AM Supports Breast Cancer Campaign

CARL SARGEANT AM CALLS ON ALYN AND DEESIDE TO “WEAR IT PINK!”

Carl Sargeant AM is joining forces with Breast Cancer Campaign in its award winning wear it pink day on Friday 26 October 2007 as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and urges you to join in too.
So what do you have to do? It couldn’t be easier. Whether you are in an office, at school, or simply doing the shopping, on 26 October donate £2 to Breast Cancer Campaign and wear an item of pink - anything you like, lots of pink, a little bit of pink, as long as it’s pink.
Your donation will allow Breast Cancer Campaign to continue researching the cure and help the one woman in nine in the UK that will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
Last year’s wear it pink day raised a whopping £3 million for breast cancer research and part of this money was used to fund five new research projects in Wales. This year we want to raise more.
Carl Sargeant AM says ““Every year almost 2,500 people in Wales are diagnosed with breast cancer. Like many others, I know people who have lost friends and family members to breast cancer. I would like to encourage everyone in Alyn and Deeside and throughout Wales to support wear it pink day on October 26 to help raise valuable funds for breast cancer research.”
Help Breast Cancer Campaign reach its target of £3.5 million and take part in the UK’s original and best pink day. To register and to receive your free fundraising pack either call freephone 0800 107 3104; or visit http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/

AM Congratulates Airbus On Award

CARL SARGEANT AM CONGRATULATES AIRBUS UK ON LEARNDIRECT AWARD


Carl Sargeant AM has attended the prestigious Learndirect Achievement Awards 2007 Ceremony at the National Assembly for Wales.

Mr Sargeant said: “I am delighted to support these Awards. Learndirect is a nationally recognised brand for learning and is the largest e-learning network of its kind in the world.

“The scheme gives participants access to wide variety of e-learning courses, aimed at supporting their development to meet both their employers needs and their own personal growth requirements. Often Learndirect programmes are used to supplement more traditional forms of learning and this 'blended' approach represents one of the most innovative methods of learning currently available.

“I am particularly pleased because Airbus UK at Broughton has won the Company Award. In conjunction with their partners at Deeside College, Airbus UK offers Learndirect courses to employees. I am delighted that so many local employees are being given the opportunity to learn and develop through this scheme, and would like to congratulate Airbus UK again on being recognised as a leader in this field.”

AM Supports World's Biggest Coffeee Morning

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS MACMILLAN’S WORLD’S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING
This Friday, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, will be joining thousands of people across the UK in attending an event for Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – an exciting fund-raising an awareness-raising campaign to make a difference to the lives of people living with cancer. Mr Sargeant will be attending a special coffee morning at Drury Primary School.
Mr Sargeant said: “There are three times as many people in Britain living with cancer than there were 30 years ago. In fact over a million people have had a cancer diagnosis, and it is a frightening fact that one in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives.
“With improvements in screening, diagnosis and treatment, more and more people are being diagnosed earlier and living with cancer for longer. They're often spending less time in hospital and more time at home. Cancer is becoming a part of more and more people's daily lives.
“When you have cancer, it has an impact on every aspect of your life - from your emotions to your finances. And as you learn to cope with the shock and distress of diagnosis and the changes cancer can bring, you need a range of support - and so do their family and friends. That's where Macmillan comes in. Macmillan does a fantastic job in supporting people with cancer and their loved ones in so many ways. The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is a great way for us to raise some money for Macmillan and to say “Thank you” for all that they do.
“Coffee mornings all over the country will fund vital information and counselling centres, specialist Macmillan medical staff, buildings for cancer treatment and care, and grants for patients in financial difficulties.”

AM Welcomes Neurosurgery Review

• CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES NEUROSURGERY REVIEW APPOINTMENT
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  Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed the news that Mr James Steers has agreed to lead the Assembly’s review of the provision of neurosurgery in Wales.
  Mr Steers is a consultant neurosurgeon based in Edinburgh. He has a special interest in paediatrics and is a past President of the Society of British Neurosurgeons. He has sat on numerous committees and is particularly prominent within the European Association of Neurosurgeons.
  Mr Sargeant said: “I met with the Health Minister recently to discuss the setting up of the neurosurgery review. I was very insistent that the review should be headed by an individual from outside Wales, and who is completely independent. It is vitally important that this review is completely transparent. I am satisfied by Mr Steers’ appointment.
  As the independent chair of the group, Mr Steers will now consider the terms of reference for his work.
  Mr Sargeant added: “I remain steadfastly of the opinion that clinical need must be at the forefront of any review. I cannot imagine that a consultant neurosurgeon would deem travelling to south Wales for treatment to be in the best interest of a patient from Alyn and Deeside. I am certainly not convinced that patient care should be removed from local hospitals, and shall continue to make representations on behalf of constituents along these lines.”
  

International Day of Older Persons

CARL SARGEANT AM JOINS UNITED NATIONS IN CELEBRATING OLDER PEOPLE

October 1st is the Annual United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons.Mr Sargeant said: “The International Day of Older Persons has been observed by the United Nations on October 1st since 1990. It is an important opportunity for us to consider the major contribution that older people make in our lives, and to celebrate them. “The world is getting older. In the next 50 years, the number of older persons on our planet will nearly quadruple, growing from about 600 million to almost 2 billion senior citizens. Today, one in every ten is 60 years and older. By 2050, one out of every five will be an older person, and by 2150, one third of the people in the world are expected to be 60 years of age or older.
”In our fast ageing world, older men and women will increasingly play a critical role - through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force.
”Senior citizens make major contributions to society. For instance, throughout Africa and elsewhere - millions of adult AIDS patients are cared for at home by their parents. On their death, orphaned children left behind (currently, 14 million under the age of 15 in African countries alone) are mainly looked after by their grandparents.
”It is not only in developing countries that older persons' role in development is critical. In Alyn and Deeside, for example, there are many older people who are important care-givers to their families, and key volunteers within our communities.
“Such contributions to development can only be ensured if older persons enjoy adequate levels of health, for which appropriate policies need to be in place. In the Assembly we are trying to help people age well and stay active through our landmark Strategy for Older People in Wales, initiatives such as free swimming and free bus passes, and our ground-breaking Minister for Older People.”

Give Residents A Voice

CARL SARGEANT AM URGES ACTION ON MOBILE PHONE MASTS

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has written to the newly appointed Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing asking her to consider creating legislation to bring all non-emergency telecommunication masts under 15m into the full planning process.Mr Sargeant said: “The issue of prior planning permission for mobile phone masts is a very important one for the many constituents who address this issue with me on a regular basis. “Whilst it acknowledged that the latest research has found mobile phone masts and mobile phone use to be safe, it has been impossible to completely rule out a long-term risk as the study was only carried out over a six year period. Most cancers take a longer period from first exposure of a harmful agent to develop. The matter therefore remains very emotive.“Brining the masts under 15m into the full planning process would enable local people to really have a voice on the matter. It is only fair that the residents should be fully consulted.”

Ten Years of Devolution

CARL SARGEANT AM CELEBRATES TEN YEARS OF DEVOLUTION

LOCAL AM Carl Sargeant celebrated a decade of devolution today (Tuesday, September 18th) on the 10th anniversary of the ‘Yes’ vote for a National Assembly for Wales.The AM said that ten years on Alyn and Deeside was a better place to live thanks to Labour in the Welsh Assembly.The benefits of devolution since the ‘Yes’ vote ten years ago include:140,000 more jobs in Wales, unemployment in Wales is now lower than the UK average Free NHS prescriptions for all Free healthy school breakfasts 23,679 free bus passes for pensioners and the disabled in Flintshire1,548 homes in Alyn and Deeside have been helped to stay warm and save energy Free swimming for older people all year round and for kids in the school holidays Free entry to museums and galleries Doubling investment in the Welsh NHS, including 8,000 more nurses and shorter waiting times£630 million spent on improving school buildings plus there are 1,700 more teachers and primary class sizes are now below 30Mr Sargeant said: ''Devolution was hard fought and hard won. But looking back over the ten years since the yes vote people in Alyn and Deeside can see how the Assembly is working for them. ‘’Thanks to Welsh Labour, hard working families are benefiting from more and better jobs and extra investment in schools and hospitals.''Local people are really benefiting from Wales's very own free bus pass scheme, the warmer homes grants, free prescriptions and free school breakfasts.’’Labour First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: ''A decade of devolution has seen Wales grow up because the 'We Can Do It' spirit has taken over. All the public opinion polls since 1997 have shown clear and growing support for devolution because things are getting better. ‘’More and better jobs, shorter hospital waiting times and a raft of initiatives to help everyone from the youngest child to the oldest pensioner have marked the difference between pre and post devolution Wales. Wales has changed, we’re making our own decisions and growing up as a nation.’’

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

“WANTED: LOCAL HEROES,” SAYS CARL SARGEANT AM

As the deadline of September 30th approaches, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is calling for local people in Alyn and Deeside to nominate the unsung heroes in the community for the prestigious “Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.” Mr Sargeant said: “Back in 2002, to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, the Queen announced a new annual UK National Honour to recognise the outstanding voluntary activities by groups in the community. The Award recognises the vital role played by the hundreds of thousands of ‘unsung heroes’ of the voluntary and community world, and emphasises the importance of the continuing recognition of their work. “There are so many wonderful community groups right across Alyn and Deeside, making a real difference to people’s lives every day in all kinds of different ways. If you, or someone close to you, have been helped by a community group, nominating them for this prestigious award could be the perfect way to say “thank you”. “The winners will receive a certificate signed by the Queen, and a commemorative piece of crystal for display at the community group’s main place of operation. “Making a nomination is simple – just visit http://www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk/ or call 0845 000 2002 for further details. The number of awards made will depend on the number and quality of nominations received.” Details of winners are announced annually on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

Car Sharing Ideas

“SHARE THE SCHOOL RUN,” SAYS CARL SARGEANT AM

Carl Sargeant AM for Alyn and Deeside is urging mums and dads in Alyn and Deeside to share the school run with other parents following the publication of new research which shows that nearly half of all parents who drive their children to school only take one child in their car.
Mr Sargeant said: “The new research reveals that there are over five million empty seats on the UK’s school run.
“Many motorists, particularly those driving to work, dread the start of the new school term as the roads are transformed with the extra congestion. I think it’s fair to say that the journeys are no fun for the mums or dads driving to the schools either.
“Car-sharing is a simple and effective way for parents to save time, money, congestion, aggravation and pollution – especially since the survey also found that 60% of parents know another child at the same school within 500 meters of their home.
“Fewer cars on the roads around our schools would also improve road safety for the children, and I think that is something that all parents can relate to.”

AM To Question First Minister

CARL SARGEANT AM TO QUESTION FIRST MINISTER ON HEALTH PRIORITIES

As the new term in the Assembly gets into swing, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has tabled a question to the First Minister asking what the Assembly Government's health priorities are for his constituents in Alyn and Deeside.

Mr Sargeant said: "I have taken this first opportunity of the new Assembly to raise with the First Minister issues relating to the provision of health care in Alyn and Deeside.

"In particular I plan to question the First Minister on access to neurological services for people in Alyn and Deeside. I recently met with the Health Minister and expressed my strong opposition to any suggestion that people from north Wales should travel to south Wales for treatment. I told her that only improved services in Alyn and Deeside would be acceptable. My message to the First Minister will be the same.

"I also hope to raise with the First Minister the issue of progress towards the new primary health care surgeries in Alyn and Deeside.

"At the first session of the new term I want to start as we mean to go on - with health care for my constituents in Alyn and Deeside right at the top of the agenda in Wales."

LAS Targets Met

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES WASTE REPORT


Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming today's publication of figures which reveal that every local authority in Wales has met strict limits, set by the Assembly Government, on the amount of biodegradable waste it can send to landfill sites.
The Landfill Allowances Scheme (LAS) limits the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (such as paper, cardboard, kitchen scraps and garden cuttings) councils are allowed to send to landfill, instead encouraging the recycling, composting and treatment of this waste. This reduces the negative environmental effects of landfilled waste, including carbon emissions produced by these sites.
Mr Sargeant said: "I am delighted that for the third successive year every local authority in Wales has exceeded its LAS targets, with 20 percent less waste going to landfill than the target allows.
"These efforts directly contribute to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and are fundamental to the Assembly Government's programme of action to address climate change.
"As a nation we need to reduce the amount of waste that we send to landfill as this is the least sustainable method of managing our waste. The best way to do this is to reduce the amount of waste we produce in the first place and to manage the waste we do create in the most environmentally friendly way."

Belt Up

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS "BELT UP" DRIVE


Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is supporting Wales' four police forces in their latest campaign to cut road deaths.
Mr Sargeant said: "Police across Wales are clamping down on those who fail to buckle up and wear their seat belts.
"Since front seat belts became compulsory in 1983, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) has estimated that 50,000 lives have been saved. It is now compulsory for adults in the back seats to wear seat belts too, and of course children must also buckle up and use their special booster-style seats.
"Putting a seat belt on is so quick and simple. It beggars belief that some people still ignore the law and travel without one, especially when you think that wearing a seat belt increases the chance of surviving an accident by up to 60%. There's really no excuse not to buckle up.
"I am pleased that the police are clamping down on this dangerous practice. People found not wearing a seat belt will face a fine. In a similar drive last year, more than 3,000 people were caught."

AM Congratulates Local School

CARL SARGEANT AM CONGRATULATES ABERMORDDU SCHOOL ON GOOD INSPECTION


Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is congratulating the staff, pupils, governors, and parents of Abermorddu Community Primary School on a good school inspection report.

Mr Sargeant said: "I am delighted that the Inspectors have determined that Abermorddu Primary School is a good school with some outstanding features, particularly in the way that it cares for, guides and supports pupils. The report also states that the school provides a happy, safe, secure, welcoming and caring learning environment for pupils.

"The good inspection report is a testament to the hard work and dedication of staff, governors, parents, and of course the children themselves. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them all on a good report - and to wish them all the best for the new school year."

Reason To Celebrate

CARL SARGEANT AM HAILS GENERATION XPERIENCE


Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the announcement of the first ever national day for older people in the UK.
Generation Xperience UK Older People's Day will take place on Monday 1st October. It is an initiative that is supported by the Department for Work and Pensions in conjunction with a range of other government departments and agencies. Other partners include the Financial Services Authority, Help the Aged, LinkAge Plus Pilots, B&Q, CSV RSVP and the Beth Johnson Foundation.
Mr Sargeant explains: "The day is a chance to celebrate the achievements of older people and the huge contribution they make to society, while at the same time tackling outdated stereotypes and affirming a positive view of later life.
"On 1st October we will be celebrating the major contribution that 20 million people over 50 make to the UK. They have helped build a prosperous economy, a strong society and a better country."
The activity also coincides with UN International Day of Older People and is the first anniversary of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 that made it unlawful for employers to discriminate against a person because of their age.