Swans Join the Premier League!

It’s turning out to be a very good month for soccer fans in this constituency - first the Neath Eagles get through to the Europa cup and now the Swans have hit the big time! After an tremendous 4-2 win over Reading yesterday, Swansea AFC are back in the top flight of UK football after a 30 year wait. They are also the first Welsh team to enter the modern Premier League.

Once again this is excellent news for Wales and the region. Carwyn is completely right in saying that this will raise the profile of Wales in the UK and abroad. The tens of thousands of fans that follow Chelsea, Arsenal and the other Premier League teams will now be regularly crossing the Severn Bridge. Very many heartfelt congratulations go to Brendan Rodgers and his whole team!

Gwenda

Cash Boost for Neath Food Fair

Neath Food and Drink Festival is to get a grant of £9,999 from the Welsh Government. This comes as part of a £350,000 package supporting food and drink festivals throughout Wales.

Gwenda said: “I thoroughly enjoyed visiting last year’s festival and am looking forward to returning for the third annual festival this October. I’m told that this year's fair will be even bigger and better.”

“I’m very happy that the Welsh Government has been able to provide financial support for this event. The crowds I saw at last year’s showed how many people it brings into the town.”

“Backing this sort of food fair makes real economic sense for Wales. Aside from the 1,125 people that are directly employed by them, food and drink festivals are an excellent way to market Welsh produce and encourage tourism.”

The third Neath Food and Drink Festival will take place on the 7th and 8th of October 2011.

Neath Eagles Flying High

Congratulations to the Neath Eagles Football Club! After their victory against Prestatyn on Saturday Neath FC have secured a place in the UEFA Europa League.

I think this result is a testament to the excellent leadership and new talent that Andy Dyer has brought to the Club. I’d very much like to thank Mr Dyer and the whole team for bringing European football to Neath. This is a brilliant boost for the town and I wish the Club every success in the Europa League.

Gwenda

New Welsh Government Announced

Gwenda Thomas was today appointed Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services in the Welsh Government.

Mrs Thomas said: “I feel deeply honoured that the First Minister has appointed me to this role. As Deputy Minister for Social Services in the last Welsh Government I was proud to take the lead on many necessary reforms to Social Services in Wales. I think what we have achieved so far in this area has been excellent but clearly much remains to be done. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to finish the work we have begun.”

In the new Welsh Government line-up the position of Deputy Minister for Social Services has been merged with the Deputy Minister for Children, a position previously held by Huw Lewis AM.

Mrs Thomas said: “The combining of the Social Services portfolio with the responsibility for children makes a great deal of sense. Tackling child poverty requires the cooperation of all the major departments of state. Directly linking this field with Health and Social Services will make it that much easier to take the action that is needed.”