News

Talks continue to save ‘irreplaceable’ refinery jobs

Published

12 years ago

May 8, 2014

FIRST MINISTER Carwyn Jones has confirmed that talks are continuing to find a buyer for the closure-threatened Murco oil refinery in Milford Haven and safeguard hundreds of ‘irreplaceable’ jobs.

At Assembly question time on Tuesday (6 May), Joyce Watson AM asked for an update on discussions between potential buyers and the Murco Refinery Task Force, the group working to prevent closure.

The Labour member for Mid and West Wales also asked what lessons could be learnt from the closure of the Coryton refinery in Essex, which ceased production two years ago.

Mrs Watson, a member of the Assembly’s Enterprise and Business committee, said:

“As part of the ongoing discussions between the Welsh and UK Governments on the taskforce and through other channels, what discussions have there been about the lessons from the Coryton refinery in Essex?

“When that was allowed to close in 2012 it cost businesses and the community in that area an estimated £589 million.”

Mr Jones confirmed that discussions with potential buyers are continuing; the aim is to secure the future of the refinery, he said: “There are 300 jobs in the refinery. The average salary is £50,000. None of us could possibly allow ourselves to believe that those jobs could be replaced either in the short term or the medium term, which is why the refinery is so important.

“A number of discussions are still ongoing. We will continue to work to make sure that the refinery has a viable future.

“We will continue to work with any potential buyers and with the current owners to make sure that that future is realised.

The Murco Refinery Task Force led by Lord Bourne, held its first meeting on 15 April. Economy Minister Edwina Hart has instructed the group to engage partners in high-level discussions to support the company in maintaining the future of refinery operations at the site.

The First Minister continued: “It is not the case, as far as Murco is concerned, that it needs a substantial amount of investment in order to be profitable. The investment has been made, so it is in that fortunate position.

“The difficulty is that there is overcapacity in the refining market. Much more oil is now refined close to the source of the oil in the middle east, for example.

“There are certainly other refineries in Europe that are not as state of the art as Murco, which, in the normal course of events, would probably have closed first. So, the point that we wish to make to any potential buyer is that Murco is certainly a going concern. It is not a plant that needs a huge of amount of investment for it to be profitable in future, and that is why we believe that it has a future as long as there is an agreement between the current owners and any potential buyers.”

Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has welcomed the recognition and support that the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has shown for the Murco Oil refinery in Milford Haven, as well as his continued hope that a buyer may be found.

During questions, the First Minister outlined the benefits that the Milford site has over competitors across Europe in response to probing from Mrs Evans.

The First Minister said:

“There are two points. First, it is not the case, as far as Murco is concerned, that it needs a substantial amount of investment in order to be profitable. The investment has been made, so it is in that fortunate position.

“The difficulty is that there is overcapacity in the refining market. Much more oil is now refined close to the source of the oil in the middle east, for example, as was the case before, and it is unfortunate that the timing is as it is, as far as Murco is concerned. There are certainly other refineries in Europe that are not as state of the art as Murco, which, in the normal course of events, would probably have closed first.

“So, the point that we wish to make to any potential buyer is that Murco is certainly a going concern. It is not a plant that needs a huge of amount of investment for it to be profitable in future, and that is why we believe that it has a future as long as there is an agreement between the current owners and any potential buyers.”

Mrs Evans added:

“I share the First Minister’s hope that a new buyer for the refinery will be found as a matter of expediency. The First Minister makes an important point in that the Murco site is not in need of large investment, unlike other refinery sites in similar circumstances across Europe. The Milford site is still very much a going concern and one that is extremely important to the local economy.

“I join with the refinery workers in hoping that the Welsh Government’s taskforce set up to help the refinery will be able to find an interested party soon.”

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

57 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

2 hours 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

2 hours 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.