Press Release: CASH BOOST FOR AIR AMBULANCE

- Welsh Labour outlines review of ambulance services

NEATH AM Gwenda Thomas has today welcomed the extra investment by the Welsh Assembly Government in the Air Ambulance service in South Wales.

Welsh Labour Health Minister Edwina Hart has outlined a £337,000 boost for the service next year and outlined a review of the service and patient transport services across Wales.

The extra money follows a £77million Assembly Government modernisation fund for the ambulance service. £55 million has already been made available this year to upgrade ambulances, air ambulances and control centres with state-of-the-art digital radios to help improve response times.

People in Neath will also benefit from a £16 million investment for an extra 119 emergency ambulances and 67 patient care service vehicles.

Neath Labour AM and Deputy Health Minister Gwenda Thomas said:

"I'm very pleased that we have been able to make this extra money available for the air ambulance service – which further proves Welsh Labour’s commitment to modernising the ambulance service in Wales.

"Patients in my constituency and across Wales are going to benefit from extra ambulances and better response times thanks to the investment in new vehicles and state-of-the-art digital radios.

"I am also pleased that the Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced plans to review the air ambulance service by the end of year so that the Assembly Government can look at ways of funding this important service in future.’’

The AM also welcomed a review into the patient transport services. The review will bring local health and volunteer organisations to look at ways of improving the experience of patients who use the service.

Press Release: AM WELCOMES SMALL CLASS SIZES IN NEATH SCHOOLS

NEATH Labour AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed figures published today [Wednesday 28 November 2007] which show that schoolchildren in Neath continue to benefit from small class sizes.

Thanks to Welsh Labour’s record investment in education since the Assembly came into being in 1999 - the percentage of junior classes in Wales with over 30 pupils stands at only 3% of the total, compared with 25% in 1999. Only 1% of infant classes in Wales contain more than 30 pupils.

Neath Labour AM GWENDA THOMAS said:

"I am delighted that schools in my constituency and Neath Port Talbot Local Education Authority have continued to work to keep class sizes down so that virtually all infant and junior classes in my constituency have 30 pupils or under. Thanks to the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government's investment in our schools - smaller class sizes are benefiting our youngest children by giving them more teacher time and a better chance to improve their reading and numeric skills.

"And through the new and innovative 'Foundation Phase' for early years education this Labour-led Assembly Government is committed to giving the very youngest children the best possible start.

"The roll out of the new Foundation phase in our schools from September next year will offer a radical new learning experience for 3 – 7 year olds. International evidence reveals that children do better if they start formal education later on and that children are put off learning altogether if they are tested too early.

"It will move early years education away from a rigid desk and blackboard style of teaching and place an emphasis on learning through play.

"Active involvement and participation in learning improves children’s speaking and listening skills. Improving the personal and social skills of young children will encourage a more positive attitude towards learning throughout the rest of their school days and beyond.’’

Press Release: LABOUR MINISTER SEEKS TO END POSTCODE LOTTERY FOR HOMECARE CHARGES

- Deputy Minister Gwenda Thomas outlines plans for Assembly power over homecare charging

OLDER people and vulnerable adults who rely on social care in the home will be charged based on their circumstances and not where they live, Neath AM and Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas announced today.

Plans outlined today in the National Assembly by Welsh Labour's Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas will see the power to set maximum charges for social care in the home and to exempt groups from charges being devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government from the UK Government.

Currently, charges for homecare and other social services are decided by locally by each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. This has resulted in wide variations across Wales. With new legal powers over charging for these services, the Assembly Government will be able to deliver a fairer and more consistent charging policy for all adult users of homecare services.

Neath AM and Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas said:

"Welsh Labour is committed to helping the most vulnerable people in our community.

"The Labour-led Assembly Government fully recognises the need to end the postcode lottery that exists for the charges for homecare, and that's why I'm leading the Assembly Government’s effort to deal with this issue so that people in my constituency and throughout Wales who rely on homecare get a far fairer deal.

"A fairer charging policy will help older people and the disabled to get the services they need to help them in their day to day lives.

"The Labour-led Assembly Government wants to shift social care away from residential care so that more people can remain in their own home and still get the day-to-day support they need.

"Access to personalised care gives older people and the disabled who use these services more independence in their daily lives even when they have to rely on support from others.’’

-Ends-

Notes to editors

The charging for homecare and other non-residential social services is currently at the discretion of individual local authorities. This has resulted in significant variations in charging policies for similar services across Wales.

The Legislative Competence Order (LCO) - Charging for Non-Residential Social Care (Domiciliary Care) - will enable the Assembly Government to legislate against such disparity.

LCOs are an Order in Council made under section 95 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. The Order is submitted by the Assembly in draft to Parliament for approval. Once granted it will extend the scope of the Assembly to pass an Assembly Measure at any time within the subject matter of the Order.

The Order is restricted to charges imposed by local authorities in respect of non-residential social care. It would not enable the Assembly to legislate in respect of charges levied by private care providers for non-residential social care. A significant amount of research and consultation with stakeholders will be undertaken in order to determine how best to achieve a fairer and more consistent approach.

Press Release: EXTRA BOOST OF EARLY YEARS EDUCATION IN NEATH

- AM welcomes funding boost for childcare and early years education

THE YOUNGEST children in Neath are set to benefit from the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government’s extra investment in early years education and childcare.

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed Welsh Labour Education Minister Jane Hutt’s announcement that £45 million extra has been set aside for the innovative new education scheme for all 3 – 7 year olds’ in Wales.

The 'Foundation Phase' is a new approach to teaching the youngest children based on learning through play, active involvement and practical activities. The extra £45 million will allow the roll out of the scheme across Neath Port Talbot from September next year.

Funds for the Flying Start childcare scheme will increase by £8 million over the next three years. Flying Start provides high quality free childcare for two year olds – and allows parents to save money and keep working – and the extra money will allow a 10% increase in the number of childcare places.

An additional £3m over the next three years will be made available to meet the requirements of the Childcare Act 2006, which comes into force in April 2008. This funding will enable local authorities to research and map the availability of childcare available to decide what interventions are necessary. In addition, an extra £4.2m will be ring-fenced for community focussed schools over three years for out-of-hours childcare.

Neath AM GWENDA THOMAS said:

"The education and welfare of our youngest children is one of Welsh Labour's main priorities. This extra money is going to give the youngest children in my constituency the flying start in life that they deserve.

"Extra money for childcare is going to make a real difference in the lives of local families. I am delighted that more children will benefit from this scheme and that local mums will be able to keep their jobs or go back to work without worrying about paying for quality childcare.

"The new Foundation phase will offer a radical new learning experience for 3 – 7 year olds. International evidence shows that children do better if they start formal education later on and that children are put off learning altogether if they are tested too early.

"Welsh Labour’s Foundation phase will move early years education away from a rigid desk and blackboard style of teaching and place an emphasis on learning through play, both inside and outside.

"Active involvement and participation in learning improves children’s speaking and listening skills. Improving the personal and social skills of young children will encourage a more positive attitude towards learning throughout the rest of their school days and beyond.

Press Release: HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS ACTION PLAN

- Welsh Labour to target child obesity and unhealthy diets

MORE healthy food is on the menu in local schools thanks to the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government’s Action Plan to give schoolchildren a balanced and nutritious diet.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas is backing Welsh Labour Education Minister Jane Hutt’s seven point action plan to improve food and nutrition in Neath's schools. The Appetite for Life Action Plan will see a £6.6 million investment in healthy school food across Wales over the next two years.

The seven point plan includes:

• Setting new nutrient, food and drink standards – including offering more fruit
• Improving catering staff training on healthy foods
• A school wide approach, involving pupils and staff and strengthening food education in the curriculum
• Raising awareness over healthy diets in schools
• Looking at sourcing healthy food locally
• Calculating the costs of a healthy school meal
• Establishing a regular review to monitor progress in delivering more healthy food

GWENDA THOMAS AM said:

‘’The Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government wants to see healthier food on offer in local schools. Improving the health of our children is one of the Assembly Government’s top priorities. All of us know the importance of a balanced diet and how essential it is to children and young people if they are to grow into healthy adults.

‘’That is why I am backing this action plan – we need higher standards of nutrition in school meals to improve children’s diets.

‘’This plan will look at the best way of delivering healthier school meals and improving the diets of our children. Training staff, strict health standards, using healthy local food sources and raising awareness about healthy foods are all essential in combating the problems of child obesity and poor diets.

‘’Good progress is already being made in some schools with the free healthy school breakfast scheme and an increase in the number of fruit tuck shops and water coolers on offer.

‘’I look forward to seeing these plans in action in schools across my constituency.’’

Neath Guardian Column: Thomas Talks - 15 November 2007

"On Sunday, I was once again honoured to be able to represent the people of Neath and the surrounding valley communities at the annual remembrance Sunday service and march in Neath. The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Neath Port Talbot Cllr. Malcolm and Mary Gunter, and the Council Leader Cllr. Derek Vaughan, who layed a reith on behalf of Peter Hain MP were also present, along with other senior dignitaries, including county borough councillors and Neath town councillors. Members of my staff attended similar services on my behalf in Pontardawe and Glynneath.

"This is the time of year the nation as a whole stops and remembers the sacrifice that the many who lost their lives gave serving their county in both world wars and the many other conflicts since then. We all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude, and the best way I believe we can repay that debt is by never forgetting the tremendous courage that our armed forces, past and present display throughout the world as they strive to bring peace and stability in areas of the world that suffer from instability and conflict.

"The Royal British Legion, who arrange the remembrance services each year deserve to be congratulated not only for arranging the annual parade, but also for the work they do throughout the year in supporting and assisting armed forces’ veterans in many ways, and I would like to thank them for all their hard work locally.

"I was delighted to be able to visit Crynant Primary school last Friday to officially open their new adventure trail. From September 2008, every primary school in Neath will begin teaching every child between the ages of 3 and 7 under a new scheme known as the ‘foundation phase.’ Emphasis will be placed on developing children’s knowledge, skills and understanding through experiential learning, - learning by doing and by solving real life problems both inside and outdoors. This is a very exciting development for education in Wales, and is a distinctive welsh policy for schools in Wales.

"In the last few weeks, I have launched my new website. As Neath’s AM, I think it’s vital that I use every possible way of communicating with my constituents. You can find my website by logging on to http://www.gwendathomas.com/

Press Release: TIME TO CONFRONT BULLYING SAYS NEATH AM

- Anti-bullying week targets bullying in and out of school

Neath Labour AM Gwenda Thomas has added her support for the Labour led Assembly Government’s anti-bullying week (November 19th- 23rd).

Following last year’s successful campaign Welsh Labour’s Education Minister Jane Hutt has said this year’s campaign will aim to raise awareness over bullying outside the classroom.

Welsh Labour wants to see local schools focus on tackling the increasing problem of bullying over text messages or on social network websites and also wants schools to focus on racist and homophobic bullying.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said:

’’We’re becoming increasingly aware of bullying over the internet or on mobile phones which is why this year’s campaign will raise awareness over bullying in and out side of the school environment .

‘’Welsh Labour wants to help children, parents and pupils stamp out this sort of behaviour.

‘’Bullying takes many forms, which is why it is vital that we address the issue of cyber-bullying and look at ways to tackle racist and homophobic bullying.

‘’The most important thing is that young people who are being bullied talk to someone. Teachers, parents and fellow pupils can help. I hope that schools across my constituency will get involved in this year’s anti-bullying campaign. We have to all work together and tackle bullying every day in whatever form is takes.’’