Nadolig Llawen! Merry Christmas!

To all bloggers everywhere, and to those who read this blog- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope that you all have a well deserved break, and are careful not to eat, or drink too much during the next few days..... I will be back soon after a few days break, but don't forget to tune in to the BBC Radio Wales politicians quiz tomorrow!

I flogwyr y byd, ac i'r rheiny sy'n darllen y blog ma- Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch yn mwynhau'r wyl, ac eich bod yn ofalus i beidio bwyta, nac yfed gorfod yn ystod y diwrnodau nesaf 'ma.... Byddaf nol ymhen ychydig, ond peidiwch anghofio gwrando ar gwis gwleidyddion Radio Wales yfory!

The Queen on youtube. Who would have thought?

As you may know, I'm not a fan of the Royal Family. If you ask me, when we have thousands of young people in poverty in Wales in this day and age, its beyond my comprehension how we can continue to justify subsidising the lifestyles of the Monarchy. However, I am being 'political' by even considering to criticise the Royal Family, yet time and again, the BBC and other news sources continue to broadcast friendly, uncritical, one sided stories about the Royal Family. It really doesn't make sense to me.

And so today, news has it that the Queen has launched a youtube channel of her own, aptly named 'The Royal Channel'. You can see all the footage of her moving speeches, coronations, and visits- although I hope that she does her own editing, and doesn't let a BBC producer loose on her editing suite!

While I recognise all of our attempts to modernise and to move with the ages, being somewhat bias, I fail to see how a youtube station can succeed in making an outdated and archaic tradition compatible with the 21st Century. I sense an edge of desperation on behalf of the media spin doctors in the Palace in trying to portray the Queen and the Royal Family as a modern necessity.

But I am sure there are many of you that will disagree with my viewpoint- those of you who will probably sit down to watch the Queen speech via youtube on Christmas Day this year......!

This isn't what a Nationalist looks like!

Surprise surprise, Glenys Kinnock is against the One Wales Government in Cardiff Bay. The Unionists come out to play...and so close to Christmas, too. Not an ounce of good will for anyone to see. It's bah humbug all the way!

Reading the article on today's epolitix website I thought that I'd happened upon a description of a new War movie. The Nationalists as the evil 'enemy' to Glenys's Labour battleship of Welshness, Britishness, Europeaness ( but nothing that means more power for Wales incidentally)

Unfortunately, it seems more and more obvious that Labour politicians outside the Assembly can only muster interest from the media if they ' come out' against the One Wales coalition. How many more MP's are to follow, and will there be any more before Christmas?

Glenys Kinnock may indeed 'look like a feminist', but there's certainly no love lost between her and her Plaid sisters at the moment.

No rest for the wicked....

A picture of staff at Swansea's NHS Direct Call Centre, and myself of course! It was again, an interesting visit, and a chance to lean about the nature of the calls that they receive, and the expansion of their services in Wales.

I forgot to mention that I also attended the fundraiser for Pontardawe Festival on Thursday night at St Peter's Church in Pontardawe. Neath Male Voice Choir were superb, as were the excitable St Joseph's School Choir. The Festival has huge deficits due to the bad weather over the last few years, so the organisers are intending to hold numerous fundrasier events in the run up to the anual summer Festival. There is extra pressure of course, because the Festival celebrates 30 years in 2008. I hope to assist in looking for funding, and to encourage mroe Welsh language folk bands to take part.

Today I have also done two interviews with regards the asylum case in Swansea. George William and his family have returned to Penlan, but two of his sons, who came to the UK to study, remain in the deportation centre as there are problems with their visas. They have been studying in Slough, and hope to finish their studies before returning to Pakistan. There will be another effort therefore from Asylum Justice in Swansea to write to the airlines requesting that they do not comply with deporting the older sons.

Plaid AM takes George William asylum case to Home Offi

I am speaking on this issue on Good Morning Wales tomorrow at 8am if you would like to listen in on it.

Plaid AM takes George William asylum case to Home Office

Local Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins has written to Jacqui Smith, the
Secretary of State for Home Affairs following the appalling treatment of George William and his family by immigration officials. As reported in the Evening Post, Mr William and his family were taken away from their Penlan home during a dawn raid earlier this week.

Bethan Jenkins said:

‘Under international law the UK government is duty bound to offer asylum to those fearing persecution. George and his family fled Pakistan three years ago in fear because of their religious beliefs. Pakistan is currently in a state of political turmoil. Only today, a suicide bomber has killed over 50 people celebrating a Muslim holiday in the country. How anyone can be deported in that environment is beyond belief.

‘In a desperate attempt to sop the political right, New Labour is
trying to talk and act tough on asylum and immigration. Not only are their actions irresponsible, but lead to inhumane treatment of individuals and families who have come to this country as a result of fear for their very lives. To turn our backs on people such as George and his family is the act of the gravest political cowardice and immorality’.

‘I have written to the Home Secretary raising the case of George and
his family. I encourage as many people as possible to do so as
highlighted by the Evening Post’

Visit to the Dogs Trust in Bridgend

This week I visited the Dogs Trust in Bridgend. It was a very interesting visit, especially as I am one of those sorry souls never to have had a pet! I was a little nervous to be honest- knowing that there would be hundreds of noisy dogs in one building, and anyone who has been canvassing knows that dogs can be rather vicious on the fingers!

Nevertheless I really enjoyed the visit, and was warmly welcomed by the staff. The Dogs Trust in Bridgend is a re-homing centre, and the Bridgend Centre is one of the busiest in the UK for taking in dogs of all shapes and sizes who have been left to stray on the streets, abandoned by owners and so on. The Centre undertakes an outreach scheme to encourage neutering amongst dog owners, and there is a subsidised scheme also for those who find it hard to afford neutering their dogs.

This campaign has taken place due to the fact that Centres such as the one in Bridgend receive a large percentage of litters of puppies due to the fact that owners fail to neuter their pets, or are not aware of why they need to do it. Incidentally there wasn't many puppies at the centre while I was there, but Wales's centre does have the highest proportion of puppies a year according to the Manager of the Centre.

All in all a busy week. I am visiting Swansea's NHS Direct Centre today, and then I am officially finished for the Christmas recess!

My response to Huw Lewis's child poverty short debate

Bethan Jenkins: Thank you for introducing this short debate today. It is important that we keep this on the political agenda. I would also like to recognise some of the points that you made in terms of creating a progressive alliance across Government layers and ensuring that tackling child poverty is the settled will of the Welsh people.

To pick up on a few comments, you mentioned that some Members would abdicate responsibility to Westminster. I agree that Wales has to show leadership in this instance, and I think that we are doing so in terms of the new policies that have come to light from the Government. I also think that we have to work in co-ordination with Westminster; that is the key—to work with Westminster, not against it. That can only be done through a progressive alliance to make sure that the benefits and taxation systems benefit our young people, but that they also work in a cross-cutting way with what we are doing in Wales. That can only be positive.

I look forward to your work as part of the expert group. I had a discussion, this morning, with Brian Gibbons, the Minister with responsibility for this area, and note that there is broad scope for that new group to scrutinise Government policies and to offer new ideas. I am excited about that group and I hope that you are too, and that you can work with us here, at the Assembly, to ensure that child poverty will not fall beneath the radar and will be at the forefront of the political agenda in Wales.

Bethan Jenkins: Diolch am gyflwyno’r ddadl fer hon heddiw. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn cadw hyn ar yr agenda wleidyddol. Hoffwn hefyd gydnabod rhai o’r pwyntiau a wnaethoch o ran creu cynghrair flaengar drwy wahanol haenau Llywodraeth a sicrhau bod ymdrin â thlodi plant yn ewyllys gadarn ymhlith pobl Cymru.

Gan gyfeirio at rai o’r sylwadau, dywedasoch y byddai rhai Aelodau’n ildio’r cyfrifoldeb i San Steffan. Cytunaf fod yn rhaid i Gymru ddangos arweiniad y tro hwn, a chredaf ein bod yn gwneud hynny ac ystyried y polisïau newydd sydd wedi’u cyflwyno gan y Llywodraeth. Credaf hefyd ei bod yn rhaid inni gydweithio â San Steffan; dyna’r peth pwysig—gweithio gyda San Steffan, nid yn eu herbyn. Er mwyn gallu gwneud hyn, mae’n rhaid cael cynghrair flaengar i sicrhau bod y systemau budd-daliadau a’r systemau trethu o fudd i’n pobl ifanc, ond mae’n rhaid i hynny hefyd gyd-fynd â’r hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud yng Nghymru. Mae hynny’n beth cadarnhaol, bid siŵr.

Edrychaf ymlaen at eich gwaith yn rhan o’r grŵp arbenigwyr. Cefais drafodaeth y bore yma gyda Brian Gibbons, y Gweinidog sy’n gyfrifol am y maes hwn, a sylwaf fod gwir gyfle i’r grŵp newydd graffu ar bolisïau’r Llywodraeth a chynnig syniadau newydd. Teimlaf yn llawn cyffro am y grŵp a gobeithiaf eich bod chithau’n teimlo’r un fath, ac y gallwch weithio gyda ni yma yn y Cynulliad i sicrhau na fydd tlodi plant yn diflannu o’n meddyliau, ac y bydd ar frig yr agenda wleidyddol yng Nghymru.

link to Huw Lewis's debate

Question to Brian Gibbons- gender pay gap

Bethan Jenkins: It is well documented that women earn an average of 80p for every £1 earned by men. That figure is made substantially worse when you take account of part-time workers. Given that women, in many instances, try to juggle childcare and part-time work, what are your thoughts on this, and what work are you doing to try to address this discrepancy in the system?

Brian Gibbons: I am glad to say that the figure of 80p is a UK-wide figure; the gap between men’s and women’s pay in Wales is significantly narrower. We have worked with the trades union movement on many of the problems to help to increase its capacity to campaign on this issue. The first phase of the Close the Pay Gap campaign was directed specifically at the private sector. The problems of the inequality of women’s pay are based on the principle of equality, but there are also deep structural problems in how women are segregated in different occupations, and the fact that they have more domestic responsibilities than men which have the consequence of limiting how far they can travel to work.

All these structural issues need thoroughgoing responses, and they will not be readily available by just a simple initiative; we really do need a root-and-branch approach to tackle this totally unacceptable practice.


Bethan Jenkins: Mae’n dra hysbys bod menywod yn ennill 80c ar gyfartaledd am bob £1 y mae dynion yn ei hennill. Mae’r ffigur hwnnw’n waeth o lawer os ystyrir gweithwyr rhan amser. Gan fod menywod, mewn llawer achos, yn ceisio ymdopi â gofal plant a gwaith rhan amser, beth yw’ch meddyliau ynghylch hynny, a pha waith yr ydych yn ei wneud i geisio delio â’r anghysondeb hwn sydd yn y system?

Brian Gibbons: Yr wyf yn falch o ddweud bod y ffigur o 80c yn un ar gyfer y DU gyfan; mae’r bwlch rhwng cyflogau dynion a menywod yng Nghymru’n llai o lawer. Yr ydym wedi gweithio gyda mudiad yr undebau llafur ar lawer o’r problemau i geisio rhoi mwy o allu iddo ymgyrchu ar y mater hwn. Yr oedd rhan gyntaf yr ymgyrch Cau’r Bwlch Cyflog wedi’i chyfeirio’n benodol at y sector preifat. Mae problemau cyflog anghyfartal i fenywod wedi’u seilio ar egwyddor cydraddoldeb, ond mae problemau adeileddol sylfaenol hefyd o ran y modd y mae menywod wedi’u neilltuo i wahanol alwedigaethau, a’r ffaith bod ganddynt fwy o gyfrifoldebau yn y cartref na dynion a bod hynny’n cyfyngu’r pellter y gallant ei deithio i fynd i’r gwaith.

Mae angen ymatebion trwyadl i’r holl faterion adeileddol hyn, ac ni fyddant ar gael yn rhwydd drwy gynllun syml yn unig; mae gwir angen inni ddelio â’r arfer gwbl annerbyniol hon brig, gwraidd a bôn.

My latest LCO and measure for the ballot.

Proposed Access to Automated Tele Machines Legislative Competence Order

Bethan Jenkins

Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order
Outline of proposed Order

This order will require an amendment to Schedule 5 Field 12 of the Government of Wales Act to make provision to improve access to Automated Tele Machines in low income communities.

Pre-ballot Information: Explanatory Memorandum
Policy Objectives of the Proposed Order

Numerous communities in Wales have little access to ATMs.

The purpose of this Order is to reduce the vulnerability of low income families to exclusion and debt by ensuring they have the best possible chance of having access to cash machines without facing charges they are unable to afford.
The costs of provision of free ATMS are prohibitive in some areas. The costs can be mitigated by de rating premises or parts of premises where the ATMS provided need to link to the areas concerned. Similar action has been taken in Scotland.

Proposed Impact Assessments for the Selling off of Playing Fields Measure

Pre-ballot Information

Bethan Jenkins

Policy Objectives of the Proposed Measure

The selling off of playing fields is said to have a negative impact on the communities around them, both in terms of health and well being and in terms of social inclusion. This measure would place a duty on local authorities to consider this impact before selling any playing fields

Support received/Consultation
General support for this from constituents

Calamity Clegg's the winner! The suspense is over.

I spoke at my old school, Rhydfelen yesterday, and what was odd was that even though I was going to their new building, it felt as if I was stepping back in time to when I was a pupil, as many of the same teachers are still at the school. Jennifer Evans, my English teacher who taught me the wonders of the Bronte's and of The Wife of Bath is now the Deputy Head, and organised the whole event. I'm never really that nervous, but in front of teachers who probably gave me a telling off or two when I was a pupil all those years ago, I was a little hesitant;-) Anyway, it was a great afternoon, and a chance to catch up and to feel that there are at least some people who are proud of what I have achieved!

I won't say who won the BBC Radio Wales quiz that I took part in last night so that you will all surely tune in on Christmas Eve, and snuggle up with mulled wine to hear our intellectual answers! or not... still, it was fun, and a chance to show off my entertainment knowledge!

In the news today, of course, is the fact that Nick Clegg or 'Calamity Clegg' to most, was elected as leader of the Lib dems. I was on the edge of my seat all day. My aunty, a (shock horror) lib dem Councillor on Watford Council voted for Huhne as she did the previous time. I guess that he is a little upset today for losing, but he might have a chance of another contest sometime soon knowing how frequent the Lib dems get through their leaders....

Highlights of 2007...............

I am taking part in the BBC Radio Wales quiz tomorrow which will be aired on Christmas Eve. A Government team vs opposition which includes John Griffiths AM and myself, against Nick Ramsay AM and Eleanor Burnham. If you think that you know some of the questions that may come up-especially to do with sport, then leave a comment! I may embarrass myself, but I hope that it will be a jolly affair!!

Tomorrow I am speaking at Ysgol Rhydfelen's award ceremony. I am quite nervous because many of my former teachers are still at the school, and I feel that I will have to put in a good performance! I'm sure it will be great to see everyone again, but this time it will be at the new building at Gartholwg Campus, so no 1st World War aeroplane shelters to worry about as with the previous dilapidated building across the road...!

A week to go before I take some time out for Christmas. There are a few concerts that I will be attending locally before the break, but this will no doubt get me in the Christmas spirit, especially now that I've done all my shopping!

Guest blogger # 5 Jon Bright- Our Kingdom

(Jon Bright is the Managing Editor of OurKingdom- OurKingdom is a part of openDemocracy’s new site. Its special focus is on the destiny of Britain. The website discusses Britain’s nations, institutions, constitution, administration, liberties, justice, peoples and media and their principles, identity and character. In a word our democracy in its broadest meaning, its history and future, from culture, participation and issues of centralisation and authority to equality, rights, responsibilities and who rules.)

What’s the point of power?

OurKingdom has a pretty simple mission – to make the constitution of the UK matter to people. Simple to say, that is, but hard to achieve: because I can say without much exaggeration that most people couldn’t care less about it at the moment. It’s a turnoff. In a recent poll, only 2% of Britons felt that the government should spend time reforming the constitution – the same amount that felt the government should do nothing at all. In fact, if you’ve even read up to hear, I’d be secretly pleased.

So why should people be interested? Well, for two reasons.
The first is that the constitution is starting to get interested in you, as it were. Most people don’t think too much about the engine while they are driving their cars – but when smoke starts to come out of the bonnet, they have to start paying attention.
Smoke has been quietly seeping out of the UK ever since Labour’s half-complete devolution settlement (though the word ‘settlement’ misleadingly implies that something was, well, settled). Since Alex Salmond took over in Holyrood, and as Plaid grow in power, it has started to come out in huge clouds. Creating devolved assemblies in Scotland and Wales (and finally getting Stormont started as well) has thrown a spanner into the UK machine, and no-one yet is quite sure of how it will be fixed – but we can’t keep driving along like this.

There’s also a second, more important, and more fundamental reason. The constitution is about the power in our society – who wields it, where it is wielded. And I think this is something that a great deal of people should be interested in.

To anyone who says people aren’t interested in politics I say – look at the Iraq war. This was a political issue, and I challenge you to find anyone who doesn’t have an opinion on it. A lot of people have very strong ones. But most of the energy that welled up in protest was sent, unfortunately, in the wrong direction. Everyone blamed Blair. Which is understandable. But would it have been different with a different prime minister? How did we even arrive at a situation where evidence for a war which most people were against could be manufactured, and planning for the aftermath could be so woefully thin, and yet no-one has been held personally culpable?

I don’t think people aren’t interested in politics. I think they aren’t interested in the type of politics they are allowed to do in this country. Not interested in voting in elections where only a few thousand swing voters have any real impact. Not interested in electing MPs to a parliament which lacks any real powers. Not interested in choosing between parties of apparently ideological interests. And not interested in a culture where apparently no-one is accountable.
Talking about the constitution is an opportunity to talk about all this, perhaps even change some of it. And devolution has created this opportunity. Already there is, for example, a vibrant new assembly in Wales – boasting near equal representation of women, a world first. There is proportional representation and power sharing, and a genuinely ‘local’ democracy. There will be no repeat of the Tryweryn debacle – and, just as importantly, if there ever was there would be people held accountable.

More gains could be made. In the next few years there will come a moment when Scotland votes on independence, when Wales votes for greater powers, when (perhaps) Fianna Fail merges with the SDLP and unionism starts to mean support for a united Ireland rather than a United Kingdom. There are no guarantees about how any of this will turn out – but with these moments there will be historic opportunities to reshape the nature of power in our country, and perhaps create a genuinely accountable, representative politics. That should be enough to get anyone interested.

Stand Up and Speak Out Against Poverty

Hain the untouchable

I didn't go to the ITV and the Welsh Yearbook politics awards this year. I was surprised that there would be such a bash for politicians considering the financial crisis that ITV are in at the moment, but there we are....

The only news that I've heard from the evening is of Hain's speech and its bad taste, especially with regards female AM's past and present- comments which I have no inclination to laugh at whatsoever. Other references were made about Doctor Who...Peter Hain travelling in the tardis....failing to see any bother regarding donations in the future....ha ha...

I'm so glad that he can make light of a situation which only last week was plastered on every news channel, and which may cost him dearly in the future. I'm not laughing, and I could hazard a guess that the people of Neath aren't either. Perhaps Hain thinks that he is beyond criticism, that he is untouchable. After his enlightening 'speech' the other night, perhaps he will consider taking a good look at himself and the affect of his actions and words on others in the future.

I had a productive meeting with Brian Gibbons regarding child poverty yesterday. I hope that the schemes underway in Wales will play a part in tackling this issue, although I did raise concerns that while we can show leadership in Wales, we have to work with Westminster if the targets are to be met.

Ed Balls's 10 year plan may be an area to look at but considering that there was no discussion with the WAG prior to Westminster's announcement, we will have to wait with baited breath as to how London's plans will coincide with what happens here( and the child poverty unit in the DWP)

It is somewhat adventurous for the Government in London to term it a '10 year plan', when there is no guarantee that Labour will remain in Government in Westminster for that period of time. I will reserve judgement on it until I receive more information, although I am concerned about the pressure that could be placed on schools to take on more responsibilities with regards the welfare and health of young people across the board.

I also had a meeting with Joseph Rowntree Foundation regarding their work in Wales this week, and they are initiating a significant amount of new research here, which is to be commended. I am eager to organise an event at the Assembly alongside JRF next year, which will again raise the profile of this issue at the Assembly...I hope!

Today is the last day of term at the Assembly, so back to South Wales West it is....

No bruising on the budget

The Assembly budget got through today without much fuss. To be honest I did expect the opposition parties to be much more bruising, but we left the chamber with a little graze compared to what I was prepared for. There was over 17 amendments from the opposition against the budget, yet not one single effort to even suggest where they would change the budget lines to coincide with where they believe the money should go, or any inclination as to how they would do things differently. Fair enough to scrutinise and criticise -because that's what being in opposition is about, but there wasn't much depth to their arguments. Jenny Randerson and the Lib dems tried to say that we were spending money on gimmicks, which is of course untrue-and this coming from a party which proposed free toothbrushes for children if they came to power. Please, give me strength!

I am pleased however that all parties are in agreement that we have had a raw deal from Westminster, and that this is inevitably affecting our ability to balance out resources across the board. This line of argument has been driven all along from our MP's in Westminster, so we are leading the agenda yet again! I did expect some Labour backbenchers to kick up more of a fuss than they did- naming no names, of course. The very Labour backbenchers that are finding common ground with the Tories at the moment. Interesting times lie ahead that is for sure....

A busy week...............

I feel a little guilty that I haven't blogged for a while, but seriously, I haven't had a spare minute. I've been working hard on my child poverty brief this week following Brian Gibbons' announcement, and checking out what the UK Government has been saying today with regards investing in childcare. I have a meeting with Brian Gibbons this week to discuss child poverty, so to those of you who are interested in the subject, you are welcome to leave some questions in the comment section that I may raise with him. Valleys Mam may wish to do so as I know that she has a keen interest in this area.

Apart from that, I've been sitting on the Equal Opportunities committee at the National Assembly this week where we have been scrutinising the Government's Equal Opportunities policies, and the role of the new equal opportunities body in Wales, the EHRC. I also sat on the petitions committee where we heard evidence from Sustrans with regards to calling for an LCO to create combined use pathways in Wales for walkers and cyclists, as well as a petition on increasing the rights of young carers, and we met with people from my old school, Rhydfelen, who are fighting to retain the name following their move to Gartholwg campus.

I also spoke at the NUS Wales lobby at the Assembly on Friday, whose members are calling to increase the threshold on student loan repayments from £15,00 to £20,000. We don't currently have the power to do this in Wales, but I've asked Assembly lawyers to look in to what can be done, and whether I could consider putting an LCO in on a ballot in the future.

Oh, but I did take time out to see the Manics at the CIA this week, who were immense! I could go and see that band every night of the week, without fail.

It's my birthday tomorrow for anyone who is interested, and I'm off to meet the family for a meal at the Nant Ddu which is near Merthyr. It's a lovely place to go, but it is always booked up early, so we did organise this months ago! I'm looking forward to it, and to the start of the Christmas season!....................

Child Poverty targets unreachable?

Today I visited the pilot project of the company GEM Gas Conversion- (Graveson Energy Management) based in Port Talbot that have developed a conversion system that enables the recovery of energy from a wide selection of materials that are considered as waste. It identifies wasted resources as valuable fuel, utilises fuel by converting it into synthetic gas which is produced as a replacement for natural gas, which in due course generates renewable electricity and heat. I found the visit to be very interesting, especially in light of our aim in Wales to cut our carbon footprint, and to recycle. This pilot project is also important to recognise in relation to the new landfill tax, and an attempt by the Government to cut waste sent to landfill. Of course, companies that wouldn't have thought twice about sending waste to landfill now have to reconsider their options, and GEM are offering that alternative.

The only hurdle at the moment is that their company is relatively small, and they have not as yet succeeded in encouraging businesses and Local Authorities in Wales to take up this new renewable way of creating energy from waste. They have a pilot plant in Port Talbot, and in a few months time, a DEFRA presentation in Scarborough, but they are now seeking to raise their profile in order to influence people such as Jane Davidson and Ieuan Wyn Jones who could offer them a future for their business in Wales. In the Netherlands, this system is the norm, but I think that we have a long way to go in Wales to educate people( and our Politicians) about new ways of working in this sector.

Tomorrow I am reacting to the Social Justice's Statement of Child Poverty in Wales. I do fear that in light of the Treasury committee report, and the latest Joseph Rowntree report on this issue that Westminster's targets will not be met, and neither will ours here in Wales. It looks increasingly likely that our efforts are in danger of being undermined by a Labour Government in London that lacks the political will to provide a clear road map and redistribute sufficient wealth to reach both 2010 and 2020 targets.

The Welsh Assembly Government is trying to initiate new ideas for addressing this issue within areas of devolved responsibility- the draft budget includes substantial extra investment for universal affordable childcare, a major Plaid election commitment, and a key mechanism identified by anti child poverty campaigners.

However, we are just not seeing the same sense of purpose from the London Government. The Treasury Select Committee report makes very worrying reading and confirms many of our fears. As the report says the recent Comprehensive Spending Review fails to provide a clear indication of how the 2010 target is going to be met. Put together with the Pre Budget Report in which only 48p extra a week was awarded to the poorest children, it is easy to understand why the London Government is being accused of running out of steam in this instance.

More thoughts on devolution

My previous blog post on Peter Hain also featured on the website Ourkingdom, where this was left as a comment-


Phil, on November 29th, 2007 at 10:35 pm Said:

They(Labour) rushed headlong into devolution a decade ago because they thought that they would have a permanent power base in Scotland and Wales when England eventually went back to the Conservatives rather than for any concerns about recognising Scotland and Wales as distinct nations with the right to self-determination. The last thing that Hain or Labour want is a Welsh Alex Salmond coming along in the future and upsetting the apple cart. They have got their fingers burnt in Scotland, so they’ll be in no hurry to do likewise in Wales. I think that you and all Welsh patriots have a fight on your hands but this English patriot wishes you all the best anyway.

Of course, Hain and Labour can see what is happening in Scotland, and are desperate for this situation not to be replicated in Wales. Nevertheless, this made me take the debate a step further, and to wonder what would happen to the development of devolution a) when there is a Welsh Labour Leadership bid and b) if the Tories win the General Election.

a) Now, Huw Lewis may not like the analogy of Welsh Labour v British Labour judging by his latest blog post, in that he is desperate to undermine the fact that any divide exists. Nevertheless, we all know that tensions do exist within the realm of the Labour party in Wales and that a leadership bid would only serve to intensify this situation.

If for example, we had a contest between a Huw Lewis and a Carwyn Jones when Rhodri Morgan steps down, then the One Wales coalition could be looking at two very stark future scenarios....

We could see a Huw Lewis stand, promising grass roots members and Labour Council Leaders to pull out of the coalition with the nasty Nationalists, ( where there would be no further dispute as to whether money would go 'to the Valleys' from the Assembly) either pushing the outcome to a Rainbow coalition or a Labour minority Government for as long as it could last. Deliver a Referendum? I think not!

Or we could see a Carwyn Jones promising to soldier on with the Labour-Plaid coalition, and trying his best to balance the devo sceptics and the devo enthusiasts through to 2011. Deliver a referendum? I think that he would have no choice but to do so, but how this would be done while keeping all of Welsh Labour vaguely content is anyone's guess.

b) If the Tories win the next General Election, then this throws a) totally out of sync. and forces us to look at devolution in a new light. Labour's somewhat arrogant nature may well be discarded of over night, and they will be encouraged to revisit their current stubbornness to co-operate with regards pushing the National question forward. A Tory Government could set Welsh Labour thinking that more powers for Wales is their only way to muster any control in the UK( especially if Scotland is firmly on its way to Independence) and will campaign positively for more powers for Wales. Welsh Labour MP's will be on opposition benches, and will not for a minute defend Tory policies on a London level.

I may not be on track with these analogies at all, but it does pose some interesting questions about the alternative routes for the devolution process in the future.

Bob the Remploy scapegoat?

It's a busy week for Hain. Yesterday at the Assembly he was muddying the waters yet again on the excellent LCO's, and today there is due to be a statement on the future of Remploy in Wales. Since the decision was referred to Hain, we are expected to hear that the number of factories closing will fall to 28 from the 43 that was expected to close earlier in the year. Ystradgynlais and Brynaman staff, however, will still have to move to the Baglan site, and the Trefforest site will close.

While this is a victory of some sort for the Union's, I do believe that referring the decision to Hain was a tactical decision taken by the Government to make annoucements on factories which they had already earmarked to keep open. The announcement not to close the Bridgend factory was no surprise, and especially not so to Union Officials.

Nevertheless, while the factories have been getting all the headlines, the fate of the Swansea Shared Service Centre in Fforestfach has already been sealed. The Centre is set to close, and new jobs created in Leeds. This despite the ongoing consultation process, and the Government's promise to re- look at all areas within the Remploy proposal. I have been working closely with workers at the Centre who are now furious that a decision has been taken on their Centre during this process, while all the Remploy factories, and the reasons for closure were revisited and re investigated.

The way that this consultation was carried out is an example of how not to do it in the future. Remploy management were effectively Government- led, therefore we need clarity in the future about who makes what decision and when. I fear that Bob Warner was used as somewhat of a scape goat in all of this - he was branded as being responsible for the attrocious cuts in Remploy, regardless of the fact that we all know that Remploy is a Government funded enterprise.

This does not restore the workers faith in the consultation process, especially when the future of their careers are in the balance. I will await the announcement today, and also await with interest the response, and the future actions of the Union's involved.

Hain the 'devolutionist'.

Peter Hain has just addressed the Assembly, but fear not, I am not live blogging. It was far too lively a debate to miss out on! I wanted to intervene to voice my concerns on the sale of student loans bill, and the problems that may arise if a private company chooses to change the rules and regulations with regards the loans system in the future. Nevertheless, I did not get the chance amongst all the ya boo politics, which I'm sure was a sign of comfort to Hain as that is what he is used to at Westminster!

The point of interest for me was Hain's reference to a referendum on a Parliament for Wales. He described himself as a 'devolutionist', yet when it came to making moves to supporting a referendum as agreed between Labour and Plaid, he fell short of supporting it outright- going back on his argument that we need firm public support and cross party support before we can even consider holding a referendum.

Ok, so he doesn't want to be reminded of how we lost the referendum in '79, but times have changed and I don't quite think that he's amended his opinion to coincide with that sea change in Welsh opinion, both in favour of a referendum and to the concept of a Parliament for Wales.

We need a much firmer declaration of support from Hain if this referendum is to happen, let alone win it. He may be appeasing those in his party who are opposed to the referendum at this point- namely those MP's who now have little better to do than to talk about putting a Welsh dragon on the British flag! But we can't sit around waiting for them to feel better about the situation. The Convention is happening, and as far as the One Wales agreement goes, the referendum is too.

Now all we need to know is whether Hain and co. will ever be won over by the need to take this a step further, and create a proper Parliament for Wales. To have to go cap in hand to Hain in the first place is more than I can take- for him to sit on the fence like he is doing presently is unacceptable.

First Minister's questions- Child Poverty

Bethan Jenkins: Do you have any knowledge of whether the child poverty implementation plan that was constructed in November 2006 will be carried through to this Assembly? At several meetings with representatives of Save the Children Wales, they expressed their concern about this strategy and whether the Assembly will receive a report on the implementation plan?


The First Minister: Yes, I believe it to be the case. You tend to get overly concerned about the names of particular implementation plans, but the broad thrust of having a strategy to eradicate child poverty by 2020 is an absolutely solid commitment of the One Wales administration.

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Bethan Jenkins: A wyddoch o gwbl a gaiff y cynllun gweithredu ar dlodi plant a luniwyd ym mis Tachwedd 2006 ei gario drwodd i’r Cynulliad hwn? Mewn sawl cyfarfod gyda chynrychiolwyr Achub y Plant (Cymru), mynegasant eu pryder ynghylch y strategaeth hon ac a fydd y Cynulliad yn cael adroddiad ar y cynllun gweithredu?

Y Prif Weinidog: Bydd, credaf fod hynny’n wir. Yr ydych yn tueddu i bryderu’n ormodol am enwau cynlluniau gweithredu arbennig, ond mae byrdwn cyffredinol cael strategaeth i ddiddymu tlodi plant erbyn 2020 yn ymrwymiad cwbl gadarn gan weinyddiaeth Cymru’n Un

Senedd debate- young people with disabilities

Responding to Equal Opportunities Committee Report on Service Provision for young people with disabilities.

Bethan Jenkins: Thank you for the report. I just wanted to mention that Stephen Dyer, Amy Barrett and Daniel Beynon, members of the reference group that helped to shape today’s report, are present here today, and they want a reassurance from the Minister that the voices of young people, especially young disabled people, will continue to be heard. Disabled children must have the same access to services as other children in Wales have. Lots of disabled people are now involved in organisations such as Funky Dragon, but I believe that such organisations should carry more weight in political decision-making. I would like to echo their representations and ensure that their voices are heard strongly and clearly today.


Jane Hutt: You are very much a champion for young people, and I welcome them here today. We had a robust and challenging session with Funky Dragon on Thursday, and many Assembly Members—and, most importantly, Ministers—were put on the spot and questioned and scrutinised. I was pleased that we were able to find funding last year, when Jane Davidson was the Minister for education, to support the network of young disabled people in Wales, which had done some pioneering work following the big international conference that it organised in Swansea. Young disabled people will steer us through the conference later this week, and will certainly be at the forefront of scrutiny, challenging how the Government responds to this important report. Diolch yn fawr.

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Bethan Jenkins: Diolch ichi am yr adroddiad. Yr oeddwn am ddweud bod Stephen Dyer, Amy Barrett a Daniel Beynon, aelodau o’r grŵp cyfeirio a roddodd help imi lunio’r adroddiad hwn heddiw, yma heddiw, ac maent am gael sicrwydd gan y Gweinidog y bydd llais pobl ifanc, yn arbennig pobl ifanc anabl, yn parhau i gael ei glywed. Rhaid i blant anabl gael yr un mynediad i wasanaethau â phlant eraill yng Nghymru. Mae llawer o bobl anabl yn ymwneud â sefydliadau fel y Ddraig Ffynci erbyn hyn, ond credaf y dylai sefydliadau o’r fath gael mwy o ddylanwad ar benderfyniadau gwleidyddol. Hoffwn ategu eu sylwadau a sicrhau bod eu lleisiau’n cael eu clywed yn gryf ac yn glir yma heddiw.


Jane Hutt: Yr ydych yn sicr yn lladmerydd o blaid pobl ifanc, ac fe’u croesawaf yma heddiw. Cawsom sesiwn rymus a heriol gyda’r Ddraig Ffynci ddydd Iau, a rhoddwyd sawl Aelod o’r Cynulliad—ac, yn bwysicach na hynny, Weinidogion—mewn picil a chawsant eu holi a’u rhoi drwy broses graffu. Yr oeddwn yn falch ein bod wedi llwyddo i ddod i hyd i arian y llynedd, pan oedd Jane Davidson yn Weinidog dros addysg, i gefnogi’r rhwydwaith o bobl ifanc anabl yng Nghymru, a oedd wedi gwneud gwaith arloesol yn dilyn y gynhadledd ryngwladol fawr a drefnodd yn Abertawe. Bydd pobl ifanc anabl yn ein tywys drwy’r gynhadledd yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, a byddant yn sicr ar flaen y gad o ran y broses graffu, gan herio’r ffordd y mae’r Llywodraeth yn ymateb i’r adroddiad pwysig hwn. Diolch yn fawr.

Question on the deportation case of Venera Aliyeva

Bethan Jenkins- I wish to raise the pressing issue of three constituents of mine from Swansea, Venera Aliyeva, and her children, Anna and Murat Memedov, who are being detained in a centre in Bedfordshire. They will be sent back to Azerbaijan, and they are in fear of their life. Could we make any representations to Westminster on this issue, to show that we are in support of retaining them in this country?


Carwyn Jones- Forgive me for not commenting on the specific case that you raise, as I do not know the full details. However, you raise an important point: people who are living in this country, and who face the threat of deportation should have full access to the law and to financial support to enable them to pursue their case. That is the mark of a civilised society. We have always had people moving to our shores from elsewhere. We are—to quote the First Minister—an island of immigrants; it is simply a question of when we arrived here. We sometimes forget that. I agree with the suggestion that, where we have what seems to be a difficult situation, people should have full access to justice so that their cases may be heard.

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Bethan Jenkins-
hoffwn godi mater brys yn ymwneud â thri o’m hetholwyr o Abertawe sy’n cael eu cadw mewn canolfan yn Swydd Bedford, sef Venera Aliyeva, a’i phlant, Anna a Murat Memedov. Byddant yn cael eu hanfon yn ôl i Azerbaijan, ac maent yn ofni bod eu bywydau mewn perygl. A fyddai modd inni gyflwyno unrhyw sylwadau ynglŷn â hynny i San Steffan, er mwyn dangos ein bod o blaid eu cadw yn y wlad hon?

Carwyn Jones-
Maddeuwch imi am beidio â gwneud sylwadau ynglŷn â’r achos penodol y cyfeiriwch ato, gan nad wyf yn gwybod y manylion yn llawn. Fodd bynnag, yr ydych yn codi pwynt pwysig: dylai pobl sy’n byw yn y wlad hon, ac sy’n wynebu’r bygythiad o gael eu hanfon o’r wlad gael mynediad llawn at y gyfraith ac at gymorth ariannol i’w galluogi i ddadlau eu hachos. Mae hynny’n arwydd o gymdeithas waraidd. Mae pobl wastad wedi bod yn dod i’n glannau o leoedd eraill. Yr ydym—a dyfynnu’r Prif Weinidog—yn ynys o fewnfudwyr; yr unig wahaniaeth yw pa bryd y cyraeddasom yma. Yr ydym yn anghofio hynny weithiau. Yr wyf yn cytuno â’r awgrym, lle mae gennym sefyllfa sy’n ymddangos yn un anodd, y dylai pobl gael mynediad llawn at gyfiawnder fel bod modd i’w hachosion gael eu clywed.

Question to Business Minister on Swansea Shared Service Centre

My second question is on Swansea’s shared services. There has been a declaration to save some of the Remploy factories, but there has not been any sort of announcement on the retention of the Swansea shared service centre. The staff at the centre are concerned that Anne McGuire, the Westminster MP, who is responsible for this, continues to say that the centre will be moved to Leeds. Could the Government make further representations to Anne McGuire, and ask why this decision has been made prior to the consultation process ending, given that it should rest with Peter Hain?

Carwyn Jones: Your points on shared services will be on the record. Those points can be made to Anne McGuire

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Mae fy ail gwestiwn yn ymwneud â gwasanaethau a rennir yn Abertawe. Cafwyd datganiad yn ymwneud ag achub rhai o’r ffatrïoedd Remploy, ond ni chafwyd unrhyw fath o gyhoeddiad ynglŷn â chadw’r ganolfan gwasanaethau a rennir yn Abertawe. Mae staff y ganolfan yn poeni y bydd Anne McGuire, yr AS yn San Steffan, sy’n gyfrifol am hyn, yn dal i ddweud y bydd y ganolfan yn cael ei symud i Leeds. A fyddai modd i’r Llywodraeth gyflwyno mwy o sylwadau i Anne McGuire, a gofyn pam y gwnaethpwyd y penderfyniad hwn cyn i’r broses ymgynghori ddod i ben, gan gymryd mai Peter Hain a ddylai gael y gair olaf?

Carwyn Jones: Bydd eich pwyntiau ynglŷn â gwasanaethau a rennir yn cael eu cofnodi. Gellir cyflwyno’r pwyntiau hynny i Anne McGuire.

Question on Eating Disorders to Edwina Hart

Bethan Jenkins: You just mentioned eating disorders, which is an issue that greatly interests me. A few months ago I spoke about Ali Valenzuela from Swansea, who could not get access to services. Another of my constituents, from Porthcawl, had a consultation set up in the Princess of Wales Hospital but it was cancelled. She has had to go the Priory in Bristol. I urge you to look into this urgently to see what we can set up in Wales. We are trying to establish u an all-party group on eating disorders in the Assembly, but urgent action needs to be taken because so many people are going to England for services that should be provided in Wales.


Edwina Hart: I have discussed this with officials and have been trying to look for the necessary funds to be made available to start to provide an adequate service in Wales. Health Commission Wales has authorised quite a lot of treatment for individuals in the Priory in Bristol and elsewhere, but the issue is what happens when they come out of the Priory and what local services are available to them. Assembly Members have raised several cases with me. The response to one, which was to attend an arts class once a week, is not the response that I would expect at a local level. People need support groups and assistance. They need to address the whole issue of how they feel about their body and their life, and we certainly do not have all those services in place across Wales. I will aim, during the course of the next three years, budget permitting, to prioritise these issues.

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Bethan Jenkins: Yr ydych newydd grybwyll anhwylderau bwyta—mater sydd o ddiddordeb mawr imi. Ychydig fisoedd yn ôl soniais am Ali Valenzuela o Abertawe, na allai gael mynediad at wasanaethau. Trefnwyd ymgynghoriad ar gyfer un arall o’m hetholwyr o Borthcawl yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru, ond diddymwyd yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw. Mae wedi gorfod mynd i’r Priory ym Mryste. Fe’ch anogaf i edrych ar hyn ar fyrder i weld beth y gallwn ei sefydlu yng Nghymru. Yr ydym yn ceisio sefydlu grŵp hollbleidiol yn y Cynulliad ar anhwylderau bwyta, ond mae angen cymryd camau brys oherwydd bod cynifer o bobl yn mynd i Loegr er mwyn cael gwasanaethau y dylid eu darparu yng Nghymru.


Edwina Hart: Yr wyf wedi trafod hyn gyda swyddogion ac wedi bod yn ceisio chwilio am y cyllid angenrheidiol er mwyn gallu darparu gwasanaeth digonol yng Nghymru. Mae Comisiwn Iechyd Cymru wedi awdurdodi cryn dipyn o driniaethau i unigolion yn y Priory ym Mryste ac mewn lleoedd eraill, ond yr hyn sy’n digwydd pan ddeuant o’r Priory a pha wasanaethau lleol sydd ar gael iddynt yw’r broblem. Mae Aelodau’r Cynulliad wedi codi sawl achos â mi. Nid yw’r ateb i un, sef mynd i ddosbarth celf unwaith yr wythnos, yn ateb y byddwn yn ei ddisgwyl ar lefel leol. Mae angen grwpiau cefnogi a chymorth ar bobl. Mae angen iddynt fynd i’r afael â’r modd y maent yn teimlo ynghylch eu corff a’u bywyd yn gyfan gwbl, ac yn bendant, nid yw’r holl wasanaethau hynny ar waith gennym ym mhob cwr o Gymru. Os bydd y gyllideb yn caniatáu hynny, byddaf yn anelu at roi blaenoriaeth i’r materion hyn yn ystod y tair blynedd nesaf.

Guest blogger # 4 Graham Smith- Republic

CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR THE MONARCHY

Graham Smith is the Campaign Manager for the organisation ‘Republic’. To find out more go to their website www.republic.org.uk or email Graham on g.smith@republic.org.uk.


“It’s time” is a well-worn political slogan, but for Republic it says it all. The monarchy is well past its use-by date: a feudal and unaccountable institution in a modern, democratic age. Now, as a number of developments converge to create a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for republicanism, Republic is gearing up for a major new campaign.

In many ways the intellectual arguments have already been won – few politicians and commentators seriously defend the principle of hereditary public office, as we have seen in the House of Lords debate. The British monarchy has largely survived the tectonic cultural and political shifts of the last sixty years because of political inertia and self-interest – and a residual sense of deference that runs throughout our society. This has, in no small way, been helped by the longevity of the reign of Elizabeth II, a monarch who enjoys high levels of personal support and affection and who, rightly or wrongly, is regarded as having ‘never put a foot wrong’.

However, things are about to change. The monarchy faces a number of challenges over the next few years, some of which will only get more acute as time passes. These challenges will present Republic with unique opportunities to push for the abolition of this absurd institution.

Firstly, the Queen is 81 and is now in the twilight of her reign. Given that the popularity of the monarchy rests on a widespread affection for the Queen it is likely that as the issue of the succession comes into sharper focus more and more questions will be asked about the institution’s future. This debate will be heightened by the much less popular prospect of Charles becoming King. With routine criticism of Charles, William and Harry in the press, it is clear the automatic respect the royals once enjoyed is evaporating fast. And of course, this will be the first succession since the end of universal deference, and the first since the advent of a more ruthless, 24-hour news media. It is inconceivable that this succession will be like any that have gone before. And this debate will not wait until the inevitable happens – it will start soon and grow louder with every passing year. Republic will be pushing that debate forward, pushing for change before the succession becomes a reality.

Looking to the Commonwealth, Australia now has a republican Prime Minister. Opinion polls for the past twelve months have all pointed to a Labor Party election victory in Australia, and it has now become a reality. The Labor Party is led by Kevin Rudd, a committed republican who has promised a second referendum on the issue of an Australian republic. This suggests that the debate will be in full swing in Australia within two to three years, with a possible referendum within three to six years. It is very likely that New Zealand and Canada will follow suit, judging from recent opinion polls. Such developments will cause a major debate back here in the UK – and will give strength to our own cause. Republic will be raising the simple question time and again – if Australia can choose their own head of state, why not us?

Back home in the UK, our own constitution is now a topic of mainstream political debate. Britain’s constitutional settlement is up for grabs, with all political parties now advocating change. The case has already been made against hereditary public office, during the Lords debate. Questions have already been raised about how all this change may affect or threaten the position of the monarchy. Root and branch reform is being proposed by some, while the Prime Minister is now advocating a written constitution. This all means two things: firstly the Pandora’s Box of constitutional reform will be open, and as the debate moves forward numerous opportunities will arise to press the point that we should be able to choose our own head of state. Secondly, as many other constitutional issues are settled during this process of reform, such as electing the upper house or writing our constitution, it will leave the monarchy as the last piece of unfinished business. This issue will begin to attract more and more attention from a wider array of constitutional reformers.

As these developments unfold, Republic will be pushing ahead with major new campaigning initiatives, geared to generating a higher level of public debate about the future of the monarchy. For us the case is clear – in the 21st century, in an age of democratic accountability and constitutional reform, Britain should rid itself of a feudal and anti-democratic institution. This is an important issue - the monarchy is an institution which lies at the heart of our constitution and it is an institution which cannot be defended by serious argument. It has no place in modern society and it must go. We believe the next few years will be our best opportunity yet to make this case loud and clear – and to move Britain toward a republican and truly democratic future.

Sustrans Cymru/ Wales

Voting for the Big Lottery's £50 million has started. Please log on to www.thepeoples50million.org.uk and vote for Sustrans’ Connect2 project, and get your friends, family and colleagues to do the same. As well as getting people to exercise more, Connect2 will take practical action to tackle climate change and reduce congestion.

The project is made up of 79 schemes across the UK - nine of which are in Wales.In Carmarthen, Clydach, Port Talbot, Merthyr, Pontypridd, Newport, Monmouth, Cardiff and Rhyl we want to tackle the obstacles presented by busy roads, railways or rivers which prevent people from walking and cycling for everyday journeys - to the shops, school, work etc. We face tough competition from three projects across England and need your help to create a healthier more sustainable future: just a minute of your time could make all the difference. Internet voting starts today and closes at 12 noon on Monday 10 December.

There's also be a telephone vote on ITV1 on the weekend of December 7th, with the results expected on the 12th.
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Mae'r pleidleisio ar gyfer £50 miliwn Y Loteri Fawr wedi dechrau.

Ewch i www.thepeoples50million.org.uk a phleidleisiwch dros brosiect Connect2 Sustrans, a gwnewch yn siŵr bod eich teulu, eich ffrindiau a'ch cydweithwyr yn gwneud hynny hefyd.Yn ogystal â chael pobl i wneud mwy o ymarfer corff, bydd Connect2 yn cymryd camau ymarferol i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd a lleihau tagfeydd traffig.

Mae'r prosiect yn cynnwys 79 cynllun ledled y DU – gyda naw ohonynt yng Nghymru.Yng Nghaerfyrddin, Clydach, Port Talbot, Merthyr, Pontypridd, Casnewydd, Trefynwy, Caerdydd a'r Rhyl rydym am fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau a grëir gan ffyrdd prysur, rheilffyrdd neu afonydd sy'n rhwystro pobl rhag cerdded a beicio ar gyfer siwrneiau bob dydd - i'r siopau, i'r ysgol, i'r gwaith ac ati.Rydym yn wynebu cystadleuaeth gref gan dri phrosiect o wahanol rannau o Loegr ac rydym angen eich cymorth i greu dyfodol mwy iachus a chynaliadwy: gallai munud o'ch amser wneud gwahaniaeth.Mae pleidleisio ar y rhyngrwyd yn dechrau heddiw ac yn cau am 12 canol dydd ar ddydd Llun 10 Rhagfyr.

Bydd yna hefyd bleidlais ffôn ar ITV1 ar benwythnos y 7fed o Ragfyr, gyda'r canlyniadau i'w disgwyl ar y 12fed.

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Vote now online for Sustrans' Connect2 at www.thepeoples50million.org.uk. We need your vote to win 50 million pounds for walking and cycling. Phone voting from landlines and mobiles begins on 7 December - please text 'Connect2' to 80010 or complete the form at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk if you would like to be sent the number to vote.

who would join a political party?

Due to problems with the Assembly server I won't be able to do my guest blogger section this week, so it will restart after the weekend if the IT is working again at the Assembly.

I was going to write a letter to the Western Mail and local papers in response to Ray Davies, a Caerphilly Councillor's recent criticism of Plaid for entering the House of Lords, but Dafydd Iwan got in there first!

I know Ray well, and was probably just as surprised as Dafydd Iwan to read the somewhat angry letter in the papers this week from Ray. If he was a Plaid member, then I could totally understand his resentment for our change in policy, but for someone who has remained in the Labour party as an anti war activist over the years, who has had to defend his party's involvement in Iraq and so on, I find it quite perplexing that he has responded in such a manner.

Before I was a member of any political party, and when I invited Ray to speak at Aberystwyth Guild of Students as part of activities surrounding the peace movement in Wales, I always asked him why he was a member of a party that he campaigned so much against. His answer was (to generalise) that he wanted to make changes from within, and help in restoring 'Old Labour'. He was always so clear in that opinion and aim, and didn't once question his membership to Labour, even when the Labour run Council at Caerphilly had run ins with him over his determination to continue to protest during peace protests using non violent direct action.

Of course, I agree with Ray on the issue of the House of Lords, but that is a decision which party members have taken. Had it been a policy imposed on members, then the discussion would be quite different. If we decide to become members of political parties, and want to remain as such, then sometimes we can't always get our own way- however much we try! We can obviously campaign against ideas before they become ingrained in policy if we disagree with them vehemently, and we can even choose to leave the party if our principles do not fall in line with the party's general direction. Nevertheless, Ray must know that there is a broad church of people in every party, and that is how it will always be.

Death of the ID card?

I've just been watching Question Time from Scotland and it dawned on me that the programme is much more in touch with the reality of devolution North of the English border than it is in covering Wales-Scottish MSP's on the show tonight far outweighed the representation of AM's when the show was in Swansea recently, for example. We've had to battle in the past to get any Plaid representation on QT in Wales, and the compromise during the election was that Adam Price MP would appear on the show in Oxford. You guessed right, they didn't really make Wales the main topic of discussion!

I enjoyed the debate tonight, especially as I think that Nicola Sturgeon is a very talented politician, and succeeded in making meaningful points regarding ID Cards, and of course, Scottish powers. It was a hard night again for Labour given that any representative on this evening's show would somehow have to react to the crisis in the HMRC at the moment. Wendy Alexander put 'if I'm honest' as a caveat to almost everything she said to ensure that she would not have to take responsibility for the matter- unsurprisingly.

The discussion centred on whether a Government Minister should resign over the fact that discs pertaining to personal details from 7 million child benefit files were misplaced, and posted to another department within the Government (this via the company TNT, and not Royal Mail- as I understand from various broadsheet reports) I believe that officials in the HMRC have resigned today, but there are calls for Alistair Darling to resign also.

It did dawn on me that while I was sitting watching Question Time, on another channel, Mclaren was explaining to English football fans why he was sacked as England Manager the day after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008. In other professions it seems that there is an obligation on those with key responsibilities to resign, to step down if there is an error on their behalf. Nevertheless, in politics, it seems that more often than not, different rules apply. This is probably one of many reasons why people lose faith in the political system.

I don't advocate that there should be resignations for every small fault, but that where Government does go wrong, there should at least be an acknowledgement of the fault or error made, and actions taken however minute, to restore the public's faith in our political institutions.

Darling will probably stay in position, but he will have a tough job ahead in selling the concept of ID cards, not that I believed that there was ever a case to advocate it. At least now Nick Clegg won't have to martyr himself by getting arrested by refusing to carry and ID Card- one less thing for his publicity team to worry about at night I suspect....

The dangers of blogging....

We are having problems today with access to email. It is only when these services are taken away from us that we realise how much we rely on them to work now! How times change.

I have just done an interview for Waterfront on the issue of blogging, and the debate which will take place tonight in Standards Committee regarding AM's and code of conduct issues surrounding blogging. I am unsure as to what will be the outcome of this meeting. Personally, the current code of conduct is quite clear, and would extend to AM's use of blogging and comments made using this form of communication. Perhaps they will decide that blogs will not be able to be funded through AM's allowances, I am not sure. If so, I don't think that many AM's will host a blog as such because it will confine what we can say. As you know, my blog is administered through blogger to allow me to express my political opinions outright, and it is free of charge!

I get the impression that Matt Dicks, the Waterfront reporter, isn't too keen on blogs as it takes away from broadcast media, and their chance to get hold of a good story. Nevertheless, blogs are here to stay and I think they offer a chance to discuss Welsh political issue as they happen. The only aspect of blogging that I do not really like or appreciate are personal attacks on others, especially by anonymous contributors. It lowers the tone of the debate substantially, and is actually one of the main reasons why my fellow AM's do not blog!! I will await the response of the committee through Commissioner Chris Franks AM, and relay my opinions again at that point...

Yesterday I raised a number of issues at the Assembly- to do with Swansea Shared Service Centre, National Anti- Bullying Week, and an asylum case in Swansea that I am seeking to raise on a Westminster level. I will post the questions and responses here as soon as the record comes through.

I also attended a Save the Children event last night at the Millennium Centre where Funky Dragon was launching its UNCRC Alternative Report. Jane Hutt addressed the audience also, and seemed to mention that there were other AM's present- everyone bar me! We young people still suffer discrimination, obviously;-)

Today I raised the issues of eating disorders with the Health Minister, and specifically the fact that there is no treatment centre in Wales. I am currently setting up a cross party group on eating disorders, which hopefully can organise events for Eating Disorders Awareness Week here at the Assembly, as well as look at the services currently provided in Wales, and how we must improve. Like many other AM's I have been in contact with the Graham Menzies society based in Mid Wales which provides an excellent service in this area. I hope that they, and other bodies like them will join our group, and will provide us with expert knowledge as to how to move ahead in raising the profile of eating disorders in Wales.

Tonight, I am attending the Funky Dragon annual dinner, and I hope to make some links there, and to get involved in future initiatives. For someone who never had the opportunity to get involved in Funky Dragon, I hope to see how they are trying to encourage people from all sections of society to take part in their schemes and projects.

Could Plaid have a 'Baroness Lloyd' by January?

I took part in a radio discussion today with other Plaid members regarding the House of Lords, all with differing opinions. We can't, for now at least, go back on the decision, so I will of course step in line, and see what can be made of the situation.

Yes, Dafydd Wigley is the likely contender. I have heard Sian Lloyd's name bandied about a bit. I've even heard that she was the one to have started the rumours, but time will tell whether anything will actually materialise from this. For now there is plenty of work for party officials in preparing the timeline for hustings and so on. I can't wait. Jill Evans MEP made the point over the weekend that at least Plaid will be electing our Lords democratically within party structures. I'm not sure that this is much of a comfort to those of us who are opposed to the concept, but it is an argument for the way that we can try and do things differently to other maintstream parties. What's important in all of this is that we continue to campaign for the democratisation of the House of Lords, and that we don't fall in to a comfort zone when we 'elect' our first batch of Lords or Ladies.

I failed to mention last week that Dragon's Eye also carried a piece about Child Poverty, and Huw Lewis's concerns that the Government will not meet its targets. Leighton Andrews rightly pointed out that reaching the target may be challenging, and this due to the fact that Westminster still retains many of the powers with regards to the benefits system- which has an inevitable affect on this particular issue.

Of course, the Assembly will do as much as we can within our remit to reach the target of halving child poverty by 2010, but we must also relay our concerns to Westminster with regards the issues that we have no power over. I suspect that Huw Lewis is coming out with this now as he realises the depth of his responsibility in chairing the specialist working group on Child Poverty in Wales, and is perhaps cynically hinting that there is an issue with Government prioritisation due to his unhappiness with the Plaid/ Labour deal.

What I am certain of is that the Government must work alongside all groups with interest in this area to ensure that we implement ideas that will assist in easing the burden of poverty amongst children, and that WAG voices its opinions loud and clear to the Government at Westminster.

Anti Bullying Week

PRESS RELEASE … DATGANIAD I'R WASG … PRESS RELEASE
15 / 11 / 2007
Embargo: For Immediate Release

Time to Stamp Out Bullying - AM

Plaid Cymru Spokesperson on Child Poverty, Bethan Jenkins AM, has tabled aStatement of Opinion at the National Assembly supporting NationalAnti-Bullying Week which starts on Monday.

Twenty-five-year-old Ms Jenkins will be supporting a number of events nextweek including the NSPCC's Defeat Bullying Campaign.

Speaking from the Senedd building, Ms Jenkins said:

I wholeheartedly endorse the NSPCC's Defeat Bullying campaign and wish themevery success in their endeavours to stamp out bullying. Ahead of, andduring Anti-Bullying Week I look forward to working with the NSPCC and urgeall schools to participate in the Defeat Bullying Campaign. I have alsotabled a Statement of Opinion at the National Assembly asking my fellowAssembly Members to support efforts during Anti-Bullying Week."

The Statement of Opinion, which has been circulated to all Assembly Membersfor their support reads as follows:

"Calls on all Assembly Members to support National Anti-Bullying Week (19th- 23rd November) and to support the work of schools, parents and othergroups and individuals to eradicate all forms of bullying includingcyber-bullying and work-based bullying aganst adults."

ENDS

Notes to Editors
See also: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/getinvolved/raisemoney/fundraisinginschools/defeatbullying/defeatbullyinghome_wda50219.html
and:
http://www.antibullyingweek.co.uk/

.........................................................

Bethan Jenkins AC / AM
Gorllewin De Cymru ● South Wales West

PRESS RELEASE … DATGANIAD I’R WASG … PRESS RELEASE

16 / 11 / 2007

Embargo: I’w rhyddhau ar unwaith

Amser cael gwared ar fwlio - AC

Mae Llefarydd Plaid Cymru ar Dlodi Plant, Bethan Jenkins AC, wedi cyflwyno Datganiad Barn yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn cefnogi'r Wythnos Gwrth-fwlio Genedlaethol sy’n dechrau ddydd Llun.

Bydd Ms Jenkins sy’n bump ar hugain oed yn cefnogi sawl digwyddiad wythnos nesaf gan gynnwys Ymgyrch trechu Bwlio’r NSPCC.

Yn siarad o adeilad y Senedd, dywedodd Ms Jenkins:

“Rwy’n cymeradwyo’n galonnog Ymgyrch yn erbyn Bwlio’r NSPCC ac yn dymuno pob llwyddiant yn eu hymdrechion i gael gwared ar fwlio. Cyn ac yn ystod Wythnos Gwrth-fwlio, rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weithio gyda’r NSPCC, ac yn annog pob ysgol I gymryd rhan yn Ymgyrch Gwrth-fwlio. Rwyf hefyd wedi cyflwyno Datganiad Barn yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol sy’n gofyn i fy nghyd-aelodau gefnogi ymdrechion yn ystod Wythnos Gwrth-fwlio."

Mae’r Datganiad Barn, sydd wedi cael ei anfon at bob Aelod y Cynulliad am eu cefnogaeth, yn darllen fel y dilyn:

“Yn galw ar holl Aelodau’r Cynulliad i gefnogi’r Wythnos Gwrth-fwlio Genedlaethol (19eg - 23ain Tachwedd) a chefnogi gwaith ysgolion, rhieni a grwpiau ac unigolion eraill i gael gwared ar bob math o fwlio gan gynnwys bwlio seiber a bwlio yn y gweithle yn erbyn oedolion."

DIWEDD

Sylwadau i Olygyddion

Gweler hefyd:
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/getinvolved/raisemoney/fundraisinginschools/defeatbullying/defeatbullyinghome_wda50219.html
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/getinvolved/raisemoney/fundraisinginschools/defeatbullying/welsh_brochure_wdf51527.doc

ac:

http://www.antibullyingweek.co.uk/

Am ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch â Steffan Lewis ar 029 20 848 713 / 07961 732405

crazy 8

I have been suggested by Miss Wagstaff to take part in the Crazy Eight. Like Miss Wagstaff and Dylan Jones Evans have already said, if I did this again tomorrow, my answers would be different probably!

8 things I’m passionate about:

My family
Politics and representing local people
campaigning
Wales
Ireland
Women’s rights
Animal welfare
Musical opportunities for young people

8 things I want to do before I die

live in an Independent Wales
Travel. I’d love to go to Cuba and Africa
Take part in VSO
Have children
Do a marathon
Meet Joni Mitchell
Live in a different country to Wales
Play in a band.... again

8 things I say often

’I know, like’.
‘Do you know what I’m saying?’
‘I’m 25. Yes, I know I’m young for a Politician.’
‘Tarra’
‘Will the Minister agree with me that…..’
‘I hate mornings!’
' I’m trying to cut out the coffee.’
‘What’s Adam Price said this time?!’


8 books I’ve read recently or am still reading

The life of David Dellinger- over the summer, and I haven’t read much since..
Mind the Gap- Ferdinand Mount
The Age of Consent- George Monbiot
Dipping in to lots of books on poverty and child poverty at the moment
Agent Zigzag-Ben Magintyre
The Little Book of Great Women’ by the New Internationalist
The Beauty Myth Naomi Wolf
My father’s newest book of poetry which includes a poem about my car crash two years ago..nice!

8 songs I could listen to over and over and do:

Prologue to History- Manic Street Preachers
Life Becoming a Landslide- Manics
Blue- Joni Mitchell
Honeycomb Grey- Ashley Maher
Stockholm Syndrome- Muse
Tracy Curtis- If the Moon Could Talk
Ben Folds Five- Brick
Glen Campbell- Wichita Lineman. My father used to sing it to me every evening as a child


8 things that attract me to my best friends

Loyalty
Personality
Shared interest
Having a laugh
Same mindset
Honest with you and vice versa
Socialising
Being open

8 people I think should do Crazy 8

Alun Cairns AM - to get him blogging again...
Carwyn Jones- as he loves blogging so much...
Glyn Davies - as he doesn't stop blogging..
Betsan Powys - as I think her blog is one of the best from a Journalist and I would like to hear her opinions...
What is Wales aka Greg Lewis... could be quite controversial responses...
Southpaw Grammar... same as above!
Paul Flynn MP -one of the best blogger MP's...
Leila Kiersch (Green) I am not sure if this former Green candidate blogs anymore, but worth a try..

Alltwen Primary School

I visited Alltwen Primary School on Friday, and I wanted to do a blog on its own about it to say how much I enjoyed the visit. The class all had a question ready to ask me, as they had been looking at my blog in the morning, and had 'googled' me as well- swotting up on me before my arrival!

They asked me some interesting questions on child poverty and climate change, and were interested in if I enjoy my work as an Assembly Member, and whether I get nervous. As they are all keen musicians I did get quite a lot of questions on my viola playing, and how many concerts I have played in. I'll have to visit again, and play them a few tunes!

I've asked the teacher whether the class will do a guest blog for me to post here on this site, and I hope that they can do that through the School Council, and the work of the School's Eco- council.

I hope to be visiting again soon, and perhaps some of them will be the politicians of the future. Who knows?......

Sunday musings

I haven't managed to blog for a while because it's been quite busy. I went to the BT call centre in Cardiff on Friday night that takes the calls for Children in Need. I've put a picture on my blog of the event. It's not often I'll advertise another politician from a different party, but Jenny Willott MP attended the event also, so here we have it!!

It's a Sunday afternoon, and so I have a little more time than I do in the week to blog. I've just been watching Huhne and Clegg rip each other to pieces on the Politics Show, which was quite a spectacle. Considering that Peter Black's blog posts centre mostly on Plaid Cymru, and on our internal differences etc, I wonder how detailed a response he will give to what I can only describe as an embarrassing situation for the Lib dems on live television this morning. It seems that tensions are fraught between the two leadership camps in the run up to the vote, and that they are reverting to personalising the issue- another thing which the Lib dems do so well. Does anyone remember Charles Kennedy?! Being a bystander to the leadership race, and purely on today's performance, Clegg seems to be coming out on top. He managed to take the moral high ground to Huhne's personal attacks on him as 'calamity Clegg', but that's about as much as I can muster in enthusiasm for this contest for today I'm afraid.

Of course, Plaid have had an interesting week, to say the least- what with the discussion on our defence policy, and the House of Lords. On the latter issue, I am disappointed that our party has decided to send members to the House of Lords. It just seems to me that we should be concentrating our efforts on campaigning on a referendum on a Parliament for Wales, and utilising our best people in this area as opposed to sending them to an undemocratic body in Westminster. In my opinion, this action will only serve to bed Plaid Cymru down further as part of the London based political agenda.

I hope I am proven to be wrong, and that we will gain from having representatives who scrutinise laws and measures effectively at the House of Lords when they are selected next year, but I firmly believe that we should be concentrating our efforts elsewhere. As a party that spearheaded the cash for honours inquiry alongside the SNP, we should be distancing ourselves from this institution, not actively legitimising an undemoctratic body, which Gordon Brown has announced that he has no intention of reforming during this term of Parliament, at least.

Nevertheless, the reality is that the party has endorsed representation at the Lords. I can take a good guess as to some of the names that will be considered. Can you?!