News

Council’s Deputy Leader doubles down in Welsh language row

Published

1 year ago

May 15, 2025

THE DEPUTY LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council has defended the Cabinet from claims it is “anti-Welsh”.Cllr Paul Miller’s remark came after the content of a Cabinet discussion on Welsh-Medium Education in Pembrokeshire was criticised by the leader of the opposition, Cllr Huw Murphy, and the Welsh Language Commissioner.

During the Cabinet debate on April 28, Cllr Miller opined that Welsh-medium schools were popular because they were new and had good facilities. He added fuel to the flames generated by his words by stating that most parents don’t care what language their children are taught in, as long as the quality of the education is good.

Cllr Miller’s words no doubt express his personal view and the view of those to whom he speaks.

However, their effect was to undo much of the good work the Council had done in meeting its obligations under the Welsh Government’s Code for Welsh in Education. Moreover, a Cabinet decision to ask officers to survey parents about the reasons for their choice of their children’s education was so poorly debated that it gave the impression that only parents electing to choose Welsh-medium education would be canvassed.

While the final wording of the Cabinet resolution on canvassing parents’ views is sufficiently neutral, the manner in which the Cabinet conducted its debate raised concerns among those more deeply rooted in the Welsh language than any Cabinet member.

Cllr Miller’s words and those of other contributors to the April 28 debate were dismissive and inflammatory.

They prompted Cllr Huw Murphy to refer the debate to the Welsh Language Commissioner and request a call-in to the local authority’s powerful Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Welsh Language Commissioner’s response was blunt and excoriated the Cabinet debate.
Efa Gruffydd Jones wrote: “In 2019, the Welsh Government introduced significant changes to the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and also to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations 2019.

One of the main changes was to move away from the concept of measuring demand, and, rather, to place a duty on local authorities to encourage the demand for Welsh-medium education. That is, local authorities are expected to expand Welsh-medium provision proactively, thereby encouraging more parents to choose Welsh-medium education for their children.”

She added: “It is not clear to me why there is a need to question the choices of parents regarding Welsh-medium education in particular.
“It is also difficult to see how a process of questioning parents’ motivation for choosing Welsh-medium education would be compatible with the commitments that have been made in Pembrokeshire County Council’s WESP.”

Cllr Miller’s attempt to defuse the row at the Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 14, was undone by his failure to reassure Committee members that the decision reached on April 28 was a neutral act by an authority merely seeking to capture potentially valuable data that might inform its future decisions. Cllr Miller constantly asked members to consider the issue in the context of the words of the resolution that the Cabinet passed. However, he failed to appreciate that the resolution’s context was framed by his and his fellow Cabinet members’ attitudes on April 28.

Instead, unwilling to apologise for fostering the wrong impression, Cllr Miller doubled down on his assertions about parents’ motivations for sending their children to the new Welsh-medium schools, stating that the parents he spoke to “couldn’t give a toss” about the medium of their children’s education. He also attacked Cllr Huw Murphy for calling in the decision and the Welsh Language Commissioner for her criticisms.

During the debate, it became apparent that the Cabinet was unaware of the additional cost of capturing the data it sought, how such a request might be framed, or how the received data would be handled. The Director of Education, Stephen Richards-Downes, could not help committee members who asked about the additional costs of the Cabinet’s proposal.

Cllr Miller might have paused to reflect that, accepting his rationale that free transport and good facilities in Welsh-medium schools enticed parents to send their children to Welsh-medium schools, the Council had work to do improving its English-medium provision.

At the conclusion of the debate, Cllr Huw Murphy pointed out the Cabinet had no Welsh speaker in its membership and that the absence of someone with a perspective on the importance of Welsh to Pembrokeshire’s communities would have avoided the loaded way in which the Cabinet conducted its debate.

The Committee voted to send the Cabinet decision back for reconsideration.

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.