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Miners’ knee victims to get government help

Thousands of miners suffering from Osteoarthritis of the knee, commonly known as ‘Miners’ Knee’ will be able to claim help from the Government, it was announced today.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell confirmed that osteoarthritis of the knee would be added to the list of ‘prescribed diseases’ meaning that sufferers would now be able to apply for State compensation through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:
“It is right that this help should be available to coal miners who are suffering from this painful condition following years of hard work. This disease has made life very difficult for a large number of retired miners and forced others to end their working life earlier than planned, so I am pleased that we are now in a position that we will be able to offer them valuable financial assistance.”

Ministers have decided to act on the recommendation from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, that coal miners with the disease who have worked underground for ten years or more should be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
Symptoms of the disease include pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility. The change is expected to come into force in the summer.

More help with business rates

Gwenda Thomas AM has welcomed new measures which have been announced by Welsh Labour’s Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons, to help local businesses with their business rates.

The new measures will allow local businesses across Wales to opt to limit business rate increases to only two per cent this year as opposed to the 5% increase originally planned. The remaining 3% will be payable over the next two years.

Gwenda Thomas stated: ’I welcome these proposals to help local businesses. The changes are designed to give businesses a breathing space during this difficult economic period, and be ready for when the upturn comes’.

Opening of Outdoor Environment Learning Centre at Rhydyfro Primary School on 20.3.2009


Gwenda Thomas AM stated: ‘I was delighted to be present at the official opening of the Outdoor Learning Environment Centre. Congratulations are due to the Welsh Assembly Government for providing the Foundation Phase funding which has been match funded by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’.

‘Praise is also due to Katie Davies, a Foundation Phase Teacher and Lindy Lewis, a Nursery Nurse at the School who amongst others have taken the lead for much of this project. There has also been a significant financial and personal contribution from parents to ensure the opening of this Centre ’.
‘This Learning Centre will be an excellent resource for all the pupils of Rhydyfro Primary School. It will enable them to gain experience of the outdoor environment in a safe but stimulating way, and educate future generations about the importance of protecting the environment and enriching biodiversity in tomorrow’s world’

Gwenda Thomas AM Column for Neath Guardian April 09

Throughout the time I served as a County Councillor on the old West Glamorgan County Council, where I was Chair of Social Services, and since becoming the Assembly Member for Neath in 1999, I have taken a close personal interest in children’s issues, including tackling the underlying causes of child poverty.

Child poverty affects the lives of thousands of children in Wales, including here in Neath. It has a serious negative impact on their education, health, future employment and their life-chances.

We have done much to combat child poverty over the last 10 years, but we know there is much left to do. We are determined to do more to complete our mission to end child poverty by 2020.

Our vision is shared by everyone in the Labour movement, and by everyone who passionately believes in social justice and equality of opportunity for the many, and not the few. The Welsh Assembly Government is working closely with our Labour colleagues in Westminster to achieve this goal.

Our children are our future. Every child deserves to have the best opportunities we can possibly give them.

That’s why, since joining the Welsh Assembly Government in 2007 as Deputy Minister for Social Services, I have been working with colleagues to implement a whole range of policies and initiatives, designed to help and support vulnerable children and their families, that will be put into place over the next few years to help us on our way.

The Labour-led Assembly Government is doing its bit to give our children the flying start in life they deserve, and since 1999 we have put children at the top of our agenda. £5,900 was spent on every child in Wales during 2006-07 and this figure will rise to £7,100 by 2010-11 - as Welsh Labour continues to fight child poverty.

We have introduced a Children’s Commissioner – the first such post of its kind in the UK – to safeguard the rights and welfare of our children. We have introduced pioneering new initiatives, such as free school breakfasts, and a school uniform grant to help families from low income backgrounds. We are making leisure facilities more accessible, and have introduced popular initiatives such as free swimming for children during school holidays.

But the Government here in Wales and in Westminster can only go so far in eradicating child poverty. We need a co-operative effort from everyone in Welsh society to pledge to make sure our children are given the chance to flourish.

HELP CELEBRATE THE 1st ARMED FORCES & VETERANS DAY

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has called on local communities, organisations and businesses across the Neath Constituency to help celebrate the 1st Armed Forces and Veterans day on 27th June 2009.

The Labour Government has announced that the 27th June 2009 will see the UK celebrate the first day dedicated to our Armed Forces personnel: past, present and future.

Welcoming the day, Local Labour AM, Gwenda Thomas said: “Our Armed Forces personnel, both past and present, have made personal sacrifices to defend the UK and its interests and contribute to international peace keeping operations; they deserve our support and recognition and I am glad we now have a day to formally thank our service men & women; past, present and future.”

If a local community group, organisation or business is planning or thinking of planning any events to help celebrate The Armed Forces and Veterans Day, they can apply for a grant to help the celebrations. Event organisers have until the 31st of March to apply for a grant, further information, contact details and updates can be found on the Armed Forces Day website at www.armedforcesday.org.uk

Gwenda Thomas AM Column for Neath Guardian March 09.

The switchover from analogue television (the service which is available now) to digital television will take place in the Neath area in August. The older analogue TV signal will be switched off in your area, and if you don’t have digital TV by the time of switchover, you will lose your TV service. But there is no need to worry. The Switchover Help Scheme will help you with this. The Labour Government realises the value that TV brings in terms of company, entertainment, education and information to people who are elderly or disabled, so this Scheme has been set up by the Labour Government and the BBC to help eligible people convert one of their TV sets to digital.

To be eligible people must be aged 75 or over, or have lived in a care home for six months or more, or get disability living allowance, or receive attendance or constant attendance allowance, or receive mobility supplement, or are registered blind or partially sighted.

If you are eligible, digital TV will be explained to you clearly and simply, you will be told about all the options available, whatever equipment you need will be installed in your home, and the Scheme engineers will make sure you are happy with how it all works. If you get more than five channels on your TV, you probably already have digital TV. If not, you may need help to go digital and you won’t even have to change your TV set. There is a charge of £40 for the standard offer, which includes: Easy-to-use equipment that meets your needs, help with installing the equipment, fitting a new dish or aerial, where possible, if it’s needed to make the new equipment work, a demonstration and someone you can call for help while you’re getting used to things. This service is free if you get pension credit, income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.

If you’re eligible, you will be contacted in plenty of time to ask if you want help. You may have friends or family, or someone in your local community who will need help with the switchover. If so, please pass this information on.
If you need any more help or information: Call free on 0800 40 85 900. Lines are open Monday to Sunday between 8am and 9pm. Textphone users can call free on 0800 40 85 936. Email info@helpscheme.co.uk or by writing to Freepost, Switchover Help Scheme. More information is also available from my office.

Gwenda Thomas AM Column for Neath Guardian March 09

In the current financial climate, the tackling of the problem of social inequality due to poverty is more important than ever. Many older people still live in poverty in Wales, and in order to combat this inequality, I as Deputy Minister for Social Services was pleased to launch the second phase of the Strategy for Older People in 2008. The Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government hopes to reduce poverty by targeting an increase in benefit take up, and the Strategy will address this. This re-enforces the One Wales ambition to improve access for all to comprehensive benefits advice, and our financial inclusion strategy underpins this.
In 2006-07 the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government allocated £1.5m to local authorities to improve the take-up of Council Tax Benefit, particularly amongst pensioners, and the numbers of claimants above the age of 60 increased significantly over the year.
However, the Department for Work and Pensions research tells us that approximately £100 million of council tax benefit goes unclaimed every year in Wales, so there is a lot more work to do. If you feel that you are eligible for Council Tax Benefit please contact the Council Tax Benefits Department on 01639 764755, or by calling at the One Stop Shop at the Civic Centre in Neath or Pontardawe, or by e-mail to housing.benefits@npt.gov.ukFor people who are having problems meeting their mortgage payments, the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government has launched a Mortgage Rescue Scheme. A budget of £9.5 million has been provided to enable housing associations to buy a share of a house in order to help homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage. There are other options for homeowners to receive help with their mortgage payments and I have produced a leaflet which explains all the help that is available. I have also produced a similar leaflet to explain all the help available for businesses to survive the recession and to be ready when the upturn comes. These are available from my Pontardawe office.