Latest news with #SamRowlands
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Connah's Quay dentist to open in Flintshire in September
The North Wales health board confirmed that additional dental activity worth around £5.5m is being introduced across the region over the coming months. The new funding is in a bid to improve access to dental treatment in North Wales. A total of £4m has been spent on dental practices in Flint, Mold and Wrexham, as well as other areas across the region. BCUHB also confirmed that a new practice is set to open in Connah's Quay in September. Rachael Page, assistant director of primary care for BCUHB, said: 'We are pleased to announce that additional dental activity worth £5.5m is being introduced across the region over the coming months, as part of our ongoing efforts to improve access to dental treatment. 'Our latest round of commissioning includes £4m of additional general dental practice in Flint, Conwy, Bangor, Mold, Wrexham, Llanrwst, St Asaph and Abergele. 'Contracts have also been awarded to improve access to non-urgent dental sessions (Holyhead, St Asaph, Wrexham, Llandudno, Conwy, Abergele and Bangor), Orthodontic Services (Connah's Quay and Wrexham) and Tier 2 Oral Surgery (Amlwch and Bangor). 'Meanwhile a new dental practice in Connah's Quay is anticipated to open in September 2025, following our previous commissioning exercise. 'Further commissioning is anticipated, and as with previous exercises, this will prioritise those areas with greatest need.' MOST READ: Dad describes how joy turned to terror and panic at Liverpool victory parade Girl of the Year hopefuls strike a pose in photo look back Man who had 'large kitchen knife' in public among those sentenced in court The funding news has been welcomed by MS Sam Rowlands, who said: 'I am pleased to hear that the health board has listened to the campaign to improve access to dentistry and is allocating more funds to improve dental services, particularly in Flintshire and Wrexham. 'It is great to see money being spent in Wrexham, Flint and Mold and certainly good news for my constituents in those areas who struggle to find a dentist. 'I am also delighted to hear that a new dental practice is due to open in Connah's Quay in September.'
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Wales tourism tax timeline as proposals for changes get voted on
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Senedd members have been debating amendments to the Wales tourism tax - with a number of proposals shot down. If the bill completes its passage through the Welsh Parliament, £1.30 a person before VAT could be charged on overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites. The 22 Welsh councils would be given the powers to decide whether to introduce a local levy from 2027 at the earliest. The Welsh Tories wanted a 10-night cap on the levy as well as exemptions for educational trips, charities, members of the armed forces and veterans. They also wanted to exempt yachts and other boats from plans for a £1.30 a night visitor levy in the future. All these were voted down by members. A Plaid Cymru amendment to exempt all under 16s was also defeated. But Senedd members were able to agree other amendments, including an exemption for under 18s from the lower rate. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Sam Rowlands, the Tory shadow finance secretary, introduced an amendment to the tourism tax bill to remove powers for ministers to extend the levy to berths and moorings in future. He argued extending the bill to marinas would be unnecessarily complicated and burdensome, adding that boating is a leisure and sporting activity. He said: 'To be clear, those that provide berths and moorings are not providing visitor accommodation in any real sense. By their nature, those vessels… move around.' Mr Rowlands told Senedd members: 'It's quite clear that boaters have a minimal… impact on local services because they are self-contained within the berth or mooring area.' But Senedd members voted 3-1 against the Conservative's proposal as the finance committee considered nearly 160 amendments to the bill. Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: 'As I tell people quite regularly, we've got a marina there and I can tell you now – when people come in by boat into that marina, they don't stay in the marina… they go into the city centre and they use the services there.' Mr Hedges said: 'The council taxpayer of Swansea is covering those costs,' as he argued marinas should have been included in the bill from the outset. His Labour colleague Mark Drakeford agreed: 'It is right that [for] a yacht arriving at Swansea or Cardiff marina… the yacht owner should pay the levy just as somebody staying in a nearby hotel or the Cardiff council campsite in Pontcanna will be.' The first minister-turned-finance secretary said: 'I can see no case in principle why those visiting in boats and yachts should find themselves not captured by the levy.' Prof Drakeford explained: 'The bill, as the [Welsh] Government presents it, doesn't have a worked-up scheme for berths and moorings as Mike Hedges would have wished. But the complexity of it is real and was beyond our ability to resolve all that complexity in the bill itself. So, what the bill provides is a power to return to this issue in future when some of those practical challenges can have been more fully discussed.' Mr Rowlands responded: 'It does feel like an afterthought… for me, without the proper revision and understanding of this in the first instance, it shouldn't be in here at all.' Prof Drakeford described the Welsh Government's approach as more progressive and targeted, removing a large proportion of educational stays from the levy. He said: 'If you're going to narrow the [tax] base, the only way to compensate in terms of revenue... is by raising the levy charge on those who remain within the scope.' Members voted to raise the lower and higher rates by 5p to 80p and £1.30 respectively. The bill now moves to the third step: consideration of amendments by the whole Senedd: before a crunch vote on the final version at stage four. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
24-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Wales tourism tax timeline as proposals for changes get voted on
Senedd members have been debating amendments to the Wales tourism tax - with a number of proposals shot down. If the bill completes its passage through the Welsh Parliament, £1.30 a person before VAT could be charged on overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites. The 22 Welsh councils would be given the powers to decide whether to introduce a local levy from 2027 at the earliest. The Welsh Tories wanted a 10-night cap on the levy as well as exemptions for educational trips, charities, members of the armed forces and veterans. They also wanted to exempt yachts and other boats from plans for a £1.30 a night visitor levy in the future. All these were voted down by members. A Plaid Cymru amendment to exempt all under 16s was also defeated. But Senedd members were able to agree other amendments, including an exemption for under 18s from the lower rate. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Sam Rowlands, the Tory shadow finance secretary, introduced an amendment to the tourism tax bill to remove powers for ministers to extend the levy to berths and moorings in future. He argued extending the bill to marinas would be unnecessarily complicated and burdensome, adding that boating is a leisure and sporting activity. He said: 'To be clear, those that provide berths and moorings are not providing visitor accommodation in any real sense. By their nature, those vessels… move around.' Mr Rowlands told Senedd members: 'It's quite clear that boaters have a minimal… impact on local services because they are self-contained within the berth or mooring area.' But Senedd members voted 3-1 against the Conservative's proposal as the finance committee considered nearly 160 amendments to the bill. Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: 'As I tell people quite regularly, we've got a marina there and I can tell you now – when people come in by boat into that marina, they don't stay in the marina… they go into the city centre and they use the services there.' Mr Hedges said: 'The council taxpayer of Swansea is covering those costs,' as he argued marinas should have been included in the bill from the outset. His Labour colleague Mark Drakeford agreed: 'It is right that [for] a yacht arriving at Swansea or Cardiff marina… the yacht owner should pay the levy just as somebody staying in a nearby hotel or the Cardiff council campsite in Pontcanna will be.' The first minister-turned-finance secretary said: 'I can see no case in principle why those visiting in boats and yachts should find themselves not captured by the levy.' Prof Drakeford explained: 'The bill, as the [Welsh] Government presents it, doesn't have a worked-up scheme for berths and moorings as Mike Hedges would have wished. But the complexity of it is real and was beyond our ability to resolve all that complexity in the bill itself. So, what the bill provides is a power to return to this issue in future when some of those practical challenges can have been more fully discussed.' Mr Rowlands responded: 'It does feel like an afterthought… for me, without the proper revision and understanding of this in the first instance, it shouldn't be in here at all.' Prof Drakeford described the Welsh Government's approach as more progressive and targeted, removing a large proportion of educational stays from the levy. He said: 'If you're going to narrow the [tax] base, the only way to compensate in terms of revenue... is by raising the levy charge on those who remain within the scope.' Members voted to raise the lower and higher rates by 5p to 80p and £1.30 respectively. The bill now moves to the third step: consideration of amendments by the whole Senedd: before a crunch vote on the final version at stage four.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Labour considers imposing 5mph roads in Wales
Labour is considering cutting speed limits to 5mph, prompting fresh accusations of a 'war on motorists'. Jane Hutt, Welsh Labour's chief whip, said that lowering speed restrictions to the unprecedentedly low level could 'in some circumstances' be 'appropriate'. Ms Hutt was asked in the Senedd, the devolved parliament in Wales, whether the ruling Labour party would rule out cutting speed limits to 10mph, a suggestion made by a taxpayer-backed charity. In reply, Ms Hutt said: 'Well, clearly, road safety is about road safety, and it is interesting that that association did come forward with proposals, based on evidence, that in some circumstances, 10mph – let alone 10mph, 5mph – is appropriate in terms of road speeds. 'I think all the evidence has shown that the roll-out of the 20mph speed limit in Wales, as appropriately instigated by local authorities, has not only saved lives, cut insurance bills, but actually has now been welcomed by the people of Wales,' she added. The blanket reduction of most Welsh speed limits to 20mph, down from 30mph, is the single most unpopular policy in the 26-year history of Welsh devolution. A petition against it on the Welsh Government's website gained nearly half a million signatures – the largest ever recorded there – and forced the devolved minister behind the policy to step down from his frontbench post. 'A disaster for Wales' Sam Rowlands MS, the Welsh Conservatives' shadow transport and infrastructure secretary, said: 'Labour's 20mph speed limit has been a disaster for Wales and any consideration of lowering it further is ludicrous. 'The Labour-run Welsh Government is leading a war on motorists and slowing Wales down. 'The Welsh Conservatives are the only party in the Senedd committed to scrapping Labour's 20mph speed limit.' The 10mph proposal originated with the Road Safety Foundation (RSF), a taxpayer-sponsored charity. In a report titled 'Determining Safe Speeds', the charity claimed last week that 'the evidence-based maximum operating speeds on British roads if most deaths and life-changing injuries are to be avoided' should be set at 10mph around schools, hospitals and 'in the vicinity of major sports or social/cultural events'. Wales' devolved Labour Government pledged in 2022 to make the country's roads 'free from death and serious injury', a point the charity acknowledged in its report. Yet in a statement on Wednesday, RSF claimed its recommendations to politicians had been distorted, saying earlier media reports of its latest research 'damage… the understanding of the public'. Accounts filed with the Charity Commission show that an average of 69 per cent of RSF's total income over the five years to the end of 2023 came from government grants and contracts. Last year the charity received £712,530 from the taxpayer, making up 86.1 per cent of its total income for the year of £827,750.
Pembrokeshire Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Dead in the water: Tory call for yacht tourism tax exemption sinks
SENEDD Members torpedoed Conservative calls to exempt yachts and other boats from plans for a £1.30 a night tourism tax in Wales. Sam Rowlands, the Tory shadow finance secretary, introduced an amendment to the tourism tax bill to remove powers for ministers to extend the levy to berths and moorings in future. He argued extending the bill to marinas would be unnecessarily complicated and burdensome, adding that boating is a leisure and sporting activity. He said: 'To be clear, those that provide berths and moorings are not providing visitor accommodation in any real sense. By their nature, those vessels… move around.' Mr Rowlands told Senedd Members: 'It's quite clear that boaters have a minimal… impact on local services because they are self-contained within the berth or mooring area.' But Senedd Members voted 3-1 against the Conservative's proposal as the finance committee considered nearly 160 amendments to the bill. Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: 'As I tell people quite regularly, we've got a marina there and I can tell you now – when people come in by boat into that marina, they don't stay in the marina… they go into the city centre and they use the services there.' Sam Rowlands MS, right, with Mike Hedges MS Mr Hedges said: 'The council taxpayer of Swansea is covering those costs,' as he argued marinas should have been included in the bill from the outset. His Labour colleague Mark Drakeford agreed: 'It is right that [for] a yacht arriving at Swansea or Cardiff marina… the yacht owner should pay the levy just as somebody staying in a nearby hotel or the Cardiff council campsite in Pontcanna will be.' The First Minister-turned-finance secretary said: 'I can see no case in principle why those visiting in boats and yachts should find themselves not captured by the levy.' Prof Drakeford explained: 'The bill, as the [Welsh] Government presents it, doesn't have a worked-up scheme for berths and moorings as Mike Hedges would have wished. 'But the complexity of it is real and was beyond our ability to resolve all that complexity in the bill itself. So, what the bill provides is a power to return to this issue in future when some of those practical challenges can have been more fully discussed.' Finance secretary Mark Drakeford Mr Rowlands responded: 'It does feel like an afterthought… for me, without the proper revision and understanding of this in the first instance, it shouldn't be in here at all.' If the bill completes its passage through the Welsh Parliament, £1.30 a person before VAT could be charged on overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites, with the 22 Welsh councils given powers to decide whether to introduce a local levy from 2027 at the earliest. The committee also rejected Tory calls for a ten-night cap on the levy as well as exemptions for educational trips, charities, members of the armed forces and veterans. A Plaid Cymru amendment to exempt all under 16s was also defeated. But Senedd Members were able to agree other amendments, including an exemption for under-18s from the lower rate, during the 'stage-two' meeting on May 15. Prof Drakeford described the Welsh Government's approach as more progressive and targeted, removing a large proportion of educational stays from the levy. He said: 'If you're going to narrow the [tax] base, the only way to compensate in terms of revenue… is by raising the levy charge on those who remain within the scope.' Members voted to raise the lower and higher rates by 5p to 80p and £1.30 respectively. The bill now moves to the third step: consideration of amendments by the whole Senedd: before a crunch vote on the final version at stage four.
