Latest news with #WelshAffairsCommittee
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
MPs to quiz farming bodies on Brexit impact and trade deals
On Wednesday, June 5, the Welsh Affairs Committee will hold its first evidence session for the inquiry, "Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and Opportunities." The session will take place at 2.30pm in Committee Room 6 at the Palace of Westminster. The committee, chaired by Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, will hear from three of Wales's largest farming representative bodies: National Farmers' Union Cymru, Farmers' Union of Wales, and Wales Young Farmers Clubs. According to the committee's agenda, the MPs will delve into the performance of the Welsh agricultural export market since the UK's departure from the EU. The recently announced UK-EU deal, including the veterinary agreement and its implications for Welsh farmers, will also be on the agenda. Further scrutiny will be given to the trade agreements the UK has inked with Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, to assess their effects on Welsh exporters. The committee may discuss with witnesses the potential impact of the UK Government's proposed inheritance tax reforms on the sector, and what measures should be implemented to protect the future of Welsh farmers. Other points of discussion are expected to include the "Barnettisation" of agricultural funding in the chancellor's autumn budget, as well as concerns about Welsh farmers' access to skilled and seasonal labour. The session will be available to watch live on starting at 2.30pm, with Aled Jones, Gareth Parry, and Dominic Hampson-Smith providing evidence.
Wales Online
7 days ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Calls for controversial centre for female offenders in Welsh city to be prioritised
Calls for controversial centre for female offenders in Welsh city to be prioritised Planning permission for the controversial centre is in place The Trehafod building, Cockett, where plans to convert and extend it into a women's residential centre were approved on appeal (Image: Richard Youle ) A residential centre for female offenders should be prioritised in Swansea, an MP has said. Ruth Jones, chairwoman of the Welsh Affairs Committee, called on Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, to press ahead with plans set out by the previous Conservative Government for such a facility in Cockett. The proposed residential centre at the Trehafod building, which is within the grounds of the Cefn Coed Coed Hospital site, would provide support for up to 12 low-level female offenders and be staffed 24/7 by the prison and probation service. Supporters say centres like this are more effective and a cheaper way of reducing re-offending than short prison sentences. But the plans to convert and extend the Trehafod building into a new centre led to 215 letters of objection and were turned down by the council's planning committee in 2022 against advice from officers. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here Welsh Affairs Committee chairwoman Ruth Jones MP (Image: Mark Lewis Photography ) The Ministry of Justice successfully appealed the refusal decision and, speaking in August 2023, it said it planned to open the centre in 2024. This didn't happen, and a new Labour Government came to power at last July's general election. Article continues below Last week an independent sentencing review commissioned by the Labour Government said, among other things, that more sustainable and long-term funding should be made available for women's centres. These centres, it said, played a "critical role" in offering valuable practical and emotional help. Newport West and Islwyn Labour MP Ms Jones, whose select committee is holding an inquiry into prisons, probation and rehabilitation in Wales, cited the review's findings in her letter to Ms Mahmood. "The lack of a women's prison in Wales means that Welsh female offenders are often held in prisons that are a significant distance from their family, friends, and the support services they will need to engage with once they return to their communities," said the letter. "My committee calls on the UK Government to accept the review's recommendations relating to the adequate funding of women's centres across England and Wales, and to prioritise getting the Swansea site operational as soon as possible." Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood (Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing ) The Ministry of Justice said Ms Mahmood welcomed the independent sentencing review's findings on female offenders and had established a women's justice board to reduce the number of women in prison. Article continues below Asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service if the planned residential centre in Cockett would open and if so roughly when, the Ministry of Justice said it was considering next steps. A ministry spokesman said: "The prison system this government inherited is not working for most women. The (women's justice) board will publish a strategy document in due course, looking at options to better support women in the community and cut re-offending."
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.
South Wales Argus
16-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
MPs to hear from Welsh universities amid funding concerns
Vice-chancellors and top representatives from the country's nine universities are scheduled for a one-off session of the Welsh Affairs Committee, addressing financial difficulties and future sustainability of Welsh universities. The meeting comes after Cardiff University announced in January, that it would need to cut jobs and scrap departments due to a shortage of funds. Since then, it has reduced the proposed staff cuts from 400 to 286, after consultations, with the final decision to be announced soon. The session aims to discuss possible assistance the UK Government could provide, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, to help secure a sustainable future for the sector. Other matters that are up for discussion include research funding, international student numbers impacted by immigration policies, and non-devolved policies affecting higher education. Ruth Jones MP, who chairs the Welsh Affairs Committee, stressed the importance of universities in the country. "Universities are not just important places of learning and employment for so many students and staff, but are at the heart of communities up and down Wales," she said. "Their future health is crucial. "The proposals announced by Cardiff University earlier this year brought into sharp focus the challenges the sector is grappling with and our session will be a chance to explore whether the UK Government and others can do more to help them and universities across Wales secure a sustainable future." The meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 25.
Business News Wales
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
MPs to Hear from Vice-Chancellors on Challenges Facing Universities in Wales
Vice-chancellors or senior representatives from Wales' nine universities are to appear before MPs in a one-off session examining the current financial and other challenges faced by the higher education sector. The Welsh Affairs Committee hearing next month will explore the steps the UK Government could take with the universities and the Welsh Government to ensure a sustainable future for the sector, following announcements at the start of the year of planned job losses and course cuts at universities in Wales. In January Cardiff University outlined proposals to cut 400 staff and scrap some departments amid a funding shortfall. The university has been consulting on the plans and the number has now been reduced to 286. A final decision on proposals is due to be outlined shortly before the Committee's session. University of Wales Trinity Saint David also announced plans in January to end undergraduate teaching at its Lampeter campus. The session will have a particular focus on the role of the UK Government in supporting universities, with research funding and immigration policy affecting international student numbers, among aspects of non-devolved policy impacting higher education. Ruth Jones MP, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, said: 'Universities are not just important places of learning and employment for so many students and staff, but are at the heart of communities up and down Wales. Their future health is crucial. The proposals announced by Cardiff University earlier this year brought into sharp focus the challenges the sector is grappling with and our session will be a chance to explore whether the UK Government and others can do more to help them and universities across Wales secure a sustainable future.' The session will take place on Wednesday 25 June. The following universities have been invited to attend: Aberystwyth University Bangor University Cardiff University Cardiff Metropolitan University Open University in Wales University of South Wales Swansea University University of Wales Trinity St David Wrexham University
