Does travel broaden the mind? By and large foreign travel and better communication, with pictures beamed instantly across the globe have helped to break down prejudice and make us realise how much we have in common.
Take the financial crisis in Greece, which has been in the headlines repeatedly this year. Mainland Greece and, in particular, the Greek islands, have become favoured destinations for many thousands of British holidaymakers. We can well imagine the feelings of the crowds in Athens protesting against what they see as very severe austerity measures being imposed upon them. After all, most of them will be like us – wage-earners who have had little to do with creating the crisis.
Whatever the relationships of the states of Europe, the peoples of Europe have grown closer. And yet, within the United Kingdom, the relationship between Government and people is very similar to what it was in the 1950s. Only those of us over a certain age will remember the days of SuperMac when our Prime Minister was an old Etonian who relaxed on the grouse moors of his friends. Now, there is no longer any need to look back to the past for an example of rulers who can have little perception of the lives of ordinary people.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, talking of the global financial crisis said not so long ago that we are all in this together. That’s a phrase which sounds very hollow, when we look round and see friends and family, young and old, squeezed by rising prices, worried about job security and a Cabinet populated by millionaires whose inherited wealth cushions them from worries about paying bills and job security. All in this together indeed!
This week sees the publication of the report by Mary Portas on how to breathe life back into Britain’s declining town centres. There have been many reports before on the subject but to little avail. The problems that we see in Llanelli town centre are by no means unique – even before 2008 financial crisis, the impact of out-of-town shopping and internet shopping were taking their toll across Britain. But over the last two years, with the Chancellor’s disastrous policies leading to stagnation and almost zero growth, consumer confidence has fallen dramatically and one in seven high street shops has closed.
I recently took the opportunity to go into the shop next door to Boots in the town centre where I had discussion with Andrew Shufflebotham, the town centre manager and saw the display of the various schemes in progress to help put the heart back into Llanelli.
Increasing footfall in the town centre is absolutely key – it’s a chicken and egg situation: we need to get enough people coming into the town to attract shops in and we need a sufficient range of shops to attract people in.
The refurbished Llanelly House, the new cinema complex and joint working with Trinity St David’s University who will run courses in the Furnace Arts Centre will all help bring more people into the town centre.
In addition work with soon begin on a facelift for shops in Vaughan St and Stepney St with new canopies to make the shop fronts more visible and plans for more seating in front of Boots.
Now we need some action from the Portas report and a proper growth strategy from the Chancellor.
James Griffiths, one of my distinguished predecessors as MP for Llanelli, became the first-ever Secretary of State for Wales when the Welsh Office he had long campaigned for was set up in 1964.
However, in the final months of the Attlee Labour Government after the Second World War, he served as Colonial Secretary.
This was a time of great change in the world. As late as 1958 Cardiff hosted the Empire Games, now known as the Commonwealth Games. James Griffiths met many of the leaders of the countries that would soon be independent, people like Jomo Kenyatta, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Neyrere.
Llanelli has a history of internationalism. We all know of the fight against Nazism in the last war, but many from Llanelli also served in the International Brigades defending Spanish democracy during 1936 to 1938. Last week I was pleased to back Sian James MP for Swansea East in welcoming a memorial to be unveiled in Swansea on 14 December honouring those from the area who served in Spain and recognising the Swansea seafarers led by Potato Jones who broke the Franco blockade. We should not forget all those who helped establish refugee homes across Britain, including in Brechfa, Carmarthenshire, to look after Basque children who fled the bombing of their towns and villages, including Guernica.
Today, we read about the “Arab Spring” as the drive for democratic change seems to be taking hold in the Middle East. We follow the events in Tahir Square in Egypt with interest and concern.
It is the UK Government that is responsible for our foreign policy. As your MP in Westminster I try to reflect your concerns in this as in other areas of politics.
Many of you will be familiar Reinhold Niebuhr’s ‘serenity’ prayer which asks for wisdom to tell the difference between those things that we can change, and those things which we cannot – so while the solutions to the global financial crisis may seem elusive, our government here in the UK can choose to implement policies which encourage investment in the manufacturing sector and stimulate growth.
Investors need certainty and consistency of policy. That is why it is utter madness for the government to rush in 50% cuts to the Solar Panel Feed-in Tariff subsidy, with just six weeks’ notice, which means that any panels that are not installed and up and running by 12th December will only get half the current rate of subsidy, making a mockery of the consultation which closes on 23rd Dec. Everyone accepts that the subsidies would decrease gradually but changes were not expected before April 2012.
Solar Panel factories and installers across Wales, like Filsol in Ponthenri, who have taken on new staff as a result of sales projections based on the original scheme, are now finding their markets collapsing. To make matters worse, firms are already having difficulty obtaining the necessary parts to complete existing jobs, because no manufacturer wants to be left with unsalable stock. Big projects to install solar panels on thousands of housing association homes in Wales are now at risk, threatening jobs and apprenticeships. It is a kick in the teeth for all those families who want to do the right thing by investing in solar.
We need a U-turn before it’s too late, which is why I am seeking an emergency meeting for solar industry representatives with the Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan.
With Unite members demonstrating against the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board.
It is a grim irony that, in this week that marks anti-poverty week, the Conservative-led government seems determined to do away with the Agricultural Wages Board. One of the key ways of reducing poverty is to ensure that people get a decent rate of pay for the work that they do, and that is precisely what the Agricultural Wages Board helps to do in rural Wales.
Many farms in Wales are family businesses with just one or two employees, and discussions about pay and conditions can be very tricky, so standard guidance from the Agricultural Wages Board on both pay and a whole range of conditions pertinent to agricultural workers, whose work schedules have to fit the seasons and weather, helps both farm businesses and the 12,000 farm workers in Wales. The FUW has expressed deep concern about the loss of the Board, and the difficulties that this will cause for both farm businesses and farm workers in Wales.
The Board sets wages for six grades above the national minimum wage, ranging from £6.10 to £9.14 an hour, which reflect the skills and physical effort involved in farm work, as well as setting a rate of pay of £3.05 an hour for under-16s, as they are not covered by the National Minimum Wage. Let’s be clear, abolishing the Board is not about cutting red tape, it’s about driving down wages and taking money out of the rural economy here in Wales, with the knock-on effects on local shops and communities.
That’s why in my new role as Shadow Minister for Wales, I am calling on the Secretary of State for Wales to persuade her government to drop plans to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board.
This month sees the implementation of the long awaited Agency Workers Directive, which will give agency workers the right to equal treatment with permanent employees after 12 weeks.
There are many agency workers here in Llanelli and millions across the UK, and for too long they have had worse working terms and conditions than permanent employees undertaking the same roles. The use of agency workers is widespread; it is a myth that it is confined to migrant workers, or certain industries. The Agency Workers Directive which came into force on 1st October is a vital step forward in ensuring the UK economy is one that has fair rewards for everyone who works hard and contributes to our society.
The previous Labour Government passed legislation to give agency workers equal treatment after the CBI and TUC reached an agreement on how to implement it fairly for employers and employees. But sadly there have already been reports that the Prime Minster has been looking at ways to weaken it. David Cameron should stand up for fairness and implement the Directive in full, rather than try to figure out how to get round it, through loopholes and weak guidance which could allow employers to avoid equal treatment. We want fair play for all.
Since parliamentary debates have been televised, when people think of parliament, they to think of the Chamber, and, in particular the most cutting comments at Prime Minister’s questions – because that’s what the media’s political commentators like best – the controversy, pitting one politician against another. But there is a lot that goes on outside the Chamber, away from the limelight and it is not always cut and thrust. Yes, certainly it is our job in opposition to hold the government to account and demand answers to searching questions, but sometimes we are broadly working together for the best – one such debate this week in which I had to take the lead for my party was on how government can best be prepared for emergencies, such as a swine flu epidemic, volcanic ash or a potential cyber attack. Another committee I had to speak in this week was dealing with the obscure – sounding Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Unwrapped Bread and Intoxicating Liquor) Order 2011 – who would guess that this order which comes into force on 1st October will free up pubs, if they so wish, to serve beer in quantities of two thirds of a pint.
Add to that speaking up for Swansea Coastguard station, taking a 100,000 signature petition to the Coastguard Minister, quizzing post office chiefs on the future of our post offices, meeting pupils on a visit to parliament from MaesyMorfa Primary School, speaking up for the watchdog Consumer Focus Wales, adding my voice to those calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state, and discussing provision for dementia sufferers – all in the last couple of days, and that will give you an idea of some of the many things that go on outside the main chamber in parliament.
I was privileged to attend the Fun Day recently in Dwyfor, Llwynhendy and had the chance to admire the vegetables that keen gardeners have already grown in the allotments that have only been developed in the last few months by the Llwynhendy Environment Group. I really enjoy my garden, though splitting my time between here and London means that I cannot be at home to cover up tender plants against a late frost or ward off the slugs, so I have to stick to easy-to-grow plants. It is really great to see the revival of interest in allotments which bring together young and old, and provide an excellent opportunity to swap tips and improve on gardening techniques.
Llanelli was once known for its heavy industry. In Llanelli and the surrounding villages, back gardens and allotments flourished. This was before the days when being Green was fashionable. Back then, being green just meant being naïve and inexperienced. In those days growing your own food was a way of adding to the family income and providing tasty and healthy food full of goodness. Looks mattered too, mind. Pride in the produce had an aesthetic element as well. Many of us will have grown up with stories about prize vegetables or exceptional blooms, and they are already on the look-out for the longest runner-bean in Llwynhendy.
I know that other groups are trying to identify land and funding to develop allotments, and we should be doing all we can to help them. And, if you have got time, do go up and see Llwynhendy – it’s a real inspiration.
Last week Keith Davies AM and I had a long meeting with Chris Martin, the Chairman of the Hywel Dda Health Board and Trevor Purt, the Chief Executive.
We know that amongst the people of Llanelli, there is very considerable appreciation of the excellent work done at Prince Philip Hospital, and also considerable concern about the future provision of services, and not a day goes by when we are not talking about health services with someone, and we are grateful for the feedback we have from current staff and patients.
Before our meeting with the health board, we also had an update from members of the Community Health Council and had discussion with the former consultant Mr Hugh Evans, who has always been a strong advocate for services in Llanelli.
Part of our discussions with Mr Martin and Mr Purt focussed on specific services – and after considerable lobbying, we understand there will be some progress on cataract surgery and on improving the efficiency and convenience of blood tests. Then we questioned them on what the timescale is for publicising their plans for the future provision of services, and, most importantly, what opportunities there will be for local residents to have their say, and we were told that the plans are likely to be made public towards the end of October.
This week we are pleased to welcome the new Welsh Government Health Minister Lesley Griffiths AM to Llanelli to visit Prince Philip Hospital and see for herself the facilities there and have an opportunity to speak to staff. We will take every opportunity to lobby the Minster and the Health Board to keep the full range of services at Prince Philip Hospital.
While parliament is in recess in August, it is a great opportunity for me to spend more time in the constituency and have the privilege of working alongside a whole range of local residents who care about and bring to life the communities that make up Llanelli and the surrounding areas – whether this is a residents’ action group trying to improve their surroundings and facilities, or organisations like the Hannah Meredith Foundation, set up to help the families of drug users across the area or those who work to preserve and share our cultural heritage.
Next week we shall be commemorating the tragic deaths of two men shot during the 1911 railway strike – the committee has worked hard to organise a week-long series of events to tell the story of what happened before, during and after the 1911 railway strike, and a I very much hope that you will be able join us on some of these occasions. They begin on Friday 12th with the performance by Coleg Sir Gar at 6 pm at the Town Hall, and culminate on Saturday 20th August with the commemorative march assembling at noon at Llanelli Railway Station and the performance that evening at 7.30 in Hall St Methodist Church of a concert version of Remembrance of a Riot. Some of us were privileged to hear a preview of this music performed in Parc Howard a fortnight ago during Love Parks Week – songs composed specifically to tell the 1911 story, and it really was very impressive indeed. Hope to see you during the week.
