Latest news with #WalesOffice
South Wales Argus
26-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport MP leads calls for women's centre to be opened
The call comes after the Independent Sentencing Review recommended more sustainable and long-term funding for women's centres. The centres are said to "play a critical role in directing female offenders in the criminal justice system to valued practical and emotional help." Ruth Jones, chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee and Newport West & Islwyn MP, said: "Keeping women near to their families and loved ones is vital for successful rehabilitation and reducing reoffending. "Hearing the first-hand experiences of Welsh female offenders at HMP Eastwood Park in England made it undoubtedly clear how much a women's centre in Wales could change lives. "The Independent Sentencing Review highlighted the benefits of providing more sustainable and long-term funding to women's centres. "It's high time that Welsh women be afforded equivalent support within their communities as that provided to their English counterparts and the Government should move quickly to open the planned Swansea centre." Currently, there is no women's prison in Wales, meaning Welsh female offenders are often held in prisons that are a significant distance from family, friends, and community services. The committee intends to analyse the report's findings through the course of its prisons, probation, and rehabilitation inquiry. The Welsh Affairs Committee is responsible for scrutinising the expenditure, administration, and policies of the Wales Office, and the policies of the UK Government as a whole that have an impact in Wales.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tories want apology over Jo Stevens Budget tweet
The Welsh secretary should apologise for "politicising" civil servants in a post about the UK government's Budget on the Wales Office's X account, say the Conservatives. They complained to the cabinet secretary – the top civil servant at Westminster – after Jo Stevens' post said the Budget "delivered for Wales for the first time in a generation". The chief executive of the UK Government Communication Service agreed the post "could have been phrased better" and said he had spoken to the Wales Office. The Wales Office said the matter was discussed with its director to "ensure continued compliance with guidelines". Tories demand apology over Welsh secretary video Labour demand formal probe over Welsh Tory video Official resources should not be used for party political purposes, under the Civil Service Code. In her letter to the cabinet secretary, Conservative shadow secretary of state for Wales Mims Davies said: "I am sure you will agree we simply cannot have taxpayer-funded resources being misappropriated on these types of messages and your civil servants being actively political inside departments, and perhaps under pressure to message this way." She went on to ask for what was being done to investigate the secretary of state and her officials. In reply, Simon Baugh, chief executive of the Government Communication Service said: "In this particular case, while the text of the post echoed a short section of a HM Treasury press release, I acknowledge that it could have been better phrased, and I have discussed the matter with the Wales Office." In a statement following the exchange of letters Davies said: "We now need the secretary of state for Wales to step up and apologise for this conduct in politicising our impartial civil servants." This is not the first time that Conservatives have clashed with Jo Stevens over the use of social media. In October last year Davies's predecessor, Byron Davies, complained about a different social media post on the Wales Office account, which he said broke civil service code, and brought the government department into disrepute. The Wales Office said it had done "nothing improper in expressing regret about the previous administration". Earlier in the year, Stevens called for a formal investigation into the then Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and accused him of breaching rules of behaviour for ministers. She said he had recorded a video attacking plans to increase the size of the Senedd in his government office. The ministerial code says they should not generally be used for party or constituency activities. At the time a UK government source said that the video was recorded inside for security reasons. A Wales Office spokesperson said the government department "follows guidance set out by the Government Communication Service and mandatory training is undertaken on the use of social media on official government channels". "The post in question highlighted how the UK government is investing in Wales. "This matter has been discussed with the Wales Office director to ensure continued compliance with guidelines."
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Conservatives want apology for Jo Stevens Budget tweet
The Welsh secretary should apologise for "politicising" civil servants in a post about the UK government's Budget on the Wales Office's X account, say the complained to the cabinet secretary – the top civil servant at Westminster – after Jo Stevens' post said the Budget "delivered for Wales for the first time in a generation".The chief executive of the UK Government Communication Service agreed the post "could have been phrased better" and said he had spoken to the Wales Office. The Wales Office said the matter was discussed with its director to "ensure continued compliance with guidelines". Official resources should not be used for party political purposes, under the Civil Service her letter to the cabinet secretary, Conservative shadow secretary of state for Wales Mims Davies said:"I am sure you will agree we simply cannot have taxpayer-funded resources being misappropriated on these types of messages and your civil servants being actively political inside departments, and perhaps under pressure to message this way."She went on to ask for what was being done to investigate the secretary of state and her reply, Simon Baugh, chief executive of the Government Communication Service said: "In this particular case, while the text of the post echoed a short section of a HM Treasury press release, I acknowledge that it could have been better phrased, and I have discussed the matter with the Wales Office."In a statement following the exchange of letters Davies said: "We now need the secretary of state for Wales to step up and apologise for this conduct in politicising our impartial civil servants." This is not the first time that Conservatives have clashed with Jo Stevens over the use of social October last year Davies's predecessor, Byron Davies, complained about a different social media post on the Wales Office account, which he said broke civil service code, and brought the government department into Wales Office said it had done "nothing improper in expressing regret about the previous administration".Earlier in the year, Stevens called for a formal investigation into the then Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and accused him of breaching rules of behaviour for said he had recorded a video attacking plans to increase the size of the Senedd in his government ministerial code says they should not generally be used for party or constituency the time a UK government source said that the video was recorded inside for security reasons.A Wales Office spokesperson said the government department "follows guidance set out by the Government Communication Service and mandatory training is undertaken on the use of social media on official government channels"."The post in question highlighted how the UK government is investing in Wales. "This matter has been discussed with the Wales Office director to ensure continued compliance with guidelines."
