Latest news with #HuwIrrancaDavies
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'I personally cannot wait to continue moving in the right direction'
In the first year since Labour won the General Election, I've spent as much time as possible visiting residents across Newport West and Islwyn. As Newport West and Islwyn was announced as a new constituency ahead of the 2024 election, I've been focusing my surgery sessions on the Islwyn side, holding extremely productive conversations in areas such as Argoed, Abercarn, and Blackwood. As well as surgeries, however, I've also been out and about visiting vital community groups, charities, businesses and attending other local events. The most recent of which was Mount Pleasant Primary School in Rogerstone. It was wonderful to present awards to the children at the school, who had been recognised by the community council for their schoolwork surrounding British TV. Reflecting on the past 12 months, I was thrilled to hear the news that around 100 new jobs for residents in Newport West and Islwyn are set to be created at British Airways seat manufacturer, Safran, during a visit to their base in Marshfield. Job creation is something both UK Labour and Welsh Labour has at the forefront of its mind, highlighted during my visit to Newport's semiconductor plant with chancellor Rachel Reeves, and deputy First Minister of Wales, Huw Irranca-Davies. It's predicted the world-class facility will directly support more than 500 highly skilled jobs thanks to a multi-million-pound investment from the UK Government. With Parliament breaking for summer recess next week, this will give me a greater opportunity and more time to meet with people in the community, tackling important issues, and helping build on existing relationships. A good example of that work came earlier this year in Peterstone, where I met with Newport City Council leader Dimitri Batrouni to discuss the amazing community action group who are looking to save the Six Bells Pub. Looking towards the future for a moment, as well as hosting regular monthly surgeries throughout the summer, we have lots of hard work to do both locally and as nationally, and I personally can't wait to continue moving in the right direction under this Labour Government. A year on from the election, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all the voters and the Labour members who supported me in the campaign and continue to support me now. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the fact that an ordinary girl like me from Duffryn High School can represent the people of our community in Parliament is something that I will never take for granted. If you'd like me to visit your group or business in Newport West and Islwyn, then please do get in touch via Ruth Jones is MP for Newport West and Islwyn.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ofwat scrapped as Wales to get own water watchdog
Wales is to have its own water watchdog, the Welsh and UK governments have comes after a review called for the system for regulating water companies to be overhauled and the body that does the job for England and Wales now, is to be Welsh government will have to decide if a new organisation will be set up or whether Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will take on the role. Former Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said more powers was the last thing the "failed" Welsh environmental quango review said water remained a sensitive issue in Wales because of the flooding of Tryweryn in the 1960s, and that a Welsh regulator would better reflect the priorities in the government climate change secretary Huw Irranca-Davies said he intended "to progress the commission's recommendation for a separate independent economic regulator for Wales". The Independent Water Commission carried out the largest review of the sector since it was privatised, following widespread concerns over pollution, bills and bosses' 88 recommendations, it called for the system that regulates water companies to be replaced with a body for Wales and a body for review said Wales' water system was "distinct and unique"."Water holds deep cultural significance in Wales, and it remains a sensitive issue, particularly due to historical events such as the creation of the Treweryn reservoir," it village of Capel Celyn was flooded in 1965 for the benefit of drinking water for Liverpool, despite 35 of 36 Welsh MPs having voted against it. The review said the pressure facing the Welsh water system was different to England, with a higher proportion of land used for added a new regulator for Welsh water companies could be integrated into NRW, or could be a stand-alone body."This would be a significant development, which would ensure that economic regulation of Welsh water companies better reflects the priorities and context of Wales," it review said NRW, which already acts as Wales' environment watchdog, should also have stronger enforcement customers in Wales are served by the not-for-profit company Welsh Water, with some served by Hafren Dyfrydwy, part of Severn Trent. In abolishing Ofwat, UK government environment secretary Steven Reed promised that households would "never again" face major water bill a statement, the Westminster administration said it would "work closely with the Welsh government to devolve economic regulation of water to Wales".Irranca-Davies said it was a "once in a generation opportunity to reset arrangements created before devolution". Expressing concerns about the prospect of NRW taking control, Andrew RT Davies said: "Of the top 20 polluted most polluted rivers in England, five are in Wales – this happened on Senedd ministers' watch."Senedd ministers must take responsibility for failings in the water industry in Wales – NRW should not be granted more powers, instead it should be closed and replaced."
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Swansea flood defence and promenade 'like the Med' unveiled
A major project aimed at protecting a large part of the shoreline near Swansea has officially £26m project, which took two years to complete, covers 1.2km (0.75 miles) in Mumbles, aiming to protect homes and businesses from coastal flooding, while also resulting in a wider, more attractive owners had previously said the work had led to fewer people visiting, but now hope it will boost visitor numbers. Swansea council leader Rob Stewart said the new-look promenade "can rival anything in the Mediterranean". Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who grew up in nearby Gowerton, unveiled a plaque on the promenade, describing it as "magnificent".A recent Met Office report revealed that the UK sea level is rising faster than the global average, with the risk of flooding expected to increase. Irranca-Davies, who is responsible for climate change and rural affairs, said there was a set of criteria for prioritising coastal defence schemes based on social and economic factors."We cannot defend every inch of seafront and coastline," he Bollom, who lives nearby, said some neighbours living on the ground floor had lost some views of the bay, but understood the work needed to be done."It looks amazing," she said of the seawall and promenade. "And I would rather not get flooded. The old seawall was eroding and it looked scruffy," she said, adding there were new seats and bins. Lily Ella Westacott, manager of local lifestyle shop Hiatus, was also pleased with the project."It's a big improvement to the local environment and we're confident it'll bring more people to enjoy Mumbles."Mr Stewart, from Swansea council, said the project would defend residents and businesses in the area "for the next 100 years"."It also gives them a fantastic new seafront that can rival anything in the Mediterranean," he said.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Welsh bottle returns to start in 2027
Wales' bottle and can return scheme will launch at the same time as the rest of the UK's on 1 October 2027 after a rethink in Cardiff - but without glass being fully part of it at the Welsh government had planned to go it alone and stay out of a UK scheme after it failed to convince the UK government to include glass, but ministers appear to have backed means consumers will be able to be refunded for returning drinks containers from the same date as in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, if they are plastic or while glass will be collected at the start, customers will not be refunded for the bottles they hand over. Deposit return schemes (DRS) try to promote the recycling and reuse of bottles and cans by offering money or vouchers for their the scheme a deposit will be added to the cost of a drink, which can be refunded when it is Wales was told that whilst glass will be collected as part of the scheme, the refundable deposit will not be Welsh government says this will allow for a "grace period" until the deposit comes into date has been given for when that grace period will end. Officials say it will allow "time for industry to adapt labelling, production, and distribution systems".In a statement Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said he had listened to "industry concerns" and would align with the UK's plans. The Welsh government decided not to join a UK-wide DRS scheme last year after it tried and failed to get the then-new UK Labour government to agree to glass being part of the UK government has stuck to a decision by the previous Conservative administration, which had opposed glass' inclusion due to difficulties it said would be caused to the drinks a result, it was not clear when Wales' new scheme would actually start - with the Welsh government having said it would be later than 2027. In a written statement to the Senedd last week, Irranca-Davies said: "We have heard clearly from industry that the scenario where a scheme is introduced in the other parts of the UK, with no scheme in place in Wales, carries the greatest risk of operational complexity and associated costs."I have therefore set out to industry that we are willing to accelerate our implementation timetable to align with the rest of the UK, which would provide for interoperability between common materials."He added: "Glass remains in scope of our scheme, as this means that in Wales, we will be able to begin to roll-out reuse as a core part of the scheme."In a further statement, the Welsh government said the Wales DRS will be in place by 1 October reusable drinks containers, understood to be plastics and cans, a spokesperson said "these will be phased Wales wide following a large-scale reuse trial which will build on the DRS trials that we have already undertaken in Wales"."For single-use glass: glass will be collected from day one of the scheme in Wales, but without deposit being applied initially," the spokesperson added."This arrangement allows a grace period which avoids the need for immediate changes to labelling, production, or distribution systems, helping to ensure a smooth transition for all participants." The statement from the Welsh government attracted a negative response from major industry British Retail Consortium, British Soft Drinks Association, British Beer and Pub Association and Natural Source Water Association welcomed the intention to align with the rest of the UK on bottles and they said they were "disappointed" the Welsh government was "still committed to forging its own path by including single-use glass drinks bottles from October 2027, a move which will significantly increase the cost and complexity of developing such a scheme while failing to deliver the environmental benefits a well-run DRS should deliver".
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wales' news Sustainable Farming Scheme absolutely right, minister says
A new flagship farming policy is "absolutely the right scheme", according to Wales' agriculture ahead of its launch, Huw Irranca-Davies said he was "hopeful it will land to a good reception", even though he conceded "there will be the odd person" who wished it had been done second iteration of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and the rate of payment farmers can expect for joining it is due to be announced next week, after unions and farmers rejected the original scheme, staging plans included a requirement for farmers to plant trees on 10% of their land to qualify for subsidies, but they claimed that could lead to huge job cuts. Farming union NFU Cymru want "at least the same level of stability to farm business, rural communities and supply chains" as the current scheme, known as the Basic Payment Welsh government has been holding roundtable discussions with farming leaders, as well as environmental and nature campaigners, to revise the plan which it hopes will make farming businesses sustainable and help to reach its 2030 climate and nature targets. Irranca-Davies, Wales' deputy first minister and secretary for rural affairs and the environment, said the final scheme was "the result of more than 12 months of intense work" involving farming unions, meat, livestock and dairy sectors as well as environmental groups "to get the balance".Although he would not give any detail about the scheme, he told BBC Politics Wales it was "going to be unlike anything else that's been delivered in the UK"."It'll be a whole farm approach and a whole nation approach that delivers for the people of Wales," he said."They want to see farming that produces good food to high animal welfare standards and also does the right thing for the environment."The minister would not commit to publishing an impact assessment of the final iteration as he said work was assessment of the first iteration of the scheme predicted 5,500 jobs would be lost and livestock numbers would be the government is also under pressure from environmentalists to ensure that the plan is 80% of Wales' landscape is under the care of farmers, it is also argued they have a key role to play in helping the effort to tackle climate change and the losses in nature. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said it was "imperative that the revised scheme and budget attached to the SFS avoids such a shocking impact on one of Wales' iconic sectors". "The SFS must work for all farming sectors and areas of Wales and help ensure that Welsh farming can continue to underpin the £9.3bn food and farming supply chain," he about the impact assessment, Irranca-Davies said his "feeling was that it'll be better" for both "viable farm businesses and environmental benefits as well".Again refusing to pre-empt the announcement, he said there would be mitigations in order to ensure those in agriculture would not be left behind as Wales moves towards a greener economy with "real subtleties" within the scheme that would be Cymru's Delyth Jewell MS said: "I think there has been frustrations for a long time that lots of people in the farming community feel they haven't been heard. "We have to make sure - these are people who sustain our lives - we need to make sure their lives are made sustainable too."Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar MS said he wanted to see the policy voted on by politicians to ensure "democratic legitimacy" for the plan."We've got to make sure that the new scheme has food security at its heart, and that it will actually deliver the sustainable future for our farmers that they need," he said.
