“Green light” to help Welsh homeowners is welcomed by AM

News the EU has given a “green light” for Welsh borrowers to defer interest payments on their mortgages has been welcomed by a Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly.

Wrexham’s AM Lesley Griffiths was commenting following an announcement that the European Commission has approved the UK Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme, under EC Treaty state aid rules.

The scheme is aimed at reducing the level of home repossessions that are likely to occur as a result of the current economic downturn.

Under the scheme, Welsh homeowners unable to meet their mortgage repayments following a temporary drop of income could be entitled to delay up to 70 percent of interest repayments on their mortgages for a maximum period of two years.

In return, the UK Government will provide the lender with a guarantee on that part of the deferred interest.

“Don’t scrap Wales on Saturday” – AM tells BBC

A Labour Assembly Member is urging the BBC not to scrap its flagship sports results TV show, “Wales on Saturday”, from the autumn.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, was reacting after BBC Wales confirmed the popular Saturday teatime programme will not be re-commissioned for next season.

Commenting on the decision, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“For a sports fan, ‘Wales on Saturday’ does exactly what it says on the ‘tin’ – it gives unique coverage of Welsh sport, from a Welsh perspective and with a Welsh flavour. However, that is apparently about to end.

“The programme gives a wonderful service to its viewers with balanced coverage between both rugby and football. The expert views of Leighton James and Ieuan Evans are now part and parcel of Saturday teatime viewing across Wales.

AM urges Assembly Government to back car scrappage scheme

A Labour Assembly Member is urging the Welsh Assembly Government to support calls for the introduction of a car scrappage incentive scheme for second hand vehicles to help boost the Welsh automotive industry.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, believes it would help increase consumer confidence and also give much needed support to the automotive industry and its 800,000 workers.

She is now urging the Assembly Government to call upon the UK Government to implement a car scrappage incentive scheme.

Similar schemes have been already introduced in other countries with great success and in recent weeks the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Welsh employer organisations and Welsh car dealers have all called for the scheme to be implemented in the UK.

150 prosecuted in Wales for flouting smokers’ ban

Nearly 150 fixed penalty notices and prosecutions were handed out in Wales last year on those defying the smoking ban, the Assembly Labour Group has revealed.

The Assembly Labour Group today welcomed figures that show almost complete compliance from public premises and smokers.

During 2008, inspectors made more than 22,000 visits to hotels, restaurants, licensed premises and vehicles in Wales to check whether business owners and members of the public were abiding with the smoking ban which came into force two years ago today.

Just one business, based in Anglesey, was given a fixed penalty for not displaying signage warning smokers of prosecution.

122 smokers were issued with fixed notices for smoking in a smoke free place and a further 21 prosecutions were made for those who refused to pay the fines.

AM calls for R&D summit to innovate Wales out of downturn

A Labour Assembly Member has called on the Welsh Assembly Government to utilise the same imaginative and collective approach it is using to address Wales’ economic woes, to help boost investment in Welsh innovation.

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, wants the Government to convene an all-Wales Research and Development Summit – bringing together all relevant organisations in the country – to see how increased private sector investment in R&D can be achieved, to boost innovation and create new jobs in Wales.

The AM wants the Welsh Assembly Government to bring together public and private sector agencies along with banks and universities to discuss what steps can be taken to ensure Wales is best placed to take full advantage of the future economic upturn.

Commenting on her call, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

AM calls for free travel for EU visitors to boost Welsh tourism

The Labour AM for Wrexham, Lesley Griffiths, is calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to help boost the tourist industry in Wales, by offering free travel to EU tourists for a one-off, three month period this summer in a bid to attract visitors to the country.

The AM has written to the Welsh Assembly Government with her suggestion that free travel for EU tourists should be considered right across Wales – on buses and trains over the summer holiday period.

Ms. Griffiths has made call in an effort to support the large tourist industry in Wales – a crucial part of the Welsh economy:

* In 2005, tourism-related employment in Wales in 2005 was around 100,400 full and part time employees – equating to 8.4% of all employees in employment in Wales
* In 2007, just under 0.9 million trips were taken to Wales by overseas tourists. Of these, the most popular origins of overseas visitors came from the Republic of Ireland, France and Germany
* In 2007 UK visitors accounted for 90% of overnight trips but international visitors stayed longer (accounting for around 16% nights), thus international visits contributed more to the total spent

Tory committee plans “irrelevant to the people of Wales” says AM

Tory plans to set up a committee of MPs to discuss issues such as health delivery and education in Wales will be a complete waste of time, according to Labour Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths.

The AM for Wrexham was reacting to the proposal put forward by Welsh Shadow Secretary, Cheryl Gillan at the Tory Spring Conference in Cardiff at the weekend.

Commenting, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“This year in Wales we are celebrating a decade of devolution – ten years in which Wales has been transformed into a self-confident nation, capable of running its own affairs in areas such as education and health. However, at their Spring conference, Welsh Tories were acting as if devolution has never happened.

“Their proposal to set-up a cross-border committee made up of MPs to discuss devolved matters will be about as much use as a chocolate teapot to the people of Wales.

Welsh Finance Minister to Wrexham AM – “Welsh public services must focus on value for money and outcomes”

Welsh Finance Minister, Andrew Davies, has said that predicted reductions in the Assembly Government’s budget in the coming years will require an increased emphasis on value for money, outcomes and greater transparency when it comes to delivering public services in Wales.

The Minister made his remarks in reply to Wrexham’s Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, during his regular question and answer session in the Senedd.

Mr. Davies had already warned that there would be a squeeze on Welsh public spending from 2010/11 onwards, as a result of the UK Government’s Pre-Budget Report, which was published at the end of 2008.

Recently he had said it could mean a reduction in the Welsh Assembly Government’s revenue budget by up to £292 million in 2010/11 and in its capital budget by £215 million or more.

Clear message to ITV as Welsh Assembly calls for return of British Sign Language

Vale of Clwyd AM, Ann Jones, has used an Assembly debate to step up the pressure on ITV to reverse its decision to remove signed headlines from the Tonight news bulletin.

AMs from each party joined in Mrs Jones’ charge to ITV to act now to save its image as a socially responsible broadcaster.

A British Sign Language interpreter translated the entire debate on screens throughout the Senedd (Assembly Building). Deaf organisations leading the campaign were also invited to the Senedd to observe the debate.

Ann Jones AM said:

“ITV’s decision has dealt a serious blow to all those fighting to improve communication services for deaf people in Wales.

Welsh Labour AM calls for end to bus and train attacks

Bus and train drivers in Wales suffer attacks from the public every day according to new figures obtained by the Assembly Labour Group.

Public transport workers have been punched, kicked and spat at by members of the public as they drive from station to station across the Principality.

And some bus drivers have even had pellet guns shot and bricks thrown at their vehicles during journeys.

Figures obtained by the Welsh Assembly Labour Group through the Freedom of Information Act and the Assembly Members Research Service show a total of 431 have taken place since January 2008 across Wales.