A WELSH Labour minister has defended the decision to cut winter fuel payments for most pensioners, sparking heated debate in the Senedd. The changes, which could see an estimated 500,000 pensioners losing up to £300 this winter, have drawn sharp criticism from both Conservative and Plaid Cymru members.

During Wednesday’s debate, Conservatives called on Labour to urge the UK government to reverse the plans, warning of a “devastating impact” on vulnerable pensioners. Social Justice Secretary Jane Hutt responded by highlighting the “difficult decisions” being made due to a £22 billion “black hole” in UK public finances. Hutt argued that these cuts are a consequence of “14 years of Tory austerity and economic mismanagement.”

Plaid Cymru supported the Conservative calls to reverse the cuts but also accused UK Labour of continuing Conservative “austerity” policies. Despite the opposition, Labour defeated the motion to reverse the decision in a narrow vote, with many Labour Senedd members absent from the debate.

Both Conservatives and Plaid Cymru warned that the cuts could have dire consequences. Conservative South Wales Central MS Joel James opened the debate, stating that the Labour government would be “taking vital income away from those who most need it.” He cited Labour Party research suggesting that scrapping universal payments could lead to an increase in excess deaths by almost 4,000 this winter.

Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams echoed these concerns, accusing Labour of exacerbating inequality through austerity measures that disproportionately affect those on low incomes. “Austerity measures deepen inequality by exacerbating the hardship faced and felt by people on low incomes while enabling the wealthiest to shoulder the lightest burden,” Williams said.

Jane Hutt, one of only two Labour speakers in the debate, defended the cuts, emphasising the financial constraints faced by the UK government. She mentioned a £22 billion shortfall in public finances, necessitating “difficult decisions.” Hutt also highlighted efforts to promote pension credit uptake and mentioned several Welsh government schemes, such as the emergency discretionary assistance fund, which she said were underutilised by pensioners.

Despite her defence, Hutt had previously acknowledged that the cuts risked “pushing some pensioners into fuel poverty.” Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan also stated that “no one in Labour is happy” with the move but maintained it was necessary to balance the budget.

Conservatives in the Senedd chamber challenged the validity of the £22 billion “black hole” claim. Janet Finch Saunders demanded evidence to support the figure, questioning the minister’s assertion. The Conservatives argue that the cuts will have severe repercussions on pensioners, with some, like Andrew RT Davies, pointing out that even those marginally over the pension credit threshold will lose out on the £300 payment.

Labour MS Mike Hedges was the only other Labour politician to speak during the debate, suggesting that the cuts were necessary to focus support where it’s most needed. He questioned the fairness of providing winter fuel payments to wealthy individuals, listing names like Paul McCartney and Elton John as examples of those who do not need this support.

Hedges also highlighted the complexities of predicting the impact of the cuts, arguing, “We don’t know how many people are going to die this winter. You can’t know.” He emphasised that a more equitable system would involve pension credit entitlement based on earnings.

The Conservative motion to reverse the changes was narrowly defeated by Labour, with 23 votes in favour and 24 against. Under the new policy, pensioners not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the annual winter fuel payment. Previously, all pensioners were entitled to this support to help with energy bills.

The winter fuel payment, which totals £200 or £300 depending on the recipient’s age and benefits status, has been a crucial source of support for pensioners during the colder months. The changes come as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plan to target support to those most in need amidst tight public finances.

A UK government spokesperson defended the decision, telling The Pembrokeshire Herald: “We are committed to giving pensioners the dignity and security they deserve in retirement, which is why we are protecting the triple lock with the state pension set to increase by £1,700 over the course of parliament.” They added that despite the financial constraints, the government aims to continue supporting those in need, with over a million pensioners still receiving the winter fuel payment and the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme.

As winter approaches, the implications of these cuts on pensioners across Wales and the UK remain a contentious and deeply felt issue.

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has raised the future of St David’s surgery in the Senedd Chamber and called on the First Minister to join him in standing up for the local community.

Mr Davies explained that around 3000 patients are going to be dispersed to practices further afield under the Health Board’s current plans, including elderly patients and those with limited travel options.

Mr Davies then asked the First Minister, who is also the Regional Member for Mid and West Wales, to intervene on behalf of the local community, challenge the local Health Board and help ensure residents can continue to receive GP services in their local community in the future.

Mr Davies said, “It’s wholly unacceptable that residents living in St David’s will have to travel further for vital GP services and so I’m calling on the Welsh Government to use its powers and intervene before it’s too late. The local community is rightly upset and frustrated and it’s vital that the Health Board’s decision is challenged and a better way of delivering primary care services in the area is found.”

“If these plans go ahead, a Welsh city will lose its GP service on this First Minister’s watch and I wanted to give the First Minister the opportunity to work together on behalf of the people of St Davids. There should be no stone left unturned in trying to ensure GP services can still be delivered in St David’s and it was disappointing that the First Minister was not willing to work together on the community’s behalf.”

CONCERNS over ambulance services in Pembrokeshire have escalated, with local politician Paul Davies MS raising critical questions in the Senedd today, demanding urgent reassurances from the Welsh Government. The issue comes in the wake of several distressing incidents, including the recent death of a man after a nine-hour wait for an ambulance in Pembroke Dock.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mr Davies expressed his alarm following numerous complaints from local residents. He said: “I’ve called for a statement from the Welsh Government on the delivery of ambulance services, following local concerns that I’ve received. Reassurances must be given that beds will not be removed from Withybush Hospital, as the removal of beds will only add further strain to the system. Support is also needed as a matter of urgency, as staff feel that they’re facing more and more paperwork and targets.”

The Conservative Senedd Member also highlighted that ambulance staff are increasingly struggling under heavy pressure, with added paperwork and challenging targets contributing to low morale. He raised the matter in the Senedd chamber, calling on the new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to make an urgent statement.

Addressing the Trefnydd, Mr Davies said: “Ambulance staff have raised concerns with me about services in Pembrokeshire, and I was alarmed to hear that 30 beds are to be removed from Withybush Hospital and Glangwili Hospital in due course. I was also alarmed to hear that ambulances despatched to Pembrokeshire are no longer ring-fenced to return, and the priority is to clear the backlog at Glangwili Hospital before any backlogs at Withybush Hospital.”

He further noted that staff are now facing a target of 15 minutes to complete a patient handover at A&E and another 15 minutes to restock and clean the ambulance, which is putting significant strain on already overstretched emergency workers. According to Mr Davies, morale among ambulance staff is at an all-time low, with many refusing to work overtime, particularly at night, due to concerns over spending extended hours waiting to discharge patients at hospitals.

“These are serious issues affecting both patient care and staff wellbeing,” he said. “Staff are telling me they are under more pressure than ever, with unnecessary paperwork and a target-driven approach that’s draining morale. It’s clear that we need a statement from the new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to address these concerns urgently.”

The demand for action follows a number of recent tragedies in the area linked to delayed ambulance response times. The case of David Bye, who died after a nine-hour wait for an ambulance in Pembroke Dock, has shocked local residents, who are now vocal in their demands for improved healthcare services across Pembrokeshire. Mr Bye’s death, along with other similar incidents, has intensified the public outcry for improvements to the region’s emergency response system.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has cited broader system-wide pressures, including long delays in transferring patients into hospitals, as a key cause of slow ambulance response times. However, residents and staff alike have expressed fears that removing beds from hospitals like Withybush will only exacerbate the problem.

Mr Davies has warned that without immediate intervention, the already stretched healthcare system in Pembrokeshire could deteriorate further, with severe consequences for patients and medical staff alike.

In his closing remarks in the Senedd, Mr Davies reiterated the urgency of the situation: “In light of the seriousness of the concerns raised, I believe that we need a statement now from the new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to address some of these concerns as soon as possible.”

The Pembrokeshire community will be watching closely to see if the Welsh Government responds with decisive action to ensure that local ambulance services and hospitals are properly supported, and that no more lives are lost due to delays in care.