AM Awaits Recommendations

CARL SARGEANT AM AWAITS HEALTH EXPERT GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the news that an expert group set up by Health Minister Edwina Hart to look at the issues around funding drugs on the NHS that are not approved by NICE will report on its findings and recommendations in the New Year. The group, led by Professor Philip Routledge, the chair of the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group, has been canvassing views of health professionals and patient representatives over the summer. Mr Sargeant said: “NICE has an extremely difficult job to do in determining the clinical and cost effectiveness of new drugs. In most cases their determination is accepted, although there are occasions when their decisions are unpopular, or when they give patients and clinicians cause for concern - such as access to Lucentis for Wet AMD and drugs for kidney cancer. “Access to treatment is a very serious matter, about which people have very strong opinions. I hope will have clinical need and patient care and benefit at the forefront of their deliberations, and I look forward to reading their recommendations.”The group will look into the potential difficulties surrounding the provision of drugs that do not hold NICE approval. It will engage with the leading clinicians across Wales and, in particular, with those involved in cancer care. As well as considering how the ‘non-approved’ or ‘decision pending’ drug issue might be handled in an ethical and fair manner, the group will consider the matter of life-prolonging treatments that are prescribed in the last months of life, often at great expense but with little hope of success.

AM Congratulates School

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS MACMILLAN’S WORLD’S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has attended a fundraising event at Bryn Deva Primary School as part of the Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning campaign (on Friday 26th September 2008).
Fair Trade tea and coffee were served, and members of the school’s Fair Trade Council helped to serve the guests and parents.
Mr Sargeant said: “I would like to congratulate the school on an excellent event – the pupils have done extremely well, raising £162 for Macmillan.
“This money will go towards funding vital information and counselling centres, specialist Macmillan medical staff, buildings for cancer treatment and care, and grants for patients in financial difficulties.
“The school has played an important part in helping Macmillan towards their goal of raising £8.5 million from coffee mornings right across the UK.”

AMs Back Campaign

FLINTSHIRE AMs BACK “KEEP THE PROMISE” EVENT TO END CHILD POVERTY
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, and Sandy Mewies, AM for Delyn, have signed up to the ‘Keep the Promise’ campaign to end child poverty.
The Campaign to End Child Poverty is organising the largest ever event to end child poverty in Trafalgar Square on 4th October. The ‘Keep the Promise‘ rally is designed to hold the UK Government to its promise of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending it by 2020.
Mr Sargeant said: “Eradicating poverty and improving the life chances of all our children is at the top of the list of priorities for the Assembly Government, and in backing the ‘Keep the Promise’ campaign we are strongly reaffirming our commitment to that aim.”
Mrs Mewies said: “The Assembly Government is driving forward a cross cutting agenda for improving the lives of children and young people, based on partnership working and implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I will do all I can to keep issues of child poverty right at the top of the political agenda.”
The rally on the 4th October will mobilise public support to make the biggest noise ever for Government to keep its pledge to end child poverty. The event will begin with a short march from Millbank in central London from 11.30am, before marching to Trafalgar Square where there will be family fun and speakers. This will be followed by a mass moment where everyone will try to make enough noise from Trafalgar Square to be heard from Downing Street. For further information about the campaign to end child poverty visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/promise.

AM Backs Campaign

CARL SARGEANT AM BACKS ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is backing a new campaign from the Welsh Assembly Government urging people to make small changes to the way they lead their lives in order to help Wales achieve its target of reducing emissions by 3 per cent every year from 2011.Mr Sargeant said: “The task of significantly reducing our carbon emissions can seem like a gigantic one, but we can get there by taking lots of small steps. For example, if everyone in Wales boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea instead of needlessly filling the kettle to the top, Welsh households could save £6 million off our electricity bills in a year. In just one year, households in Wales waste enough electricity by leaving appliances on standby to light 630,000 homes for a year.“This new campaign from the Welsh Assembly Government marks a major opportunity for us to encourage people to change their habits. Small steps will lead to big results if everyone does their bit.”Mr Sargeant is urging constituents to log on to a new bilingual online carbon calculator, to work out their carbon footprint by gathering simple information about how they use gas and electricity, and their travel choices.The calculator will give people their own action plan showing the simple actions they can take which will make a big difference to Wales’ carbon footprint.The bilingual carbon calculator can be found online at http://www.walescarbonfootprint.gov.uk/.

AM Welcomes Increase

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the increase in the national minimum wage which comes into force on Wednesday (1st October) and is set to benefit around 50,000 workers in Wales. Mr Sargeant said: “The 3.8 per cent increase in the national minimum wage (from £5.52 to £5.73) will be the ninth increase since it was introduced in April 1998. Over the last nine and a half years, the national minimum wage has increased by 59.2 per cent, compared to a 44.2 per cent growth in average earnings.
“I am proud that it was Labour who introduced a national minimum wage – it would have been inconceivable under any other government.
"I want everyone to be aware of the rights they have in the workplace, as a step towards ending unfair treatment and discrimination. Anyone who believes they are not being paid the minimum wage that they are entitled to can call the National Minimum Wage Hotline on 0845 600 678 for advice or for the National Minimum Wage Team to investigate.”

AM Welcomes Local School

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES SOUTHDOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL TO ASSEMBLY
Twenty seven pupils and their teachers from Southdown Primary School in Buckley have visited their Assembly Member Carl Sargeant at the National Assembly for Wales.The pupils met with Mr Sargeant in the Assembly Chamber’s public gallery, and had a very entertaining question and answer session. Pupils took the opportunity to quiz their AM on a wide variety of issues.Mr Sargeant said: “I really enjoyed meeting with the pupils of Southdown Primary School and their teachers. Welcoming local groups from Alyn and Deeside to the Assembly is one of the most special parts of my job. It is great to see such an enthusiastic group of young people. Many of their questions showed that they are really clued-up about politics and the Assembly, and I was impressed in particular by their clear interest in the eco-friendly aspects of our new Senedd building. I hope the children enjoyed their visit as much as I did.”The children were also treated to a full and interactive guided tour of the Assembly building and the Pierhead building which houses a museum about the Assembly, before spending the afternoon visiting the Millennium Stadium.

AM Welcomes Statistics

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES LATEST HOMELESSNESS STATISTICS
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has given a cautious welcome to the latest figures relating to homelessness in Wales.The latest quarterly statistical release shows that there were 1,581 households accepted as homeless by local authorities during the April to June 2008 quarter – 7 per cent lower than the previous quarter and 1 per cent lower than the same quarter a year earlier. The number of households accommodated temporarily at the end of June 2008 was 2,874 – 1 per cent lower than the previous quarter and 7 per cent lower than the same quarter a year earlier. By the end of June 2008, there were 296 households in Bed and Breakfast accommodation, a fall of 8 per cent since the same quarter the previous year. Mr Sargeant said: “The Assembly has taken the challenge of tackling homelessness very seriously. We have created a National Homelessness Strategy for Wales, and these figures show that our strategy is working. Homelessness in Wales is falling consistently.“However, we will not be complacent. It is important for the Assembly to remember that the fact that the overall trend of homelessness is falling is of no comfort to those individuals and families who are currently without a home. Homelessness can shatter lives and puts great stress on individuals and families, so we must keep this issue at the top of the agenda, and continue looking at ways in which to tackle and prevent homelessness.“Also, we must remember that these figures do not include the rough-sleepers who are at the really sharp end of homelessness. We must continue to explore ways to help and engage with rough-sleepers.“I look forward with anticipation to the next quarterly release, which I hope will show a further fall in homelessness in Wales.”

AM Meets RNIB Cymru Director

CARL SARGEANT AM MEETS RNIB CYMRU DIRECTOR

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has today met with the Director of RNIB Cymru Sarah Rochia.On the agenda for discussion were issues of concern to blind and partially sighted people in Wales, and matters of eye health for the wider population.Mr Sargeant said: “We had a very useful meeting, focussing particularly on equity of access to treatment and support for blind and partially sighted service users. We also looked at improvements that can be made regarding post-clinical support for eye patients in terms of support for families and employment and so on.“The meeting was very positive and we explored ways in which the Assembly can take action to help people who are blind or partially sighted.”

AM Welcomes News

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES ASSEMBLY MEASURE

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed the news that the Assembly Government has published proposals to change the way local authorities, national parks and fire and rescue authorities account for the local services they provide. The Assembly Government Measure would require authorities to secure and account for improvement in a much more open and clearer way. There will also be greater clarity in involving citizens and local partners in community planning. The Measure would also reform the way community strategies are drawn up.Mr Sargeant said: “Greater involvement of local residents in community planning can only be a good thing. We all have opinions about the ways in which our communities change and develop, and it is right that clear structures are put in place to ensure that authorities listen to these views.“I hope that this increased clarity and openness will be welcomed by both local residents and local authorities.”

AM Welcomes Support For Small Businesses

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES MORE RATE RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Assembly Government of a £7 million package of rate relief that will support around 10,600 smaller businesses across Wales. Mr Sargeant said: “With this package of additional support, the Assembly Government is delivering on its commitment to increase the number of businesses that benefit from the small business rate relief scheme that was introduced in April 2007.”Around 37,000 businesses across Wales already benefit from the small business rate relief scheme and around 10,600 more could benefit from a significant reduction in their rates under the package announced today.The key changes, to be backdated to 1 April 2008, are:• increase the upper rateable value limit for most businesses eligible for a 25% reduction from £5,000 to £6,500, reducing their annual rates bill by between £583 and £757. • 25% reduction for smaller retail premises, including shops, public houses, restaurants and petrol stations, with a rateable value between £6,501 and £9,000, reducing their annual bill by between £757 and £1,049. • 50% reduction for credit unions with a rateable value of up to £9,000, reducing their bill by between £466 and £2,097. • 50% reduction for child care businesses and day nurseries with a rateable value up to £12,000, reducing their bill by between £466 and £2,796. Mr Sargeant said: “We are committed to providing real and tangible help for smaller businesses during what are challenging economic times. This new package will help businesses such as small independently owned shops, public houses, and food outlets. It will also boost the provision of child care for working parents.”

Fancy A Cuppa

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 Bryn Deva Primary School.
Last year over 50,000 people held a coffee morning to help people living with cancer. Together with their friends, families, school friends and colleagues they raised an incredible £7.5 million. This year the goal is to raise £8.5 million to help support more people living with cancer.
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 frightening to think 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. “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.”

More rate relief for Small Business

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES MORE RATE RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Assembly Government of a £7 million package of rate relief that will support around 10,600 smaller businesses across Wales. Mr Sargeant said: “With this package of additional support, the Assembly Government is delivering on its commitment to increase the number of businesses that benefit from the small business rate relief scheme that was introduced in April 2007.”Around 37,000 businesses across Wales already benefit from the small business rate relief scheme and around 10,600 more could benefit from a significant reduction in their rates under the package announced today.The key changes, to be backdated to 1 April 2008, are:• increase the upper rateable value limit for most businesses eligible for a 25% reduction from £5,000 to £6,500, reducing their annual rates bill by between £583 and £757. • 25% reduction for smaller retail premises, including shops, public houses, restaurants and petrol stations, with a rateable value between £6,501 and £9,000, reducing their annual bill by between £757 and £1,049. • 50% reduction for credit unions with a rateable value of up to £9,000, reducing their bill by between £466 and £2,097. • 50% reduction for child care businesses and day nurseries with a rateable value up to £12,000, reducing their bill by between £466 and £2,796. Mr Sargeant said: “We are committed to providing real and tangible help for smaller businesses during what are challenging economic times. This new package will help businesses such as small independently owned shops, public houses, and food outlets. It will also boost the provision of child care for working parents.”

AM TO MEET COLLEGE PRINICIPAL

CARL SARGEANT AM TO MEET WITH DEESIDE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, will meet tomorrow with David Jones, Principal of Deeside College to discuss matters of importance to the college and the wider issues facing colleges of Further Education in Wales.
Mr Sargeant said: “The Welsh Assembly Government wants Wales to be a learning country, where high quality lifelong learning helps people to reach their goals. Colleges of further education such as Deeside College are crucial to helping the Assembly Government deliver on our ambitious learning and skills agenda.”
“Deeside College is a beacon of good practice and delivery, and I look forward to visiting the college once again tomorrow.”

AM Highlights Millennium Stadium Trust

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS MILLENNIUM STADIUM TRUST
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is keen to inform constituents that applications are now being invited for the funding from the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust.
Through its funding, the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust seeks to improve the quality of life in Welsh communities by investing in projects for sport, the arts, community, the environment, and youth exchange programmes.
The Trust supports not-for-profit organisations, constituted voluntary organisations, charitable organisations, voluntary groups working with local authorities (applicant cannot be the local authority), and applications from groups of any age. There are different funding levels for local, regional, and national organisations, from £2,000 to £20,000.
Mr Sargeant said: “Since its establishment in 2001, the Trust has awarded more than £2.5million to 590 organisations right across Wales. All kinds of groups have been supported, including football coach accreditation schemes and weekly tea dances for over 65s with mental health problems and their carers. Community clean-ups and leisure-time schemes for disabled children have also received funding, so the scope for funding is wide.
“I would encourage local groups to contact my office on 01244 823547, or email me at carl.sargeant@wales.gov.uk to find out more.”
The Trust’s income is generated through a levy on every ticket purchased for public events at the Stadium, and it is an all-Wales organisation.
The deadline for applications is November 3rd 2008.

AM Highlights Funds

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS FLY TIPPING FUNDS

Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is highlighting the fact that community groups who live in localities blighted by illegal fly-tipping can receive help towards the cost of clear-up thanks to a fund made available by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Local Environmental Quality Division.
Mr Sargeant: “This dedicated fund is in place to offer assistance to owners of private land who wish to restore the land in order to make it fit for use by the public following fly-tipping attacks. Approximately £9,000 remains in the fund to be claimed.
“The fund is administered by Keep Wales Tidy, and in order to be eligible for money from the Fly-tipping Clearance Assistance Fund, landowners must demonstrate that their land is open to the public and that it provides a benefit to the local community.
“Eligible parties may include local sports clubs, churches or volunteer groups, and I would encourage anyone who may be interested in finding out more to contact my office on 01244 823547, or email carl.sargeant@wales.gov.uk.”
The scheme also seeks to prevent future flyt ipping incidents by requiring applicants to take the opportunity to install preventative measures such as barriers and signage.

AM's Support For Campaign

CARL SARGEANT AM SUPPORTS WASTE AWARENESS WALES LUNCH BOX CAMPAIGN
As children in Alyn and Deeside prepare to go back to school, local constituency AM Carl Sargeant is joining Waste Awareness Wales is encouraging parents to pack them a waste-free lunch box to help reduce the amount of waste sent to Welsh landfills each year.Mr Sargeant said: “Packed lunches for school often mean lots of wrappers and drink cartons are used– and these end up being sent to our landfill sites. However, a few simple changes can really reduce help this waste. “By using our purchasing power to select products which have less packaging we can not only help the environment, but also save money too. Waste Awareness Wales are offering some great tips on how to reduce packed lunch waste – which will also be helpful for adults who take their own lunch to work.”Top tips on creating a waste-free lunch from Waste Awareness Wales:1. Try using a reusable flask or bottle for school drinks instead of a carton or plastic bottle; 2. Avoid using foil, cling film or storage bags to wrap sandwiches and use a re-usable lunchbox instead; 3. Swap individually wrapped biscuits and crisps for packaging-free fruit and vegetables; 4. If you do put fruit in lunchboxes remember any fruit peelings or cores can be composted at home; 5. Use metal spoons instead of disposable plastic cutlery.

Keep Wales Tidy Awards

CARL SARGEANT AM SEEKS LOCAL NOMINATIONS FOR PRESTIGIOUS KEEP WALES TIDY AWARDS
Time is running out in the search to find groups, individuals and businesses across Wales that have gone the extra mile to rid our towns, villages and countryside of wanton damage and unpleasant littering.
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is hoping to see plenty of local nominations for the prestigious annual Keep Wales Tidy awards, which are sponsored by the Environment Agency Wales and Visit Wales.
Mr Sargeant said: “These awards seek to recognise those people who have made a real difference to our communities. So many volunteers give of their time and talents to keep Wales tidy, and this is a great way for us to say thank you for their efforts.”
There are prizes of £500 in eleven categories, and an overall winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy and an additional £1,000: Large partnership award River improvementBeach improvement SchoolBusiness Tourism Industry Public Sector Long-term effort Individuals Woodland improvement Community group
The deadline for nominations is the end of September, and the awards ceremony will take place in November.
For more information, see: http://www.keepwalestidy.org/ or email twa@keepwalestidy.org.

AM Welcomes Publication

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES NEW CARE HOME GUIDE
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed the publication by the Welsh Assembly Government of a new guide aimed at helping those who are considering moving themselves or a loved one into a care home. “Thinking about a care home? - a guide to what you need to know” seeks to provide good information on the subject of social care and the potential of residential care. It sets out in clear terms the key stages and issues that someone will encounter in this situation, highlighting the care options available that individuals and their families will also wish to consider before making a decision of moving into a care home.Mr Sargeant said: “Making the decision to move into a care home is a major undertaking, both for the person involved and for their families. “I welcome this new publication from the Assembly Government because it offers up-to-date and practical advice. It is simple to read and is ideal for people who have no prior knowledge of the issues involved in the decision to move into a care home, or of the role of social services.”It is anticipated that the guide - aimed predominantly at older people, their families and friends – will also be of interest to younger adults requiring long term care.Copies can be obtained from Carl Sargeant AM at carl.sargeant@wales.gov.uk or by calling his office on 01244 823547.