The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) Wales

I was pleased to meet with the National Pensioners Convention (Wales)recently in the Senedd.

AM supports community in questions over School Reorganisation

Gwenda Thomas AM today advised that she had received a large number of representations from Governers, parents and the wider community regarding Godre’r Graig Primary School and will be prepared to assist them in any way she can.

Mrs Thomas advised her constituents,

‘I wrote to The Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education, Jane Hutt AM on October 2nd, requesting guidance on policies, procedures and consultation requirements, and I also contacted the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning, Karl Napieralla, Neath Port Talbot CBC on October 5th, requesting relevant documentation and statistics.

I have no hesitation in representing and supporting the views of the children, parents, school staff and members of the governing body of Godre’r Graig Primary School and also of the wider community.

To this end, I am committed to organising a meeting at which I can meet with key people as soon as responses to the above correspondence are to hand.

I have asked my staff to arrange a meeting as soon as The Minister’s reply is to hand.’

Extra £5 million for Welsh businesses and the public sector to become energy efficient

The Welsh Assembly Government has today announced an extra £5 million to help small businesses and the public sector become more energy efficient and lower their carbon emissions.

The funding has been awarded to the Carbon Trust in Wales to support the ‘invest-to-save’ programme that provides interest free loans to pay for the installation of energy efficiency measures. The funding will be repayable over up to eight years from the savings made and the repaid money will be recycled to help others.
This brings the total Assembly Government support for the Carbon Trust Wales to £9.5 million during 2009/10 for energy efficiency projects.

A total of £4 million will go towards a loan scheme open to any public sector body in Wales, from hospitals, schools, museums and local government. The money can be used to fund 80 different energy efficiency technologies, including building insulation, boiler and lighting upgrades and IT improvements.

And £1 million will be used by the Carbon Trust to increase the money available for their existing business loan scheme for small businesses in Wales. The extra money brings the Welsh Assembly Government’s total support for the Carbon Trust Wales to £9.5 million during 2009/10 for energy efficiency projects.

Gwenda Thomas, AM for Neath today supported the Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Jane Davidson’s comments regarding climate change and the need for Welsh businesses to reduce their costs and become more energy efficient.
‘ Businesses and organisations, and indeed individuals, now have the responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint. This funding will assist businesses to do this, reduce their energy bills and also make them more competitive in the market place. ‘ emphasised Mrs. Thomas.

‘This is a fantastic initiative and the WAG funding will help Carbon Trust Wales to publicise and promote the interest free loans available, helping individuals organisations to become more efficient and indeed helping to push Wales forward in it’s goal to becoming a low carbon economy.’

Any organisation interested in applying for an Interest-free Energy Efficiency loan can contact the Carbon Trust helpline on 0800 085 2005 or for more information visit www.carbontrust.co.uk. Public sector organisations can also apply on line at www.salixfinance.co.uk.

Phone Scammers Target Over 50’s

Gwenda Thomas AM today supported Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales in warning older people to be aware of thieves who steal bank details and other personal information over the phone and on the doorstep.

The most recent high-profile case is of BT customers being targeted by scammers wrongly telling them that they were in arrears with their phone bills and threatened with having their phone lines cut off unless they agreed to settle their bills. Once they have agreed to pay their bills and disclosed their bank details over the phone the criminals then use this information to steal money from their bank accounts.

Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales is offering advice for older people so that they can take to protect themselves from phone scams.

Gwenda Thomas AM stressed, ‘Never divulge your bank and card details to cold callers as criminals will pose as salespeople or representatives and then use your personal information to steal from your bank account. Do not be afraid to put the phone down on them particularly if they become impatient or aggressive.’

Mrs Thomas also agreed with the advice given by Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged Wales by saying, ‘If you have given your information to someone and are concerned do not hesitate and contact your bank and the police immediately. These people are criminals and need to be stopped and prosecuted.’

Do you know anyone who deserves an Award for Enterprise Promotion?
The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP) celebrates and recognises the activities of individuals who have played an outstanding and significant role in promoting enterprise skills and attitudes in others in the UK.
Encouraging or facilitating the sort of skills and attitudes found in an enterprise environment - whether in a commercial business or a social enterprise - is the essence of 'Enterprise Promotion'.
Nominations for the Award may be made up to 2pm on 30 October. Anyone can put forward nominees for the Award but you cannot nominate yourself. Nomination forms can be completed and submitted electronically at www.queensaward.org ,or hard copies are available from my office.
Awards will be announced on 21 April, The Queen's birthday, and successful nominees will be informed shortly before the announcement. The names of those receiving the Award will be published in the London Gazette. Recipients will receive an engraved crystal commemorative item and a Grant of Appointment and will be invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace in July the same year.