AM Welcomes News

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES MORE POWER FOR HEALTH WATCHDOG
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the news that, from tomorrow, private dental practice in Wales will be regulated more closely to ensure safer, higher quality services. New regulations will require practitioners who provide any non-NHS dental treatment to register with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), the healthcare watchdog. HIW will have the power to inspect practices and act on any complaints.Mr Sargeant said: “These new regulations mean that all dental practitioners providing dental treatment in Wales will be inspected to the same high standards, regardless of whether they are NHS funded or private. Currently, all dentists are regulated by the General Dental Council but outside the NHS there is no systematic inspection of premises and facilities against national standards. From tomorrow that will change.“Uniformity of regulation between NHS and private care is important because it will give patients peace of mind about the standard of care they are receiving. The regulations will also act to encourage continuous improvement in private dental services.”Registering dental practitioners will also assist in identifying where wholly private dental care is being undertaken in Wales.ENDS

AM Welcomes Investment

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES GROUNDWORK INVESTMENT
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside is welcoming the news that a leading environmental regeneration charity which operates in deprived parts of Wales will receive £3.2m funding from the Welsh Assembly Government over the next three years.Groundwork is rooted in seven local authority areas in the most deprived communities of Wales. It operates across Wales, working with partners to improve the quality of the local environment and the lives of local people. Projects include major regeneration strategies, environmental education, cycle routes and recycling schemes. The new three year funding package is worth £3,228,040 from 2009-12 and will enable Groundwork in Wales to continue to develop a range of programmes and projects. In particular some of Groundwork’s focus will be on responding to the challenges of child poverty in Wales, reducing economic inactivity and tackling climate change through a multi sector approach.Mr Sargeant said: “Groundwork’s vision is of a society made up of sustainable communities, which are vibrant, healthy and safe, which respect the local and global environment and where individuals and enterprise prosper. “Groundwork is an exciting initiative. During the last year Groundwork in Wales has supported over 850 projects, planted more than 24,000 trees, improved over 1,500,000 sq m of land, worked with more than 350 schools and more than 250 businesses, and provided over 2,500 weeks’ worth of training. Their plans for the next three years include projects to encourage young people to stay in education longer, working with Communities First partnerships and wider community groups, improving routeways, paths and cycleways as well as developing renewable projects to tackle fuel poverty.”

AM Congratulates Local School

CARL SARGEANT AM CONGRATULATES CONNAH’S QHAY HIGH SCHOOL ON TIDY TOWNS GRANT SUCCESS
Faced with the prospect that Wales’ litter and waste clean up bill could soon top £50 million, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, was quick to welcome the news in April that a Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative was getting underway to tackle problem hot spots, and to encourage local groups to get involved.
The £3 million ‘Tidy Towns’ programme aims to strategically empower the people of Wales to take responsibility for the quality of their local environment. It is being delivered by encouraging community groups to adopt known black-spots and, with professional support from Keep Wales Tidy project officers, help to restore them to their former glory.
Connah’s Quay High School Voluntary Development Group has been awarded £700 under the scheme to buy equipment to help keep a local children’s play area clean and safe. They will also be buying bulbs and putting up bird and bat boxes in order to enhance the area and to encourage wildlife.
Mr Sargeant said: “I am delighted that Connah’s Quay High School Voluntary Development Group have taken the initiative and have made the most of this funding opportunity. I commend their positive actions to improve the community, and I am confident that the project will be both enjoyable and rewarding.
“The intention was always that the Tidy Towns project would be community-led. In addition to regular clean ups, communities could also undertake creative projects such as developing community gardens, improving disabled access or promoting waste amnesties.
“We all have a duty to help contribute towards the creation of a cleaner, safer and tidier Wales. I hope that this new investment will continue to be a catalyst for change, and that more and more communities and groups in Alyn and Deeside will follow Connah’s Quay High School’s lead in seizing this new opportunity.” Extra Keep Wales Tidy staff are being put in place right across Wales so that communities in every local authority can have access to expert advice and support. The team will also be charged with raising awareness of the short and long term effects that litter, waste and anti social behaviour has on the wellbeing of communities.
For further information, contact Carl Sargeant AM on 01244 823547.

AM Highlights Scheme

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS PASS PLUS CYMRU FOR NEW DRIVERS
With the most common season for motoring accidents now here, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is advising newly-qualified motorists to take a course aimed at producing safer drivers, helping reduce road deaths and injuries in the process. Pass Plus Cymru is a major initiative that encourages young drivers to take the opportunity of further training. It is an enhanced version of the Driving Standards Agency’s original Pass Plus scheme which has been available since 1995. Mr Sargeant said: “There is widespread concern regarding the disproportionate numbers of young drivers and young passengers killed or injured annually on Wales’ roads. The Pass Plus course will help young drivers build on their existing skills and knowledge to help reduce their risk of being involved in a road crash. “As a result of special Welsh Assembly funding, local authorities will be able to heavily subsidise the course, meaning that the cost to participants is just £20. “Winter is a notorious time for driving fatalities, so I would recommend that all young drivers take this opportunity to enhance their skills for the sake of their own safety on the roads, and that of their passengers. I am very hopeful that this scheme can help us reduce the tragic losses of young lives that occur on roads in Wales.” Young drivers will be able to book a course online via a dedicated young drivers’ website: http://www.dragondriver.com/, or by phoning 08450 504255.

AM Highlights Helpline

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS ALL WALES DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE
As we enter the festive period, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside is raising the profile of the 24 hour free All Wales Domestic Abuse Telephone Helpline (0808 80 10 800).Mr Sargeant said: “The All Wales National Domestic Abuse 24 hour free telephone helpline, based in North Wales, was formally launched in January 2007. It now takes an average of 2000 calls a month.“It is a sad fact that incidents of domestic abuse tend to rise over the Christmas and New Year period, so I am reminding constituents who may be experiencing domestic abuse that there is professional, confidential, help and support available for them. “Victims of domestic violence are often too afraid or too ashamed to speak out. Dedicated helplines such as ours in Wales are invaluable. For many people making that first telephone call and talking to a stranger about their problems is the first step to breaking away from the cycle of violence at home.“Domestic abuse initiatives have increased sevenfold since 2002, with the Domestic Abuse Grant Scheme standing at £.3.7m this financial year. Recently the Assembly Government announced £1.5m capital funding to support organisations that offer advice and support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse, including the North Wales Women Centre which will receive £300,000 for a new One-Stop Shop, and the North Wales Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Support Centre will receive £19,450 for vital new equipment.”The Assembly Government takes the issue of domestic abuse very seriously. In 2005 it published an All Wales National Strategy, which provides the framework for the development of local action to prevent and deal with domestic abuse, and the government is now developing a new Strategic Action Plan to enhance delivery of the Strategy.

AM Welcomes Proposals

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS PROPOSALS TO MAKE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS FAIRER
Proposals to make the system of support available for students in Higher Education fairer in Wales have been welcomed by local Labour AM Carl Sargeant. Under the plans being considered, more students from low income households in Wales will have the help and support they need to go to University or college. The AM said this was an issue of 'social justice' to get more people into Higher Education.The news came in the Assembly Government’s response to an independent report on refocusing the Welsh student finance system. The Assembly Government will now consult on re-directing resources currently devoted to the tuition fee grant into an enhanced system of Assembly Learning Grants. Mr Sargeant said: “The Assembly Government is delivering our social justice and fairness agenda. By widening access, more young people from less well off backgrounds will be given the opportunity to participate in Higher Education.“Professor Jones’ Report concluded that the current system is no longer the most effective or most sustainable option. It is crucial that we get in place a fair system of student support that will provide more generous grants, and increased access to student loans, ensuring maximum levels of support are available to low income students.”It was emphasised in the Welsh Assembly Government statement in response to the report that eligibility would not change for students entitled to the Tuition Fee Grant for the duration of their current course of study or impact on students entering Welsh HE institutions in academic year 2009/10. The consultation will concentrate on three policy areas – support for students, tackling student debt and investing in HE.

AM Welcomes Guidance

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES NEW ANIMAL WELFARE GUIDANCE
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is welcoming the news that Wales is the first country in the UK to publish guidance on the welfare of dogs, cats and horses in a bid to inform people of the responsibility, time and cost involved in caring for an animal properly.The Welsh Assembly Government has received praise from animal welfare groups for taking a lead on this issue. The Kennel Club, the Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, and World Horse Welfare have all welcomed the new Codes of Practice for Dogs, Cats and Equines.Mr Sargeant said: “The RSPCA and the Dogs Trust both report that cases of animal cruelty and abandonment are continuing to rise, and this suggests that not all prospective pet owners have considered carefully the responsibilities associated with looking after an animal. Often cruelty is a result of ignorance and ill-preparedness, rather than deliberate neglect, but it is no less unacceptable.“Taking on a pet is a huge responsibility. There are costs involved, such as insurance, feeding and vet fees, not to mention the time and commitment that is needed to look after pets properly. These guides set out what is expected if someone is considering having a pet. “At Christmas, some parents may feel pressurised into buying a pet as a gift for their children without fully realising the financial and long-term commitment that this decision will entail. I seriously urge anyone thinking of having a pet to check these guides and see if they can, in all honesty, provide the care that is needed for the animal.”

AM Welcomes Policy

CARL SARGEANT AM WELCOMES FIRST POLICY AGENDA FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed the launch of the Welsh Assembly Government’s first policy agenda for disabled children and young people in Wales.Mr Sargeant said: “The Assembly Government is committed to providing equality of opportunity and the best possible chances in life for disabled children and young people in Wales. The seven core aims as set out in the new policy agenda show how we will be working towards this. “The policy applies equally to all children and young people who are disabled, and I am convinced that our policy agenda will ensure that opportunities and outcomes will be enhanced further in the future.”The seven core aims for children are: o have a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development. o have access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities, including acquisition of essential personal and social skills. o enjoy the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health, including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation o have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities o are listened to, treated with respect, and are able to have their race and cultural identity recognised o have a safe home and a community that supports physical and emotional wellbeing o are not disadvantaged by child poverty.

AM Voices Concerns

CARL SARGEANT AM RAISES NEW A494 ISSUES
The Minister for Transport has today outlined his plans for Trunk Road improvements in Wales. In his statement, the Minister has said that he does not expect improvements to the A494 to start before April 2014, and then not without a public local inquiry. Mr Sargeant said: “It is positive that no further action will be taken without a public local inquiry as the strength of feeling on any improvements to the A494 is very strong indeed. Any improvements to the road must be done proportionately and with sensitivity to the local population – that was the problem with the last proposals, they were too extreme and did not take into account the communities which would be affected.”Given the new timetable, Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is asking the Transport Minister and Flintshire County Council to respond with action to the implications of this. Mr Sargeant said: “In light of this news, I think it is vital that Flintshire County Council state what action they are going to take in order to address the traffic issues around Deeside, which can often be chaotic. With at least another five years before any major trunk road work will be carried out, the council needs to explore what action they are in a position to take in order to alleviate problem traffic areas. Many of the roads – such as the road through Shotton – fall under the council’s remit.“Further to this I am asking the Minister for an urgent statement on what his plans mean for the houses which have been subject to compulsory purchase in Aston Mead, and from which people were evicted. Security of the site is of real concern, especially as this now appears to be a long-term issue.”