News

Caution urged over BPS challenge

Published

11 years ago

August 20, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Caution urged: William Powell AM

FOLLOWING recent speculation that a legal challenge may be made against the current Basic Payment Scheme, an AM has urged farmers contemplating such a move to proceed with extreme caution.

The Herald has heard that there was widespread discussion over the scheme by lowland farmers and those set to lose out under the new flat rate, which was introduced after a protest by hill farmers last December.

According to the Farmers Guild, groups of farmers in what are described as ‘traditional lowland areas’ have been holding informal meetings to discuss the possibility of High Court action.

Lib Dem member for mid and west Wales William Powell said that while he recognised ‘the disappointment and trading difficulties that the Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans’ recent announcement may bring to certain farm businesses,’ it was important to look at the wider picture:

“The ‘perfect storm’ facing Welsh agriculture is genuine, with the collapse in farm gate prices for milk, combined with disappointing lamb prices and New Zealand produce being imported into Walesinunprecedentedquantities. Information that I have gleaned from banks involved in supporting Welsh agriculture indicates that later this year we are in real danger of large scale cash flow problems leading to farm bankruptcies across Wales. In this context, we should be very careful what we wish for. Any action triggered by a section of Welsh farmers that threatens delay in vital BPS payments for all has the potential to unleash a disaster,” he warned.

After a 12 week consultation on alternative BPS options, more than 230 responses were received. Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans said that in choosing the right way forward, she ‘had to balance the weight of stakeholder feedback with our policy goals as set out in the consultation.’

“Within those goals, which were generallysupportedbytheconsultation responses, my stated top priorities were toensure Walesmeetstherequirements of the EU Regulations and to be able to make payments as soon as possible in the 2015 payment window,” she added.

“Option C – a flat rate by 2019 – is my favoured option. It treats all farmers equally in moving payments to the same value per hectare by 2019 in five annual steps, meets most of our policy goals, including providing opportunities for new entrants; and it gives a clear basis on which our farmers can plan for the future.

“I have also decided that we will apply the redistributive payments option alongside Option C. This will provide a softer transition for many.

“Implementing a flat rate payment by 2019, coupled with a redistributive payment covering the first 54 hectares of each claim, offers the best balance of meeting our policy and operational requirements on the one hand, and addressing feedback from the stakeholders on the other.”

As with the preceding system, some farm businesses would benefit, while others would lose out. It is estimated that around 67 percent of Welsh farmers – those with less than 125ha of land will benefit from the new measures. This equates to almost 11,000 farmers.

However, the remaining 33 percent will be worse off. Of nearly 5,500 farmers in this category, around 1,300 will lose more than £2,500 PA.

Mr Powell AM emphasised that getting a firm commitment from the Welsh Government to undertake a comprehensive remapping of Welsh farm land should be a priority:

“Farmers seeking an equitable and sustainable payments system to support Welsh agriculture in the future should join my call for comprehensive remapping of Wales’ farm land. In order for this to be achieved – and to secure greater confidence in the industry – farmers and their representatives in Wales should take a proactive role in the European referendum, due to take place next year.

“Given the uncertainty triggered by David Cameron’s In/Out referendum, we need a strong voice from Welsh farmers, stressing the importance of tariff free access to European export markets and a fair CAP regime. Only our continued membership of a reformed European Union – such as that advocated by EU Agricultural Commissioner Phil Hogan at the Royal Welsh Show – will allow that to become a reality – and secure the future of the industry.”

Mark Williams, Chair of FUW in Montgomeryshire, added: “I wholeheartedly agree that the farming industry should be united and hands-on in its support of maintaining our membership of the European Union. To leave the EU would be hugely detrimental to farmers across Wales and the UK and I very much hope that farmers can provide a strong and positive voice in support of a vote to remain a member European Union.”

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

25 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Fishguard that has left a man in hospital.

The incident happened on Main Street at around 11:00pm on Saturday (Mar 21), when the victim was reportedly punched, sustaining head injuries. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference: 26*227686.

Information can be provided online via the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], by calling 101, or by sending a direct message on social media.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Childcare funding boost announced in Wales

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hourly rate to rise as costs increase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an increase in the hourly rate paid to childcare providers under its Childcare Offer, following a review of funding levels.

The Minister for Children and Social Care, DAWN BOWDEN MS, announced that the rate will rise to £6.67 per hour from April 6, 2026. The increase of 4.18% comes after feedback from childcare providers and sector data gathered during 2025.

The Welsh Government said the change is designed to help providers cope with rising costs, including increases to the National Living Wage.

The Herald understands the review drew on responses from the Childcare Offer’s Annual Survey, as well as information from Care Inspectorate Wales’ Self-Assessment of Service Statement (SASS).

The move follows a policy shift announced last year to review the rate annually, rather than every three years, in a bid to make funding more responsive to pressures facing the sector.

As part of the update, the maximum charge for meals will also increase by 4.18%, which ministers say is intended to balance affordability for both providers and parents.

Dawn Boden said the Welsh Government remains committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of childcare services, adding that officials will continue working with the sector to explore further improvements.

Health

Doctors say Wales is failing to value NHS staff over new pay award

Published

1 hour ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BMA Cymru Wales accuses ministers of falling short on pay restoration as Welsh Government accepts DDRB recommendations for 2026-27

DOCTORS in Wales have accused the Welsh Government of failing to properly value NHS staff after ministers accepted this year’s independent pay recommendations for medical and dental professionals. The row centres on whether the award represents fair recognition for frontline staff — or yet another missed chance to reverse years of falling real-terms pay.

In a written statement published on Wednesday (Mar 25), Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government had accepted the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body recommendations on headline pay for 2026-27. Under the decision, consultants, specialty and associate specialist doctors, resident doctors, dentists and locally employed doctors will receive a 3.5% consolidated uplift from April 1, 2026, while salaried dentists in Community Dental Services and the Public Dental Service will receive 3.75%.

But while the Welsh Government also said it accepted in principle a 3.5% uplift for contractor GPs and a 3.75% uplift to the pay element of dental contracts, ministers made clear that final decisions on how those increases are applied alongside wider contract changes would be left to the next government.

That has triggered an angry response from BMA Cymru Wales. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Dr Iona Collins, chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, said ministers had “once again chosen to impose an award that falls short” of repeated promises to deliver full pay restoration for doctors employed by NHS Wales.

She said the award failed to reflect the “superhuman” efforts of doctors working under intense pressure and warned that inadequate pay would make it harder to retain staff in the Welsh NHS at a time when many are considering leaving for better pay and conditions elsewhere.

The BMA also raised concerns about general practice, saying GP pay had effectively been left hanging because the Cabinet Secretary linked the award to ongoing General Medical Services contract discussions with the incoming administration. The union said this left general practice “out in the cold” compared with other branches of the profession and called for urgent talks.

The Welsh Government said the award would apply from April 1 and added that wider DDRB recommendations not directly related to headline pay would be considered separately with partners. Ministers thanked NHS staff for their “ongoing dedication and hard work”.

The dispute is likely to reignite the wider argument over recruitment, retention and morale in NHS Wales, with doctors’ leaders insisting that pay restoration is no longer simply about reward, but about preventing more clinicians from walking away from the service.