30 Political News
THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015
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Tourism in Wales has strong and confident future
Local Assembly Members calling for Autism Act
PEMBROKESHIRE’S two
Overseas visitors: Numbers expected to rise DEPUTY MINSTER for Culture,
Sport and Tourism Ken Skates has outlined how tourism in Wales is in a strong position and looking forward to 2015 with renewed confidence and vigour.
Deputy Minister Ken Skates told
Te Herald: “Recent figures speak for themselves. We’ve seen that overseas visitors to Wales increased by 14% in the first nine months of 2014 which shows that we are ahead of the game in
attracting overseas visitors as markets recover and we’ve also seen an increase in our market share of domestic visitors. “We look forward to building on
the success of 2014 and to welcoming more visitors to Wales during 2015.”
Don’t ignore Welsh public in TV debates polling day. The letters were sent after Leanne Wood PLAID CYMRU Leader
Leanne Wood has today written to the major broadcasters to ask they include a Welsh debate in their schedule to prevent a “democratic deficit” developing. In the letter, Ms Wood AM said
Welsh people had a right to scrutinise political party leaders on Welsh matters and UK matters from a Welsh perspective ahead of General Election
unconfirmed media reports said that revised televised debates were being drawn up to include the Green Party and the SNP in a Scottish televised debate, but not Plaid Cymru. While Ms Wood welcomed any proposal to include these political parties in a new format, she said it was vital that the Welsh electorate is not denied the opportunity that other people in the UK will be granted to scrutinise their political parties. The letters follow on from Ms
Wood writing to the three main UK party leaders challenging them to a debate in Wales ahead of the General Election. In the letter to the broadcasters,
Ms Wood AM wrote: “All indications are that the election in May will result in a situation of no overall control in which case there is a possibility that Plaid Cymru, along with the SNP
in Scotland and the Green party in England, will hold the balance of power.
“It is an important democratic principle that the public in this election should be presented with a clear picture of the choice that they face on polling day and I believe you have a duty as a broadcaster to ensure that the leaders’ debates reflect the political choices offered to voters in all nations of the UK. “People in Wales have a right to scrutinise all parties that could have an impact on their lives after this election, and failure to include Plaid Cymru would amount to a democratic deficit.”
She added: “We know from the experience of 2010 that the TV Leaders Debates have an influence on the election result and it would therefore be unacceptable if Plaid Cymru were denied the opportunity to take part.”
Consultation on future of Welsh apprenticeships that need.
JULIE JAMES, Deputy
Minister for Skills and Technology, has published a consultation today (22 January) on aligning apprenticeship
programmes
in Wales with the needs of the economy.
Over 51,000 people are on apprenticeship schemes across the country. The consultation will look at raising course standards, ensuring programmes meet employer need and increasing demand for Welsh- medium provision. The
Deputy Minister said:
“The future economy is likely to be increasingly characterised by a growth in jobs that require higher level qualifications and skills. Our apprenticeships need to respond to
“I want to ensure that our
investment provides us with the best possible skills acquisition for the Welsh workforce. The programme must have ongoing relevance for a new generation of young people growing up in a technological age. At the same time it needs to be balanced with employer demands and the ongoing financial constraints facing government. “We
want an apprenticeship
programme that is highly regarded by employers, individuals and parents. Part of the consultation will look at the role employers play in designing apprenticeship programmes.” The Deputy Minister explained: “Raising the level of investment
Assembly Members have raised concerns over, what they say, are a lack of services for people diagnosed with Autism. Jointly, Paul Davies and Angela Burns stated that they believe that throughout Wales, services are patchy with, as they claimed, 96% of adults saying that there is a lack of services, professional understanding, inflexible systems and a lack of knowledge on how to access support’. Paul Davies said: “Sadly, for some
children in Pembrokeshire, they can start their education at four and be approaching eleven years of age and beginning receiving
secondary school an appropriate before diagnosis
for autism – and that is unacceptable. Indeed, the local NAS branch tell us that the wait for diagnosis is growing and could soon be 8-9 years. Therefore it’s essential that the Welsh Government brings forward an Autism Act for Wales which would see duties placed on local authorities to make sure that every council is taking the right steps to give children and adults in Wales the care and support they deserve.
Whilst
always the answer, in this particular case, it’s important that
legislation is not this is put
on a statutory basis to tackle the inconsistencies in provision across the Country”
Angela Burns, added to his
in skills is an essential part of our drive towards a more internationally competitive workforce in Wales. The design of our new apprenticeship programme plays an important role in achieving this goal. “We want employers to contribute to developing apprenticeships that meet business needs and we are particularly keen to hear from the science, technology, engineering and mathematic sectors.” The consultation is seeking the views of employers, apprentices, training providers and those involved in the design and delivery of apprenticeships in Wales. It is open until 24 April and details can be found on the Welsh Government website.
concerns: “I’m instinctively against endless legislation but I think the case for an Autism Act to help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our Society is clear. Over the past few years I have dealt with some shocking cases where young children and their parents are left to flounder, where assessments are not made until years of a child’s life have been squandered and where exhausted parents lurch from battle to battle fighting for the best for their child. I have cases of adults struggling with the world and then receiving an autism diagnosis in their 20s or later, a diagnosis which
Autism A ct: AM calls for action
could have made such a difference to their lives if given much earlier or which should have, but often doesn’t, unlock the care they need.” However, a Welsh Government spokesperson responded: “Wales was the first country in the UK to have an autism action plan and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with autism and their families and carers. We are currently working with the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) stakeholder advisory group and will publish our future priorities for action in first few months of this year.” The National Autistic Society cites
the Assembly action plan, saying: “The
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) Action Plan was launched by the Welsh Government in April 2008. It introduced specific guidelines on autism for local agencies, including local
authorities and local health
boards for the first time. Wales was the first administration within the UK to adopt a strategy for autism”. Three key actions set out in the action plan are: 1. The appointment of someone who will take responsibility for autism in each local authority 2.
The establishing of a local stakeholder group in each council area, to plan and development services, which should include parents and carers and people with autism. 3. The development of a local autism action plan
£3m for skills training JULIE JAMES AM, Deputy
Minister for Skills and Technology has announced how almost £3 million will be spent on training, the Welsh Government has said. The
new Flexible Skills
Programme will receive £2.4 million to support the skills and employment needs of companies that play a strategic role in the economy. It is estimated 60 companies will
receive funding and benefit 3,200 people. And £500,000 will support apprenticeships in the care sector with health match funding this will allow around 700 people to take up apprenticeships in this sector. Deputy Minister Julie James told
The Herald: “The allocation of these funds is another illustration of the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting the economy.”
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