm

SATURDAY December 6th - Seven Sisters Community Centre, SEVEN SISTERS- 10:30am-12pm

Appointments to see Gwenda Thomas AM personally on Fridays can be made through the constituency office. Please contact the office on 01792 86993 to arrange an appointment.

Please also feel free to contact my office if you require any help or assistance where my staff will be more than pleased to assist you. Details are available on the "Get in touch" page above.

As your Constituency Assembly Member, I can help and assist you with any problems you may have with any of the Assembly's areas of responsibility.

These include:

• Health and social services (including the NHS, dentistry, public health, food safety, children & adult social services, carers, older people);
• Children and Young People
• Education (schools, further and higher education), lifelong learning and skills, employability and careers.
• Local government;
• the strategic delivery of public services;
• The Heritage of Wales (the welsh language, culture, the arts, sport, tourism);
• The environment, town and country planning, Energy policy, sustainable development;
• Housing;
• Rural affairs (farming, conservation, the countryside);
• Business support, economic development, and issues relating to the European Union (Convergence funding, etc)
• Transport (roads, public transport, etc);
• Community regeneration (Communities First);
• Community safety, substance misuse, domestic abuse and youth justice, the fire & rescue service;
• The Voluntary Sector;
• Equality and diversity issues.

If you live in the Neath Constituency, and wish to contact me as your local Assembly Member, please contact using:

Postal Address:

Gwenda Thomas AM
Assembly Member for Neath
Constituency Office,
7 High Street,
Pontardawe,
SWANSEA
SA8 4HU

Tel: 01792 869993
Fax: 01792 869993

e-Mail:

My constituency office is open to the public Monday to Friday between 10am and 12pm (excluding Bank Holidays). You are of course welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment at a time that is more convenient for you if you are unable to call by between these times. Dates and times of advice surgeries will be posted on the "Surgeries" page.

If you do not live in the Neath constituency, or are unsure who your local Councillor, AM or MP is, please click here to find out.

If you wish to organise a visit to the Assembly in Cardiff bay, please contact my Cardiff office. This office is not open to the public.

Gwenda Thomas AM
Assembly Member for Neath
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
CARDIFF
CF99 1NA

Tel: 029 2089 8750
Fax: 029 2089 8380

e-Mail:

To contact me as the Deputy Minister for Health & Social Services, please contact:

Gwenda Thomas AM
Deputy Minister for Health & Social Services
Welsh Assembly Government,
Cardiff Bay,
CARDIFF
CF99 1NA

e-Mail:

(Please allow at least 17 working days for a reply to any correspondence sent by post or by e-mail to me as Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services.)

About the Neath constituency....

The Neath constituency is a mixture of both industrial and rural communities, running in a north-south strip along the dips, ridges and folded landscape of South Wales. It includes most of the Neath and Dulais valleys, and some of the Upper Swansea Valley as well as the Upper Amman Valley.

Gwenda has been Neath's Labour Assembly Member since 1999. She was appointed the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services following the elections to the National Assembly in May 2007.

She was born in Neath in 1942, and was educated at Pontardawe Grammar School. She lives in Gwaun Cae Gurwen, and is married to Morgan. They have one son, Geraint. She was previously a Civil Servant, having served in the County Courts branch of the then Lord Chancellor's Department as an Executive Officer, and then at the Benefits Agency.

She represented her home village of Gwaun Cae Gurwen as both a Community and County Councillor for many years. She was appointed Chair of the Social Services Committees of West Glamorgan County Council and, following local government reorganisation, of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council - becoming the first woman to chair a major committee. She is a former Community Councillor, and was, until her ministerial appointment in 2007, the Chair of the Governing Body of Ysgol Gynradd Gwaun Cae Gurwen Primary School.

She was also Chair of "West Glamorgan Campaign for a Welsh Assembly" and Vice Chair of "Yes for Wales", Neath. Her political interests include health, social services and the rights of carers, children, local government and the voluntary sector. She is a fluent Welsh speaker.

In the first Assembly (1999-2003), she served as a Labour group whip, before being appointed as Chair of the Local Government and Housing committee (2000-2003). She was also a member of the Health and Social Services committee (March 1999- March 2000).

In the second Assembly (2003-2007), she was Chair of the Equality of Opportunity Committee. She was also a member of the Local Government and Public Services Committee.

She has also been a member of the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council, the South West Wales Regional Committee (July 1999-April 2003), South West Wales Regional Committee (July 2003 - March 20005) and the subsequent South Wales West Regional Committee (March 2005 - May 2007), and the Assembly's Standards of Conduct committee in both the First Assembly (1999-2003) and then in the Second Assembly (2003-2007)

In December 2003, Gwenda was appointed by the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan AM and the Minister for Children Jane Hutt AM to chair the Safeguarding Vulnerable Children Review. The review's report - Keeping Us Safe - was published on May 3rd 2006.

In the third Assembly, following the election in May 2007, Gwenda was appointed by First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM as the Deputy Minister for Health & Social Services in the Welsh Assembly Government.

She has particular responsibility for:

• The activities of the Food Standards Agency in Wales;
• Policy on care in the community;
• Policy on the provision of social services for children and its oversight;
• Adoption and fostering services in Wales, but not adoption of children by UK residents abroad;
• Oversight of all other social services activities of local authorities in Wales including the issuing of statutory guidance;
• Oversight of the Care Council for Wales (which is an AGSB);
• Regulation of residential, domiciliary ,adult placements, foster care ,under 8`s care provision and private healthcare in Wales;
• Receiving and responding to reports from, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales and the Health Care Inspectorate for Wales ; directing specific inspections when required;
• Inspection of, and reporting on, the provision of social services by local authorities in Wales (via the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales), including joint reviews of social services;
• Cross cutting responsibility for health improvement and older people and carers;
• Older’s People Commissioner for Wales;
• CAFCASS (the Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Service);
• Supervised Child Contact Centres.

She is also a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Children and Young People.

At present, she is steering through the Assembly a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) on Vulnerable Children and Child Poverty which will, if agreed by the National Assembly, the Secretary of State for Wales and both houses of the UK Parliament enable the National Assembly for Wales to pass its own laws (known as Assembly Measures) in the fields of child protection and combating child poverty.

She is also currently steering through the Assembly a Legistlative Competence Order on devolving power to the Assembly over charging for Non-Residential Social Care.

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