Wrexham AM calls for “think small” ethos on public sector contracts

A Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly is calling for European procurement rules to be changed, to allow smaller Welsh firms to compete for and win public sector contracts in order to boost Wales’ economy.

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths wants Brussels to be more flexible in the rules it sets in the competition for larger public contracts and has called on the Welsh Assembly Government to make representations to the UK Government to argue the case within the EU for changes to be made.

Ms Griffiths believes such amendments would benefit hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Wales during the current economic downturn and would help saving thousands of jobs in the process.

The AM has called on the UK Government – who act on behalf of Wales in EU negotiations – to ensure the European Union adopts a “think small” ethos by allowing smaller firms to bid for public contracts.

Wrexham AM calls for “change in culture” in Wales to boost entrepreneurship

A Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly, has called for a “change in culture” in Wales, to create the right conditions to allow entrepreneurship to flourish.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, who made her call during a debate in the Senedd on priorities for a new Welsh economy, believes that the time has come for Wales to have less dependence on industry sectors such as agriculture and instead – with support from the Welsh Government – create a more business-friendly environment to allow small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to “take root” and grow.

The debate provided Assembly Members with an opportunity to look forward at how the Welsh economy has to adapt in order to become more competitive, more innovative and more ‘green’ in the future.

In her speech, Lesley Griffiths told colleagues:

Griffiths welcomes pledge to support Welsh social workers

A Labour Assembly Member has welcomed a pledge by a Welsh Government Minister to look at ways of removing pay differentials for Welsh social workers, in a bid to give the profession a much needed boost and make it more attractive to new recruits.

Wrexham AM, Lesley Griffiths, raised the issue in a Question in the National Assembly to Health and Social Services Minister, Edwina Hart.

The AM wants social worker pay – which varies between local authorities in Wales – to be ‘ironed out’ as a way of encouraging people to stay in the profession and also for it to attract young people to take up social work as a career.

ProAct scheme – “Imitation the best form of flattery” says Wrexham AM

Moves by other parts of the UK to replicate the Welsh Government’s hugely successful ProAct scheme have been welcomed by a Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, made her remarks in a Question to Welsh First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, in the National Assembly, in which she raised the recent joint-statement by the Federation of Small Business in Scotland and the Scottish Trades Union Congress, which urged the Scottish Government to copy the actions taken by its Welsh counterpart in introducing the ProAct scheme to save Welsh jobs.

ProAct was established by the Welsh Government to help companies avert redundancies during the economic downturn by helping businesses use “quiet time” to develop staff skills ready for the upturn.

In her question to the First Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“Welsh football will rue day it agreed to Team GB” – Wrexham AM

An agreement between the four Home Football Associations to enable a Team GB side – comprising of exclusively English players – to take to the field at the London 2012 Olympics remains fraught with danger for Welsh football, according to a Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, was commenting after it was announced that a proposal – agreed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the Scottish Football Association, the Irish Football Association and the Football Association – had been submitted to FIFA that a team made up of only English players would play under the Team GB banner at the London Olympics.

All four Associations have agreed that Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish players will not play any part in this team.

However, Ms Griffiths – an outspoken opponent of Wales playing any part in the Team GB concept at London 2012 – believes the arrangement between the four Football Associations still contains real and genuine risks for the independent status of Welsh football at an international level in the future

Welsh councils must “change their mindset” to meet future challenges

A Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly has told Welsh local authorities they will have to “change their current mindset” to meet future challenges in delivering effective services for the people of Wales.

Wrexham AM, Lesley Griffiths, made her remarks following a Question in the National Assembly to Local Government Minister, Dr Brian Gibbons in which she raised the need for Welsh councils to adapt to meet efficiency savings and how they deliver services in the coming years.

In her Question to the Minister in the National Assembly, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“One of the biggest challenges facing local councils over the coming months will be how they collectively focus on the real challenges that come with justifying the continuation of 22 local authorities delivering near duplicate and identical services to a population of just 3 million people.

Wrexham AM urges police to uphold law on fox hunting

A Labour Assembly Member is urging Welsh police forces to uphold and enforce the 2004 Hunting Act, which bans fox hunting with dogs.

Wrexham AM, Lesley Griffiths, made her remarks following news that under new guidance issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), police forces could stop monitoring hunts – which could leave the door open for hunts to act illegally.

The new guidance states that gathering evidence of illegal hunting is difficult for police forces. The organisation claims that the ban is hard to enforce and that Chief Constables have more pressing priorities to pursue.

Under ACPO’s new guidance – which was approved by the senior officers last week – hunts will also no longer be required to inform police in advance of the time, the place and the planned route for hunt meetings.

Commenting on the new policy, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“Assembly should have greater say on EU decisions” – Labour AM

The Welsh Assembly should have a greater say in shaping laws and decisions made by the EU in areas of devolved responsibility, a Labour AM has claimed.

Wrexham’s Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, believes there is a “democratic deficit” affecting Wales when it comes to legislation emanating from the European Union – a deficit that could be narrowed by allowing Assembly Members to scrutinise EU Directives and regulations that directly affect areas of responsibility devolved to Cardiff Bay.

The AM believes it is nonsensical for MPs to scrutinise EU matters relating to health and education, when such matters are devolved to the Welsh Assembly.

Commenting on her call, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“New economic ethos should serve Wales in the future” – Wrexham AM

The Welsh Assembly Government should consider using its all-Wales Economic Summit format, to serve the Welsh economy long after the current downturn has ended, according to one Labour Assembly Member.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, made her call in a Question to Welsh First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, in the National Assembly.

In her question to the First Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“Last week, we had an update in the Chamber following the fifth all-Wales economic summit, held on 7th April. The summit addressed contemporary problems with contemporary solutions, on a range of economic issues.

“Do you agree that the overriding reason for the summit series’ success since last October has been the Government’s ability to respond quickly to a rapidly changing economic situation, delivering uniquely Welsh solutions to Welsh problems?

Welsh Councils refused thousands of information requests

Welsh councils have refused to answer thousands of requests for information from the public over the past three years.

According to figures released to the Labour Group in the Welsh Assembly, nearly 10 per cent of all Freedom of Information requests to Welsh local authorities have been refused.

In total more than 14,000 requests were received with nearly 1,300 left totally or partially unanswered.

The Freedom of Information Act was introduced in 2000 by the Labour Party to make government is more transparent and allow public access to data.

Gwynedd council had the highest rejection rate with 165 rejected out of 739 requests totally or partially unanswered.