Latest news with #VaughanGething
Pembrokeshire Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Early years team wins prestigious partnership award
STUDENTS called for an overhaul to make Welsh universities more financially sustainable amid concerns about the uncertainty of sweeping cuts impacting on mental health. Deio Owen, president of the National Union of Students (NUS) Cymru, warned students' mental health has suffered following proposed and confirmed cuts at Welsh universities. He told the Senedd's education committee: 'That uncertainty does have a knock-on effect – not just on your education and your prospects in your exams… but also your personal life.' Mr Owen said students are paying more than £9,000 in tuition fees 'for a service you're not sure you're going to get which makes the university sector unique'. He told the committee: 'It's not like going to a shop and buying a tumble dryer or a toaster, and it's that uncertainty which isn't fair on students or staff or anybody that's being affected.' Giving evidence on June 25 as part of an inquiry on higher education, Mr Owen said students support staff in taking crucial industrial action. 'There is also frustration, there are doubts,' he added. 'If you look at it from the outside 'the staff aren't teaching and I'm going to miss out' but, generally speaking, I think there is support and people understand why people are striking.' Asked about comparisons with the rest of the UK, Mr Owen told the committee many of the challenges are common across the four nations. But, raising concerns about participation rates, he pointed to statistics showing around 30% of Welsh young people attend a university anywhere in the UK. This compares with 40% in Northern Ireland, 'our closest counterpart economically', and nearly 50% in greater London. 'I want to live in a Wales where everybody has the opportunity to follow whichever education pathway they choose,' said Mr Owen, warning of unique economic and social barriers. Former First Minister Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething, the former First Minister who was himself once NUS Cymru's president, asked about calls for an overhaul of the financial model for universities in Wales. Mr Owen replied: 'To put it quite simply, the system is not working as it is formed right now and we need to see that change to make it fairer, more equal and equitable for everyone who wants to access the higher education system here in Wales.' The politics and Welsh graduate added: 'To show that the system's not working: we have young people who have less than £50 at the end of the month in their bank account and Wales has the most generous financial package of support for students in the UK. 'But that support isn't going far enough…. If tuition fees were working, I don't think our universities would be in such a state that they are now.' Acknowledging there is no 'silver bullet', Mr Owen urged Wales to be more outward looking by considering models in other European countries which offer free or cheaper tuition. He called for the Welsh and UK Governments to undertake a more fundamental review, encompassing elements beyond education such as mental health support and housing. 'Over the years we've seen bandages put on wounds,' he said. 'Whereas we haven't seen that transformational piece that will make an education system that works.' Mr Owen stressed: 'We haven't got that forward-looking vision for the future of what higher education will look like, how we're going to create a system that is fair for everyone.' He argued the onus is on politicians to create a fair and equal education system, saying: 'I represent the voice of students, not the voice of policy-makers, we're created to raise those concerns, not to make those decisions, but there is a need for change – that is quite clear.' Mr Owen said NUS Cymru has a positive relationship with Vikki Howells, Wales' universities minister, but: 'The Welsh Government does have a role to play, it can't just ignore the challenges faced by the sector. Education doesn't stop after you leave school.'
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Natasha Asghar MS on the shelved M4 relief road history
Not only did any hope of alleviating never-ending congestion go down the drain when the project was spiked, but so did £157m of taxpayer cash which had already been spent laying the groundwork. In the six long years since the axing of the relief road, things have gone from bad to worse on the M4 – especially since the dreaded 50mph speed cameras were installed. The fact remains we still need an M4 relief road. Bumper-to-bumper traffic and long delays is something I am sure many reading this will have endured at some point when travelling along the M4. In its current form, the M4 is not fit for purpose. These regular clogs are not just a nightmare for those caught up in them, but they are a major economic block and are undoubtedly making Wales a less attractive place to do business. Shockingly, the M4 in Newport was ranked within the top 50 traffic hotspots in Europe and was the 4th most congested stretch of urban motorway in the UK. Yet still, no action has been taken to crack the issue despite a planning inspector and Labour politicians including Vaughan Gething, Ken Skates and Jayne Bryant once upon a time backing relief road plans. Newport West MS Jayne Bryant hit the nail on the head when she said the decision to axe the relief 'condemns Newport to further decades of heavy congestion, idling traffic and toxic fumes.' Well it seems as though something has drastically changed in the minds of Labour politicians in the Senedd as when the Welsh Conservatives brought forward a debate calling for the relief to be built, they voted it down. Unsurprisingly, their nationalist Plaid Cymru chums, who never miss an opportunity to prop up this Labour administration, helped them sink our motion. Perhaps even more surprisingly, a commitment to build the relief road was included in Labour's manifesto, but then again we know they are partial to U-turns and flip-flopping. The Welsh Conservatives recognise the pressing need for the M4 relief road. A Welsh Conservative Government would get spades in the ground and deliver the relief road because doing nothing costs more in lost productivity, lost investment and lost opportunities. We need to get Newport and the whole of South Wales moving again. Natasha Asghar is the Senedd member for South Wales East.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former workers sue chicken plant over Covid outbreak
Former workers at a poultry factory who claim they caught coronavirus in a mass outbreak at the plant can continue legal action against their former employers. Public Health Wales said there were over 200 confirmed Covid-19 cases linked to the 2 Sisters plant in Llangefni, on Anglesey, in June 2020. The group are suing 2 Sisters Food Group, alleging they contracted Covid-19 as a result of a breach of duty, breach of contract and negligence. Their case was thrown out last year but they have now won a High Court appeal, allowing the case to continue. Lawyers for 2 Sisters previously argued the claimants could not prove how they caught the virus and if it was connected to the factory. 200 Covid-19 cases at Welsh meat plant outbreak End of an era as 700 jobs go at chicken factory The 2 Sisters factory closed down permanently in March 2023, with the loss of over 700 jobs, after the company said the site was old and needed too much investment to bring it up to standard. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, its site was one of several food processing factories in Wales that experienced outbreaks of Covid-19. At the time, Health Minister Vaughan Gething said officials were looking at the level of risk in the food industry. Mark Edwards, Glynne Roberts, Nia Williams and Brian Perry worked on the chicken production line and claim they worked "shoulder to shoulder" and all fell ill with the virus that month. As part of their claim, they say Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work regulations had not been properly followed. The company accepts the staff worked in close proximity with each other, but denies they were "shoulder to shoulder". The firm said it implemented enhanced hygiene measures at the factory which was temporarily closed on 18 June 2020. At the start of their legal action, the former employees had not obtained expert medical evidence to support the claim. Their lawyers said occupational health experts and virologists would be asked to give their opinion before the case went to trial. They also said the company should disclose evidence about the outbreak before they could ask for expert opinion to back up the claim. Lawyers for 2 Sisters argued the claimants could not prove when or how they had caught the virus and if it had any connection to the factory. In January 2024 they asked for the case to be struck out at the county court in Caernarfon on the basis that Mr Edwards and the others could not prove the cause of their illness and that their claim was doomed to fail. In July, Judge Wendy Owen ruled there was no real prospect of the claim succeeding without medical evidence and no other compelling reason why the case should go to trial. The judge said the issue of causation and medical opinion was a crucial element which should have already been investigated before proceedings were commenced, and gave a summary judgement against the former workers. But permission to appeal the case was granted in December 2024 and a hearing before a High Court judge in Cardiff was held in April. In a judgement handed down at the end of May, High Court judge Sir Peter Lane said the summary judgment process was "somewhat draconian in nature" and courts should avoid conducting what has come to be described as a "mini trial" of a case. Sir Peter said Judge Owen "fell into error" in effectively conducting a "mini trial" without the benefit of the evidence that would have been available had the case been allowed to proceed to trial. He found that in a claim where the costs of an expert are likely to be significant, when set against the likely value of the claims, it is "plainly proportionate" for the former workers to have proceeded with the claim in this way. Allowing the appeal, he said the claimants may face "an uphill task" but Judge Owen could not be satisfied the claimants had no real prospect of succeeding. The date for the next hearing is yet to be decided. Long NHS waits to end by 2026, says health board Couple take legal action over newborn baby's death Young people with long Covid 'battle' for NHS care
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Value of £4.25m farm bought by Welsh Government 'uncertain' as ospreys return
Value of £4.25m farm bought by Welsh Government 'uncertain' as ospreys return An egg has been laid after the pair of birds returned for their second spell at the Powys farm A three-year-old osprey at Gilestone Farm in Powys (Image: Welsh Government ) The value of a farm bought by the Welsh Government for £4.25m is now "uncertain" after a pair of ospreys returned for their second spell there - and laid an egg. The Welsh Government bought Gilestone Farm in Powys in 2022 as part of a deal with the Green Man Festival for it to be a base for its operations but not move the main festival. But in 2023 a pair of ospreys - a protected species - were seen there - the first time they have been observed so far south in Wales in around 200 years. A 750-metre restriction zone around their nest was set up to protect the birds. It has now been confirmed the birds have returned and laid an egg. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The Welsh Government bought Gilestone Farm for £4.25m saying it wanted to "support the growth of the creative sector in a stronger Mid Wales economy". In March 2025, it was valued at £3.75m. In terms of its future value, it was reported that "the presence of ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty to the process". In January 2024, the Welsh Government said it would not go ahead with plans to allow Green Man to use the the farm. Then economy minister Vaughan Gething said that the plans were incompatible with the needs of a pair of protected Ospreys which nested at the site for the first time last year. You can read that here. Article continues below The Welsh Government's economy director general, Andrew Slade has now given an update in a letter published ahead of a meeting of the Senedd's public accounts committee. Mr Slade said the farm was valued at £3.75m in March, adding "the presence of the ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty". Mr Slade said the property continues to be leased on commercial terms via a farm business tenancy until November, with officials considering options beyond that. Mr Slade wrote: "Members of the committee will appreciate the significance of the nesting ospreys at the site and I can confirm the ospreys have recently returned and within days of their arrival have laid an egg. The birds' welfare, and the protection of the nest, continue to be critical factors when considering future options for the site.' Mr Slade promised to write to the committee again when he can provide an update on firm proposals for the site, which is thought to generate about £32,000 a year in tenancy income. A 2023 Audit Wales review found ministers acted with "avoidable haste" as an underspend fuelled a rush to make a decision on the £4.25m purchase before the financial year's end. The public accounts committee is finalising its report on the saga following a nearly three-year inquiry into the decision made by then-economy minister Vaughan Gething. In a statement on the future of Gilestone Farm in January 2024, Mr Gething was confident a way forward for the site would be agreed by that spring. Article continues below Mr Gething had denied that money had been "wasted", you can read that here.
Sky News
04-03-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Budget 2025: Welsh government plans approved - but what do they mean for Wales?
The Welsh government's budget has been approved by Senedd members in a vote on Tuesday. Every year, the government sets out its spending plans for Wales in funds devolved from the UK government, which then have to be agreed by a majority of members. Labour has exactly half the number of seats in the chamber, 30 out of 60, since the last election in 2021. After the election, Labour had entered into a co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru which involved the Welsh nationalist party supporting the government on a number of key policies. But the deal came to an abrupt end last year due to concerns about a controversial £200k donation to then first minister Vaughan Gething and government delays to policies such as council tax reform. So without their coalition partners, Labour were looking to borrow a vote to get them over the line. The final budget vote passed on Tuesday, 29 votes to 28, after the Labour government struck a deal with the Welsh parliament's sole Liberal Democrat member, Jane Dodds, who agreed to abstain. In exchange for her abstention, the Welsh government announced a number of investments, including a £1 bus ticket pilot scheme for under 21s. The agreement also includes a commitment to ban greyhound racing in Wales. 'Demanding better' The £26bn budget has allocated funding for areas such as health, housing and education for the next financial year, taking Wales into 2026 when voters will next go to the polls to vote for their representatives in the Senedd. Welsh finance secretary Mark Drakeford said: "Passing this budget is a significant moment for Wales - it unlocks a real uplift in funding for the services that matter most to people, after some very tough years. "We have secured a financial package that will strengthen our NHS, reduce waiting times, support schools and help communities across Wales thrive, making a real difference to people's lives." Welsh Lib Dem leader Ms Dodds said she agreed with "those who are demanding better from their government", but said she was not prepared to see Wales's public services "lose £5bn worth of funding" if the budget vote failed. The Welsh Conservatives ' shadow finance secretary Sam Rowlands said his party "would instead focus on putting money back into Welsh people's pockets", including the creation of a Welsh Winter Fuel Allowance. Plaid Cymru's finance spokesperson Heledd Fychan said Wales needed "fresh thinking" and that her party had "long-term solutions to improve [the] NHS" and "grow [the] economy". At the next election, the number of Senedd members will increase from 60 to 90, with a more proportional voting system adopted. And with just over a year to go, politicians of every party will be keener than ever to make their case for Wales.
