AM Welcomes News

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES FALL IN CRIME ON RAILWAYS

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming today’s announcement by the British Transport Police that Welsh railways are safer than ever – with overall crime down 8.6% on the previous year.Mr Sargeant said: “These new figures are great news for rail passengers and staff alike. “The fall in crime, including violent crime and criminal damage, has only been made possible by the hard work and dedication of the British Transport Police and the staff in the rail industry. “Crime on our railways has actually fallen for the last four successive years – against a background of rising and record passenger numbers. The BTP and rail staff should be commended for this significant achievement.”

AM Welcomes Rail Travel Scheme

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES FREE RAIL TRAVEL SCHEME
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the fact that the Assembly Government’s Concessionary Travel Scheme extension is now underway on the Welsh section of the Borderlands line, between Hawarden Bridge and Wrexham (except on the busy morning train).The scheme began on Sunday 18th May, and will run for twelve months. It will provide free travel for Flintshire and Wrexham passengers who are in possession of a free bus pass. Passengers must be able to show their free bus pass. Mr Sargeant said: “I am delighted that local passengers in Alyn and Deeside are among the latest to benefit from the Assembly Governments free rail travel pilot scheme. “Passengers with an older person’s or disabled bus pass will be able to travel for free. “Both local passengers and the local environment will be winners in this scheme. I would urge constituents to make the most of this opportunity, to demonstrate that there is public support for it and to increase the pressure for further improvements to the Wrexham-Bidston line.”

AM Voices Concerns

CARL SARGEANT AM WRITES TO ICELANDIC PRIME MINISTER
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has written to the Prime Minister of Iceland asking him to revoke permits which have been issued to allow the commercial killing of 40 minke whales.
Mr Sargeant said: “Whales are in more danger now that at any other time in their history. Whaling is cruel, unnecessary, and it meets no pressing human need. These majestic animals are hunted for pure greed.
“Harpoons using the same explosive grenade heads employed fifty years ago are still used today, and these are often not enough to kill the whales who instead suffer a slow and painful death as they are hoisted aboard vessels still alive.
“I am pleased that Gordon Brown took the opportunity to put pressure on the Icelandic PM at their recent meeting back in April, and I am calling on constituents to also send a message to the Icelandic government by signing the e-petition at http://www.ifaw.org/.
“I have reminded the Icelandic PM that his country’s fishing industry is essentially an export economy, and Iceland's fisheries need to be aware that many consumers simply will not want to buy fish from sources that are linked to killing whales.”

AM's Support For Environment Day

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is highlighting World Environment Day, which falls each year on 5th June and is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is “Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy”. Mr Sargeant said: “Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, the United Nations Environmental Programme is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. “World Environment Day is a chance for us to explore what we can do on both a global and personal scale to address the challenge of climate change, and how we can adopt and promote low carbon economies and life-styles through improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.”For more information, see http://www.unep.org/.

AM Support For Everyman Campaign

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS EVERYMAN CAMPAIGN

Carl Sargeant, Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside, is once more throwing his support behind the Institute of Cancer Research’s annual Everyman awareness campaign which runs throughout June.Mr Sargeant, who has spoken out in the Assembly Chamber about the importance of raising awareness of issues relating to male cancers, said: “I am always pleased to give my support to the Everyman campaign because knowledge about male cancer is very low – men know more about breast cancer than prostrate and testicular cancers. “The statistics make frightening reading – Today one man in 20 is diagnosed with prostate cancer - almost 32,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year. Prostrate cancer kills one man an hour in the UK. It has now overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men. The majority of men with prostate cancer are aged over 60 years. Although this cancer can also occur in younger individuals, it is very rare under the age of 50. “Testicular cancer is more common in men between 15 and 45 years of age. Testicular cancer is still quite rare, with about 2,000 cases a year in the UK. However, the incidence of testicular cancer is increasing dramatically - by almost 4-fold in the last 50 years - and the reasons for this are not yet known. Thanks to advances in treatment, testicular cancer has an overall cure rate of 95%. The cure rate can be as high as 99% if caught at an early stage.“The Everyman campaign is an important annual event because it gets men thinking about male cancers, and crucially, gets out important information about lowering risks and spotting danger signs. It also gets men talking with other men about their concerns, which can only help in raising awareness.”

Keep Wales Clean

“GET SET FOR TIDY WALES WEEK,” SAYS CARL SARGEANT AM

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is urging people in Alyn and Deeside to get organising for Tidy Wales Week 2008.Mr Sargeant said: “Last year, tens of thousands of volunteers did their bit to clean up Wales in support of Tidy Wales Week. This year we want to get even more people involved.“Tidy Wales Week will be taking place from 23rd – 29th June, and now is the time to start planning local events. To assist, Keep Wales Tidy has produced 1000 free clean-up kits which have been sponsored by Visit Wales – the Welsh Assembly Government's tourism team – and the Environment Agency Wales. The kits are available to anybody who wants to take part and organise an event as part of the week. The kits will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis and will be distributed soon - so make sure you order your kit today!”The kits contain information on how to organise and carry out a successful clean up including:• Posters – to advertise your event• Promotional Items - pens, pencils, keyrings & badges• Tabards – to keep you clean and tidy• Contacts for the local authority who will provide bags, gloves etc• A booklet full of useful information to help you organise a busy, fun and safe clean up event with hints and tips on getting others involved and gaining local publicity.To order a FREE Clean Up Kit call 029 2025 6767, email: tww@keepwalestidy.org, or visit www.keepwalestidy.org.

AM Welcomes Report

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES ESTYN SPORT REPORT

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming news that Estyn Inspectors have determined that, since its launch in 2002, Wales’ unique PE & School Sport scheme has continued to raise standards and improve opportunities for young people to engage in physical education and school sport.Mr Sargeant said: “Estyn’s findings show that the Assembly Government’s PE and School Sport initiative is having a significant impact - not only on standards of teaching and performance - but also on pupils’ behaviour, learning, skills and attitudes – often through leadership opportunities. “The Assembly’s PE and School Sport initiative is a challenging one, so it is great news that our schools are performing so well – that is a testimony to the hard work and imagination of the staff, and the positive attitude of pupils.“I am confident that sport in our schools will continue to go from strength to strength.”

A Greener Wales

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES FIRST PLANT! CERTIFICATES

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside is welcoming an announcement by the First Minister revealing that the first children to have a tree planted to commemorate their birth or adoption will start to receive their certificates in the post this week.The Welsh Assembly Government’s Plant! scheme is providing support for indigenous woodlands by developing a Welsh National Forest of native trees. Every child born or adopted from 1 January 2008 will receive a certificate stating where their tree is planted. It is estimated that 35,000 trees, or 30 hectares of new woodland, will be planted each year.Mr Sargeant said: “On school visits, and visits to scout groups and so on, I am always heartened by how interested children and young people are in environmental issues such as recycling and conservation. “As they grow older, children who receive these certificates will be able to follow the progress of the site where their tree has been planted and I hope that this will serve to help Welsh children feel a further and lasting connection to our native wildlife here in Wales.”
ENDS

Students To Question AM

CARL SARGEANT AM TO BE QUIZZED BY WELSH BACC STUDENTS

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, will be attending an “Any Questions” event at Deeside College on Friday 23rd May 2008.The AM will meet with a hundred 16-19 year old students as part of their Welsh Baccalaureate course, and will face questions on issues as diverse as immigration, Welsh culture, skills and technologies, and the crisis in Darfur.Mr Sargeant said: “I am really looking forward to meeting with the students at Deeside College to discuss a very wide range of political, cultural, social and economic issues.“I know that the students have been giving a lot of thought to the questions that they want to raise, and it will be great to meet with such a large number of young people who are so keen to engage with issues of local, national, and global political importance.”

Best Foot Forward

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is throwing his support behind Walk to School Week (19-23 May 2008).Now in its fourteenth year, Walk to School Week aims to turn the school run into a healthy walk.Mr Sargeant said: “Walking and cycling to school can bring about tremendous health benefits for children and their parents, as well as wider community benefits from reduced vehicle emissions and less congested roads. “Walking to school with Mum or Dad from an early age can also help children get in ingrained sense of road safety, making it safer when they are out and about alone as older children.”A few facts…• Walking one mile can burn up at least 100 calories of energy and walking two miles a day, three times a week, can help reduce weight by one pound (0.5kg) every three weeks. • In Wales, the statistics for car trips show that about 8% of car journeys are under 1 mile, 26% are under two miles and 58% are under 5 miles. • Soaring obesity rates have led to an increase in childhood type II diabetes and will lead to more future cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. • The school run accounts for 18% of car trips by residents of urban areas during term time at 8.45am. • The start of secondary school is the most dangerous year for children on Britain's roads. Walking to school is a safe way of weaning children off parental supervision so they are better equipped to travel independently.

Recipe For Life

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS NUTRITIONAL ADVICE FOR THE OVER 50s

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is highlighting a new publication from the Food Standards Agency targeted specifically at the over 50s.The colourful new publication, entitled “Recipe for Life,” complements “The Good Life – Nutritional Advice for Men and Women over 50” – which is also published by the FSA. The booklet includes information on nutrition and top tips on easy ways to adapt the diet in order to increase the intake of fruit, vegetables, calcium, and wholegrains.Mr Sargeant said: “As we get older our appetites and nutritional needs can change. “This booklet is full of excellent tips and advice for men and women over 50. It also includes recipes devised by the National Association of Women’s Institutes, so they are sure to be delicious and well worth trying out.”The booklet can be downloaded at http://www.food.gov.uk/.

AM Support For Campain

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES ORGAN DONATION CAMPAIGN

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has attended the launch of a pioneering new campaign aimed at increasing the number of organ donors in Wales.The Donate Wales – Tell a Loved One campaign, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and led by the Kidney Wales Foundation, sees nine major charities come together for the first time in the UK to tackle the shortage of donors. It’s also the first time there has been an organ donation campaign unique to Wales.Mr Sargeant, who has spoken out in the chamber about the need to increase the number of people donating their organs for transplant, said: “More than three quarters of a million people in Wales have joined the Organ Donor Register but that still means that three in four of us have yet to do so. “For those people who have joined, it is crucially important that they talk to their loved ones about their views on organ donation because families often refuse to allow organs to be donated simply because they are unaware of their relative’s wishes.” The campaign, which will run until September 2008, is encouraging people to get talking about what they want to happen to their organs when they die and to encourage more people in Wales to join the Organ Donor Register.

AM Congratulates NHS Staff

WAITING TIMES FOR SCANS FALL TO RECORD LOW

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is congratulating NHS staff across Wales for their hard work in further reducing the time patients wait for diagnostic and therapy services.New figures show that the number of people waiting more than the Assembly Government’s 14-week target for a diagnostic test, like an MRI or CT scan, endoscopy, ultrasound and echocardiogram fell from 1,874 in February to 2 in March. Waits for therapy treatment, such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy together with audiology services saw a fall from 310 waiting more than the 24-week target in February to 2 in March. These targets were set for March 2008. This is an even greater achievement compared to the number of patients waiting six months ago, when 5,180 were waiting over 14 weeks for diagnostic tests and 1,675 waited more than 24 weeks for therapy and audiology services. Mr Sargeant said: “This good news comes hot on the heels of the excellent figures released a couple of weeks ago which also showed dramatic falls in the waiting times for inpatient/day case and outpatient appointments.“These good results do not happen by accident. The Welsh Assembly Government has increased investment in staff and equipment in order to cut waiting times. In February this year, I welcomed the announcement of £33million of funding for new equipment including an MRI scanner, x-ray and endoscopy machines. This is on top of significant investment in recent years in MRI and CT scanners.“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all NHS staff who have worked so hard to meet these challenging waiting times targets.”

How You Can Help

CARL SARGEANT AM: BURMA AND CHINA – HOW YOU CAN HELP

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is highlighting a booklet which illustrates how people in the UK can help the victims of the devastating disasters in Burma and China. Prepared by the Welsh Assembly Government in conjunction with the UK Department for International Development, the booklet entitled “Disasters and Emergencies Overseas - How You Can Help” explores what happens immediately following a major disaster, and how the UK responds. It also shows how individuals can help victims in the short and long term, and gives an extensive list of contact points for those who are keen to help.Mr Sargeant said: “As we see terrible disasters unfold on our television screens, often on the other side of the globe, we can feel powerless to help.“This booklet however, offers clear advice and contacts for those wanting to contribute to the relief effort. “Right now the simplest and most effective way to help the victims of the recent cyclone in Burma and the earthquake in China is to donate money.”How you can help:• Phone the Disasters Emergency Committee on 0870 60 60 900 to contribute to the Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal. • Watch for advertisements and announcements in the national media from agencies responding to the earthquake in China. Download the booklet at http://www.wales.gov.uk/

AM Welcomes Announcement

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES CHILD TRUST FUND ANNOUNCEMENT

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed today’s Assembly Government announcement that children under the care of local authorities in Wales are to benefit from a further improved Child Trust Fund Reimbursement scheme as a result of additional funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.Intended to encourage local authorities to contribute to the Child Trust Funds (CTF) of children that they are responsible for - the Assembly Government has agreed to increase top up payments to local authorities from £50 per year per child to £100 per year per child. In addition, the UK Government has introduced a scheme to top up the CTF accounts of all children looked after in the UK for a year or more since 1 April 2007 by £100 per year per child. The Welsh and UK schemes will be combined and as a consequence Local Authorities in Wales will now be reimbursed to provide children looked after for a year or more since 1 April 2007 with an annual top up of £200 – compared to £100 in the rest of the UK. Mr Sargeant said: “Child Trust Funds are one of the ways in which the Assembly Government is tackling child poverty in Wales. We are targeting the money where it can really make a lasting and important impact – by giving looked after children a financial nest egg as they embark upon adult life.”It is estimated that under the revised eligibility criteria 500 children will benefit from the scheme in 2008/09 rising to 640 in 2009/10 and 770 in 2010/11 at a cost to the Welsh Assembly Government of £50,000, £64,000 and £77,000 respectively. The UK Government's contribution will mirror the Welsh Assembly Government’s contribution.

Investment in Research and Development

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES NEW AIRBUS INVESTMENT

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming Airbus UK at Broughton’s announcement of a three year £103m research programme to revolutionise wing technology.
The Broughton facility is Airbus UK’s Centre of Excellence for Wing Assembly and Equipping. It is one of only two facilities in the world capable of the manufacture of wings for large civil aircraft.
The Welsh Assembly Government is providing £7.5m of the funding – WAG’s largest ever investment in research and development. It amounts to approximately 15% of the overall external funding sought by the programme. As part of the Assembly Government’s involvement, Airbus will be making a major contribution to the Assembly Government’s strategy for technology learning and training across Wales, and will also support its work to develop Welsh supply chain companies.
Mr Sargeant said: “This is proof of our commitment to support industry in Wales. The investment reconfirms Broughton as a centre of excellence for wing design and manufacture, and it is a testimony to the skill and dedication of the workforce.
“The new project is one of the most significant joint aircraft Research and Technology programmes launched in the UK for several decades. It will keep Broughton at the cutting edge of innovation in this field. The skilled workforce and cutting edge technology will also put Airbus at Broughton in a strong position to win key contracts on future aviation products, thus securing the future of the plant.
“This is also positive news from an environmental perspective - the new programme will revolutionise technologies that will improve future wing design processes and help to maximise the eco-efficiency of future aircraft designs. Objectives of the project also include the design of an environmentally-responsible factory. More efficient aircraft will also mean that operators are able to provide customers with a more cost effective service.”

Am Welcomes Funding Boost

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES BRITISH LUNG FOUNDATION FUNDING BOOST
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the news that the British Lung Foundation has been awarded a Big Lottery Fund grant of £245,427 to support and expand their work in Wales. The British Lung Foundation will use the new funding boost to run a project that aims to reach more people living with long term and debilitating lung disease and their carers in Wales, supporting them to get the information they need to manage their condition and improve their quality of life. By introducing new 'Breathe Easy' peer support groups in areas with high incidence of lung disease, the project will meet the needs of patients and carers by providing support and information about lung disease and welfare benefits. New and existing Breathe Easy groups will be supported to come together and enable members to find ways of managing their condition and tackle their problems together. Group members will also be trained and supported to actively influence local and national respiratory services in Wales.Mr Sargeant said: “This cash boost is part of a newly announced £3,195,150 Big Lottery Fund investment in Wales through its People and Places Programme. The People and Places programme awards grants of between £5,001 and £1 million for a broad range of community projects aimed at regenerating and revitalising communities and tackling disadvantage head on. I am delighted that the British Lung Foundation in Wales is among the latest groups to benefit, and I hope that the investment will leave a lasting legacy.”For further information about the People and Places programme and how you can apply for funding, please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk and use the ‘Wales’ specific search facility.