Politics

Elin discusses Welsh Youth Parliament with Clinton

Published

7 years ago

October 18, 2017

Receiving her honorary doctorate: Hillary Rodham Clinton

AS PART of her visit to Swansea University, Hillary Rodham Clinton had an opportunity to discuss the National Assembly for Wales’ plans to establish a new Welsh Youth Parliament with the Llywydd, Elin Jones AM.

Hillary Clinton received an honorary doctorate from Swansea University, delivered a lecture, ‘Children’s Rights are Human Rights’ and bestowed her name on the Law School, which will be known as the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law.

The honorary doctorate recognises Hillary Clinton’s commitment to promoting the rights of families and children around the world. Swansea University, which is home to the Wales Observatory on Human Rights of Children and Young People, shares that commitment and has played a part in shaping Welsh public policy on children’s human rights, including the development of policy for a Welsh Youth Parliament.

In October 2016, the Assembly unanimously agreed a motion to establish a new youth parliament for Wales. The Assembly Commission consulted with over five thousand young people between April-June this year and an overwhelming majority voted in favour of the proposals outlined.

Last week, the Commission agreed to progress the plans and are finalising arrangements to empower children and young people between the ages of 11-18 to elect 60 members to represent their views as Youth Welsh Parliament Members.

The Llywydd, Elin Jones AM, said: “Wales is rightly proud of its record in advancing the children’s rights agenda and I’m pleased to be able to share with Hillary Clinton how the National Assembly for Wales is contributing to this. The establishment of the Children’s Commissioner’s office and the impact of the Rights of Children and Young Persons law, which requires the Welsh Government to have due regard to the rights and obligations in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), have positioned us well on the international stage.

“Now, we’re planning for the election of the first Welsh Youth Parliament, having consulted with thousands of young people from communities across Wales about the kind of youth parliament they want to see.

“Young people in Wales are currently not able to vote in National Assembly for Wales elections until they are 18. This age threshold, and whether it should be lowered, is actively being considered by an expert panel commissioned by the National Assembly at this time. Despite this, we absolutely believe that young people are citizens whose voices must be heard at the heart of Welsh political debate.

“Following our consultation with young people, I’m pleased to announce the key features of our new Welsh Youth Parliament.”

The details include:

40 Youth Welsh Parliament Members will represent Wales’ electoral constituencies and 20 will represent specific groups;
YWPM will be elected for a two year term and be allowed to stand for election more than once;
The Welsh Youth Parliament will be independent from all political parties;
The Welsh Youth Parliament will empower young people to bring about change on the issues that matter to them; and
It will represent the views of the young people of Wales and ensure young people are influencing the work of the Assembly.

Elin Jones added: “I want the Youth Parliament to reach young people in communities across the nation, in particular those who do not usually get their voices heard. Youth Welsh Parliament Members will go out and listen to other young people, and provide them with an opportunity to express their opinions and empower them to be more active citizens in their nation.”

Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University Professor Richard B Davies said: “We are delighted to present an honorary award to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a figure of enormous international significance and one synonymous with human rights, particularly the rights of children and young people. It is tremendous that she has chosen Swansea University for her first public appearance on this visit to the UK. It shows that we are being noticed for our excellent research and teaching, and the impact that we are making globally.”

Jane Williams, Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Wales Observatory on Human Rights of Children and Young People at Swansea University said: “All of us at the Wales Observatory – both at Swansea and Bangor Universities – are thrilled that the Llywydd is able to join us in celebrating Hillary Clinton’s association with our work on children’s human rights.

“The Llywydd’s leadership and her engagement with the young people who worked so hard to campaign for a Welsh Youth Parliament are proof that we really can work together across all ages to build a better Wales – and a better world – for everyone.”

Professor Elwen Evans QC, head of the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, added: “We are delighted to have Mrs Clinton’s support as a champion for the human rights of children and young people. The School of Law has an international reputation for its ground-breaking work in this area, and we look forward to working with Mrs Clinton to promote and protect these rights around the world through policy, practice, advocacy and law reform”.

News

Fresh questions over fire that ravaged Manorbier school

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A senior Pembrokeshire councillor is to be quizzed on what progress has been made in recouping a £200,000 insurance excess paid by the council following the 2022 fire at a Manorbier school.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire on October 11, 2022, which broke out in the school roof space.

Pupils and staff were successfully evacuated with no injuries, and a “school from school” was set up in Jameston Village Hall, after a brief period of sanctuary at the nearby Buttyland caravan site.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s insurers have previously said the fire was accidentally started while “hot works” were being carried out by contractors to renew an adjacent flat roof, but, as has previously been stressed, no liability had been accepted to date.

Councillors have previously heard the majority of costs were likely to be met from the council’s insurers, with the caveat of the unknown issue of liability and its effect on the £200,000 insurance excess.

A submitted question, by Councillor Aled Thomas, to be heard at the full council meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council on May 9, will ask Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham “to update the chamber on what progress the Cabinet have made in recouping the £200,000 insurance excess paid following the devastating non-fault fire at Manorbier school”.

Councillors have previously been told by Cllr Woodham: “The legal issues are not straightforward but will be robustly taken forward.

“At this stage it’s still subject to legal discussion. The excess will be covered by a fund the council holds for insurance excess.”

He said that, if liability was found or accepted, the council would “pursue for the full maximum claim of the costs associated with the fire”.

Crime

Dafydd Llywelyn retains his post as our local commissioner

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE result of the election for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner election has been declared.

Plaid’s Dafydd Llywelyn retains his role as commissioner. He has held the role since 2016.

The result of the election is as follows:

Justin Mark Griffiths (Lib Dem) 7,719
Ian Harrison 19,134 (Con)
Dafydd Llywelyn 31,323 (Plaid)
Philippa Thompson (Lab) 18,353

Before the election, Dafydd Llywelyn promised: “As your current Commissioner, operational, front-line policing has, and always will come before party politics. I have a strong track record of delivering on my promises and of listening to the communities of Dyfed Powys. I am proud of what I have achieved since 2016, but there is still so much to do.

“I am an approachable individual and I believe in listening to all members of the community in order to shape a successful police force.

“Since 2016, I have increased resources whilst also retaining the lowest council tax levels in Wales. During that time, we’ve seen:

150 more Police Officers;

150 more Police Staff;
A CCTV system that is monitored 24/7 by police staff;
A dedicated rural crime team;
A focus on county lines drug dealing to target organised crime;
Investment in Youth Offending Teams to divert young people away from crime;
A new Offender Diversionary Scheme to reduce re-offending.

If re – elected:

I will safeguard Neighbourhood Policing resources retaining a visible local policing presence;
I will invest in the Communications Centre to ensure an accessible service;
I will continue to put the victim at the heart of the service and develop a truly victim led service;
I will work with operational staff to keep local police stations open;
I will invest in a new and refreshed School Police programme to deliver early intervention and preventative work;
I will prioritise working in partnership with organisations and agencies to safeguard the most vulnerable in society.

“Your safety is my top priority. I want to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police Force remains one of the safest places to live in Wales and England.”

News

Pembroke Power Station hydrogen fuel production hopes rise

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A public consultation on plans to develop a green hydrogen production facility next to Pembroke Power Station has been launched by energy company RWE Generation UK.

The technology uses the electrolysis of water to split into its constituent elements, hydrogen for fuel and power, and oxygen.

RWE, in its consultation, says: “RWE is progressing proposals to develop a green hydrogen production facility on RWE’s land adjacent to the existing Pembroke Power Station and has launched a statutory pre-application consultation to inform stakeholders and the community.

“RWE values the input of the local community and feedback will be used to inform the plans. RWE Pembroke Green Hydrogen will facilitate the generation of green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced from water, using energy obtained from renewable sources.

“The hydrogen can then be used to decarbonise local industrial activities in South Wales, by displacing their current fossil fuel usage. The facility would be located on RWE’s site to the west of Pembroke Power Station and would benefit from being well-screened from local communities, while being accessed via the current power station access road.”

It adds: “It is expected that hydrogen generated by this facility for use in local industry would directly result in the reduction of approximately 93,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, helping to secure a more sustainable future for South Wales’ long-standing industrial heritage. This CO2 saving is the equivalent of removing 18,600 cars from the road each year.”

The 23.7ha development site proposed comprises of a 4ha main electrolyser area, a 1.5km hydrogen gas pipeline corridor, an electrical connection to a high voltage transformer all located to the west of Pembroke Power Station, and an area for connections into the Pembroke Power Station and a cable corridor for connection into the National Grid Substation.

The consultation documents say: “The proposed development is a green hydrogen electrolysis plant that will consume circa 100-110MW of electricity to produce around 2 te/hr green hydrogen gas for third-party uses unrelated to Pembroke Power Station. Including the balance of plant, the total energy consumption for the proposed development will be approximately 140MW.

“The consequent reduction in use of fossil fuels due to substitution by green hydrogen gas, and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is a beneficial operational effect of the proposed development.”

It says development of the project is expected to take 24 months, and subject to as-yet unsubmitted full plans’ approval, could be built by early 2027.

The consultation runs to May 20.

A hydrogen fuel plant facility was given the backing of county planners last October, at the former Puma Energy site in Milford Haven.

H2 Energy Ecosystem UK Limited sought permission for the erection of an electrolysis hydrogen generation facility, and associated storage facilities and works at the Amoco Road site.