Senedd rejects opposition’s winter fuel motion

Published

2 years ago

September 22, 2024

SENEDD members narrowly rejected Conservative calls to urge the UK Government to reverse its decision to end universal winter fuel payments.

Labour voted down the motion while Plaid Cymru joined the Conservatives in backing it, with the final tally 23 in favour and 24 against.

Leading the debate, Joel James warned that about 400,000 households in Wales will lose up to £300 per person after the UK Government’s decision.

He said the cuts blindsided millions of pensioners, who have now been put into a state of fear over the affordability of bills which are predicted to jump by 10% in October.

The Tory shadow social justice secretary rejected “disingenuous, manufactured” claims of a £22bn black hole in UK public finances, saying a recent audit identified no such shortfall.

He described the reforms as “exceptionally shortsighted and callous”, warning it risks pushing thousands of pensioners into fuel poverty.

Mr James pointed out that almost 900,000 people are entitled to pension credit – one of the eligibility criteria for winter fuel payments – but do not claim the benefit.

He said: “What is most alarming … the new Labour [UK] Government has commissioned no impact assessment whatsoever on the impact of this cut.

“And the Labour Party’s own research has estimated that by scrapping universal winter fuel payments, excess deaths will increase by almost 4,000 people.”

Mr James, who represents South Wales Central, accused Welsh Labour MPs of showing “contempt and cowardice” by failing to vote against scrapping the cut.

Sioned Williams, who represents South Wales West, said Plaid Cymru shares the Conservatives’ concerns and the party would back the motion.

But the shadow social justice secretary described the cut as a continuation of the austerity agenda of the previous UK Government.

She said: “That is a crucial point in our view because we are a party that completely rejects the ideology and policies of austerity.”

Ms Williams described austerity as an entirely ineffective and unfair policy which transfers money from the poorest to the richest in society,

She told the Senedd the Conservative UK Government forced pensioners to make impossible decisions between eating and heating,

Ms Williams said it was hugely concerning to see “spineless” Welsh Labour MPs allowing the cut to pass through the UK Parliament.

Mike Hedges, a Labour backbencher, accused the Conservatives of hypocrisy, pointing out that the party previously called for an end to universal free prescriptions in Wales.

The Swansea East MS, who chairs the cross-party group on older people, told the chamber: “I started to receive my state pension in July.

“I’ve never received a winter fuel allowance payment and now I will not.

“Do I need it? No. Do Paul McCartney, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sting or Mick Jagger need it? I could go on … naming people who are very wealthy and don’t need it.”

Mr Hedges said: “There is a discussion to be had over the universality of support – there’s a balance between ensuring no one misses out and the cost of provision.”

Peter Fox, a Conservative MS, said an estimated 21,000 pensioners in his Monmouth constituency will lose out on winter fuel payments.

He told the chamber: “That payment, brought in by Rishi Sunak, was incredibly important in helping support pensioners through harsh winters.

“Now, we’re seeing this vital support being ripped from them to help fund things like the massive pay rises to train drivers who already have a great wage.”

He accused Labour of u-turns, saying Keir Starmer put out a pre-election video captioned: “Pensioners deserve security in retirement and that is what my government will deliver.”

Mr Fox, the former leader of Monmouthshire council, stressed that cutting winter fuel payments was a political choice and money could have been found elsewhere.

Heledd Fychan challenged Labour backbenchers, asking: “Imagine if a Conservative government had done this – what would your comments have been then?”

The Plaid Cymru MS said: “People will die as a result of this decision, we know that.”

Ms Fychan, who represents South Wales Central, said one in six older people in Wales is living in relative income poverty, with an older population than the rest of the UK.

James Evans, the Tory MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, told the chamber winter fuel payments have been a lifeline for older people.

He accused Labour of punishing pensioners: “What they don’t deserve from this Labour government in Westminster is to live in fear of hypothermia and crippling debt.”

Laura Anne Jones claimed the UK Government’s sums do not add up.

The Tory MS said cutting winter fuel support has been estimated to save about £1.5bn but if everyone eligible for pension credit claimed it, it would actually cost an additional £3.3bn.

Ms Jones raised an “appalling” constituency case of a woman in her 70s who was so worried about paying energy bills that she was forced to take a part-time job.

She added that 1.6 million disabled pensioners will be stripped of their payment.

Natasha Asghar, who also represents South Wales East, said Senedd Conservatives were blamed and held to account in the chamber for UK Government decisions over 14 years.

“Yet during the first opportunity for scrutiny yesterday,” she said. “The first minister distanced herself immediately from Keir Starmer, abdicating responsibility.”

Responding to the debate on September 18, Jane Hutt reiterated that difficult decisions are being taken due to a £22bn “black hole” in the public purse and a “bleak” outlook.

Wales’ social justice secretary said the former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, failed to account for public sector rises recommended by independent pay review bodies.

Ms Hutt highlighted support available via the discretionary assistance fund but she warned that too few people are taking up the Welsh Government grants.

She said: “We have to support those people who have been affected by 14 years of austerity and Tory economic mismanagement.

“We have a duty to turn this around at all levels of government and reach out to those most affected by the shameful legacy of the £22bn black hole.”

Fishguard and Goodwick Bowls Club set to appeal council’s refusal of signage

Published

18 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A Pembrokeshire sports club, which was recently refused permission by the council to keep advertising signs which support its activities, is looking to fight that decision.

Earlier this month, in an application refused by Pembrokeshire County Council on the grounds of visual impact, Fishguard & Goodwick Bowls Club sought retrospective permission for up to 36 signs on land close to the town’s Phoenix Centre.

The signs, which the applicants said provide “an important source of revenue for the Fishguard and Goodwick Bowls Club, supporting the ongoing operation and maintenance of local community sporting facilities,” had been in place for some 18 months, being removed ahead of the formal planning application.

Speaking after the refusal, Richard Brind, club captain of Fishguard & Goodwick Bowls Club, said the club had discussed challenging the decision, and had been taking advice from local county councillors about the best potential route, with options including a direct appeal through the Welsh Government’s PEDW (Planning and Environment Decisions Wales).

“We acted in good faith as we believed we had permission from a PCC department to install the signs.

“The irony in all of this is we actually paid PCC to have the signs made by their sign making department (who were the department that told us it would be OK to install the signs on our fence).

“The landlord of the grounds which is PCC have told us that they had no objection to us installing the signs, providing planning is granted.”

Mr Brind added: “I’m disappointed with the way the planning department have handled the process, not the decision, but I do think that was wrong; other sports clubs have signs up in the area, it doesn’t seem right.”

On the financial implication, he said: “Unfortunately, the costs of everything goes up, the costs to maintain the green are not covered by our membership, this year we’re probably going to spend £5,000. The money from the signs was certainly helping to keep the club viable, if we don’t get that money from somewhere, maybe through increased fees; membership would have to go up by a half, from £80 to £120.

“The funding we receive from the ads, it’s not vital but it’s a definite help, losing it would be ‘death from 1,000 cuts,’ money slowly trickling out.”

He finished: “I could understand it if it was an area of outstanding natural beauty rather than a car park, where we are we’ve got Jewsons and a petrol station.”

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “The Local Planning Authority has considered the application in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 (as amended), which require due consideration of the impact signage would have on visual amenity and public safety.

“While comments regarding advice the applicant received from other council departments and landowner consent are noted, each application must be determined on its own merits with regard to relevant policy and legislation.

“The Authority recognises the club’s valuable role in the community; however, financial considerations are not material to the assessment of advertisement consent.

“Whilst there is a right of appeal to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), the Local Planning Authority remains willing to engage with the applicant regarding any revised proposals they may wish to present.”

News

Claire Archibald and Paul Marr meet Valero over Pembrokeshire jobs

Published

23 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CONCERNS over the future of skilled industrial jobs in Pembrokeshire have been raised following a meeting between two Senedd Members and Valero.

Claire Archibald MS and Paul Marr MS met with a senior representative from Valero to discuss the future of Pembroke Refinery, apprenticeships, and the pressures facing the UK refining industry.

Pembroke Refinery is one of the most important industrial sites in Wales, supporting hundreds of direct jobs as well as many more through contractors, suppliers and local businesses.

Speaking after the meeting, Claire Archibald MS said the refinery was “hugely important” to Pembrokeshire.

She said: “It supports skilled jobs, apprenticeships, contractors, local businesses, and families across the county. These are exactly the kind of well-paid, long-term jobs we should be protecting in west Wales.

“Valero raised serious concerns about the pressure being placed on UK refining, particularly through carbon costs and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.

“If we make it too expensive to produce fuel here, we risk pushing jobs, investment, and production overseas. That would be bad for Pembrokeshire, bad for UK fuel security, and would not help the environment if the same fuel is simply imported from elsewhere.”

Ms Archibald said the Welsh Government had a role to play in supporting major industrial employers.

***Refinery concerns: Paul Marr MS and Claire Archibald MS***

She added: “Ministers cannot just stand back and say this is nothing to do with them. They have responsibilities around economic development, skills, planning, regulation and infrastructure, and they are also part of the UK ETS framework.

“I will be pressing the Welsh Government to engage properly with Valero, listen to the concerns being raised, and treat Pembroke Refinery as the strategically important site it is.

“Pembrokeshire has already lost too much industry over the years. We should be doing everything sensible to protect skilled jobs, support apprenticeships and keep major employers investing here for the long term.”

Paul Marr MS said Pembroke Refinery remained a vital part of the local economy.

He said: “The message from Valero was clear: if we want to keep major industry in Wales, we have to make sure the policy environment allows businesses to invest, compete and plan for the future.

“We cannot afford to take sites like Pembroke Refinery for granted.”

Ms Archibald said she will now raise the concerns with the Welsh Government and ask what action ministers are taking to support Pembroke Refinery, protect skilled jobs and secure future investment in Pembrokeshire.

News

Call for Wales to consider national prostate cancer screening programme

Published

23 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PAUL DAVIES MS has called on the Welsh Government to set out whether it will consider introducing a national screening programme for prostate cancer in Wales.

Mr Davies said he had requested a formal statement from ministers on prostate cancer services, including whether screening could be introduced to help improve early diagnosis.

He has also asked for an update on whether Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy, known as SABR, will be made available to patients in Wales. The treatment is already available to some patients in England.

Mr Davies said: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Wales, and it is vital that patients have access to the very best treatments to improve outcomes.

“We need to understand whether the Welsh Government will consider a national screening programme, and whether Welsh patients will be given access to treatments that are already available across the border.”

The call comes amid continuing concern about cancer waiting times and access to specialist treatment in Wales.