Llur Gruffydd Addresses Ynys Mon FUW AGM
On the 24th of October Llyr Gruffydd had the privilege of addressing the Anglesey section of the Farmers Union of Wales. The meeting was held in the YFC building on the Anglesey Showground in Mona. There was a lot of ground to cover, and Mr Gruffydd discussed a host of issues affecting the rural economy including-
- Plaid Cymru's work in putting pressure on the Government to come up a workable version of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
- The implications of the new NVZ regulations coming intoo force affecting the storage and disposable of agricultural slurry on farmland. The industry is struggling to come to terms with the new regulations, especially after an unusually wet summer which has severely hampered slurry spreading over the summer months.
- The latest on the Goverenment's plans to tackle Bovine TB, and the need for a proper strategy that will reduce incidences of the disease and ease pressure on the industry.
- Plaid Cymru's call for a summit to discuss the issue of local authorities selling off Council Farms in order to balance th books. The sale of these farms greatly affects new generations of farmers trying to get into the industry.
- The issue of Blue-Tounge disease in sheep.
Llyr gruffydd stands with Wrexham workers in dispute
A Wrexham company's fire and re-hire tactics for its 1200 workers have been condemned by Plaid Cymru and Llyr Gruffydd.
In a question in the Senedd Llyr Gruffydd described the moves by Rowan Foods owners Oscar Mayer to fire and re-hire workers on worse working conditions that could cost an individual worker £3,000 a year. He called on the Welsh Government to act to ensure such attacks on workers’ conditions are rejected in Wales.
Mr Gruffydd made his comments in questions to Sarah Murphy, Minister for Social Partnership: “You might be aware that approximately 1,200 workers at Rowan Foods in Wrexham are facing an uncertain future due to plans by the owners, Oscar Mayer, to make workers redundant and change working conditions, and that includes an annual pay cut of £3,000.
“That's a policy of firing and rehiring on worse conditions, which obviously belongs to the Victorian age. I'm seeking a commitment now, as are the 1,200 workers and their union Unite, that this Government will do all it can to oppose such a regressive policy. So, do you agree that it's absolutely reprehensible that a company like this can on the one hand pay its chief executive £0.5 million a year and on the other hand treat its workers in this way? If you do, then what are you going to do to ensure that this firing and rehiring isn't allowed to happen?”
In response Sarah Murphy said:
“Obviously I'm not in favour of fire and rehire, it's not something that, as a Welsh Labour Government, we are in favour of either. I know that sometimes they try to call it something else as well. But I myself have worked with trade unions over the years to very much push back on this, with the levers that we have at the moment in the Welsh Government.
“Obviously, where we're coming from and where I'm coming from as the Minister for Social Partnership is that we'd never want to get to a place where this is happening and is happening to workers in a way that surprises them, catches them off guard, and then leaves them high and dry but also without the support to maybe be upskilled and go on to other work. I would start by saying that is what we always endeavour to do. That is not what has been able to happen in this situation.
“I am very saddened to hear this. It is under the Cabinet Secretary for the economy. We take every hit like this and feel it as well. Ultimately, we want to make sure that this doesn't happen again going forward. But, let me say on record that, no, I do not agree with this approach, and I want to make sure that this cannot happen going forward.”
Legislation needed to protect communities from quarry expansions.
Recently in the Senedd Llyr Gruffydd calledd for new legislation to protect communities from expansion of quarries
In a debate in the Senedd this week Llyr Gruffydd supported the calls from his party to create 1000m buffer zones between quarries and neighbouring communities.
In the debate, Mr Gruffydd said-
“There are concerns about extending Graig Quarry in Denbigh, which is right on the edge of town. There will be environmental impacts. We know that native trees, broadleaf trees over 100 years old, will be felled.”
Recently plans to extend the quarry , also known as Denbigh Quarry, and allow it to continue for another 25 years were opposed by Denbighshire County Councillors. The quarry expansion could still go ahead pending a decision by the Welsh Government.
Mr Gruffydd added-
“There are concerns at the nearby industrial estate about the impact of dust and vibrations from blasting at the quarry on high-end precision operations that are actually being carried out at the industrial site.
“The expansion will have an effect on social and well-being. The rerouting of public footpaths, wider impacts on access to popular walking spots, impacts of increased noise levels, an effect on air quality—all blighting nearby homes, potentially.”
A proposal, put forward by Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan in the Senedd, called for a mandatory buffer zone of 1,000 metres for all new and existing quarries to be set. The proposal aimed to reduce the risks of proposed quarrying sites to the environment and biodiversity. The aim also was to assess the impact on public health as part of the planning process.
Denbigh Quarry is an active limestone quarry, located to the north of the town. The permitted site comprises approximately 28 hectares of land with the proposed extension area amounting to a further five hectares.
The current use of the land cited for development is agricultural, used for grazing and pasture.
But this land is surrounded by woodland, some of it ancient, including Crest Mawr Woods, and two sites of special scientific interest (SSI).
Halt the sale of council farms for the sake of future generations.
Recently Llyr Gruffydd and Plaid Cymru called for a National Summit on the future of council farms
Acknowledging that councils across Wales are facing huge financial pressures that are placing council farms under threat of being sold off to balance the books, Llyr Gruffydd MS called on the government to act now before they’re lost forever.
Llyr Gruffydd said:
“We know that the financial pressure on local authorities makes the future of council farms hugely vulnerable. Councils are under immense pressure to sell them off to bring in income to pay for other services. That’s why the Government must act swiftly to protect them. There’s a real danger that this is selling off an important part of the future of farming.
“It’s time the Welsh Government brings all the key stakeholders together in a National Summit to discuss how we can secure a more sustainable future for council farms. They’re an important gateway into the industry, particularly for younger entrants who would otherwise not have an opportunity to farm. They also play a role in protecting food security and in supporting wider rural economies and services.
“A summit would get everyone around the table to consider different ways forward. Local authorities, farming unions, the Young Farmers’ Clubs, the Tenant Farmer Association, agricultural colleges and others need the opportunity to bring ideas to the table. Let’s investigate how these farms can be put to more creative use when the opportunities arise. The possibility of working with agricultural colleges to give opportunities to implement new and innovative approaches to farming could be a particularly exciting part of the mix.
“We can take inspiration from when the National Trust worked with Wales Young Farmers’ Clubs to offer bursaries to young farmers at Llyndy Isaf in Snowdonia. This gave new entrants valuable experience of farm management and an opportunity to innovate as they started their farming careers. That’s the kind of creative thinking that could be part of our approach to council farms in future.
“This national discussion on the future of council farms is long-overdue. It’s a call I originally made back in 2016 – but now we’re in the last chance saloon. Once they’re gone, they’ll be gone for good, so we need to act to protect them now.
“All options should be on the table – but Welsh Government needs to drive this agenda and make it happen – starting with a National Summit.”
North Wales dental services in crisis
Recently Llyr Gruffydd supported a call for North Wales dentistry school in face of crisis in dental services
In the wake of the news that yet another dental practice was to hand back its NHS contract in North Wales, Llyr Gruffydd – the Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd called for radical action to address the situation.
Addressing Ken Skates MS, who is the Cabinet Secretary responsible for North Wales, Mr Gruffydd said-
“You will have heard Plaid Cymru's calls for a dentistry school. I'm wondering whether you support the establishment of that proposition in principle, if not without acknowledging some of the practical challenges. And if you do, then what case are you making within Government to try and realise that ambition?”
The news that the Dant y Coed dental practice in Coedpoeth near Wrexham is handing back its NHS contract in January. The 12,000 patients on their register will cease to be treated for free on NHS terms, and instead will be required to pay for treatment.
Addressing the Senedd Llyr Gruffydd said-
“We have a situation now where a family of four potentially will have to pay £400, £500 a year just for check-ups and even more if they need any kind of treatment following that.
“We know that contracts are an issue. The dentists are telling us that there are issues with the contract between the Government and the sector, but also sufficiency of supply of dentists.”
The Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates responded-
“I can assure people in the county borough of Wrexham that there are 11 practices that provide NHS provision. There are opportunities sometimes when contracts are handed back”
According to all of the remaining 10 dental practices in the Borough of Wrexham, none of them are taking any new NHS patients onto their registers, 9 out of 10 have closed their waiting lists, and the remaining practice – My Dentist in Wrexham – have a waiting list of over 4000 potential patients.
Wishing The New Saints well in Europe
Llyr Gruffydd paid tribute to Cymru Premier champions TNS on their acievment in reching the latter stages of European competitions for the first time in the Senedd hhis week. In a statement to the chamber, Mr Gruffydd said-
"I'd like to take this opportunity to wish the New Saints well, in what is a historic moment for both the club and, of course, for Welsh football, because the Cymru Premier champions, TNS, have become the first Welsh team ever to qualify for the group stages of European club football. And, as a consequence, tomorrow night, of course, they will face Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League."
He went on to say-
"As we all know, TNS is one of the most successful teams in the history of domestic Welsh football. They've won the Cymru Premier title a record 16 times. The current squad are full-time professionals, of course, led by manager Craig Harrison. And whilst the club almost invariably qualifies for European competitions, it has always been the dream, particularly of the club's chairman, Mike Harris, to qualify for the group stages, and this time, of course, they've done it."
In conclusion, Llyr Gruffydd said-
"In becoming the first Cymru Premier team to qualify for the group stage, they now face the daunting prospect of playing some of the big names in European football, and the first historic game, of course, will be played tomorrow night against Italian giants Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with a capacity of 43,000 fans, some away off the 2,000 capacity of TNS's Park Hall ground. And Fiorentina, by the way, have been the losing finalists in this competition for the last two seasons, so it's going to be one mighty experience for Craig Harrison's team.
"Many will remember Bangor beating Napoli back in 1962. Some will remember Merthyr beating Atalanta in 1987. Well, will the New Saints be the next Welsh team to beat an Italian giant in Europe? All the best to the New Saints from everyone in the Welsh Parliament. Give them hell."
TNS will play Fiorentina tonight (Thursday 3 October) at 20.00
Farming by the calendar and not with nature?
Llyr Gruffydd accused the Government of forcing farmers to ‘farm by the calendar and not with nature’.
In a plenary session in the Senedd, Llyr Gruffydd was responding to increasing frustration in the farming sector on the implication of the new NVZ regulations. The new regulations, which came into effect across Wales in August, regulate how and when farmers can spread slurry on fields.
Llyr Gruffydd, who is Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on rural affairs, said-
“The slurry stores are still half or three-quarters full, because it has been so wet and the ground’s been so soft, farmers haven’t been able to get that out there onto their fields. So, are they supposed to spread it over the next few days, with the impact that that will have?
“Spreading slurry on water-logged ground will have serious environmental implications. Are they to leave it in the slurry pit, which could possibly overflow in future, because they’ve failed to clear their stores for this closed down period? I imagine there would be more far-reaching consequences if that were to happen.”
The Labour-run Welsh Government have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the agriculture industry in Wales over the past 12 months. The proposes flagship SFS (Sustainable Farming Scheme) attracted huge protests in March, with thousands of farmers gathering on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff. The handling of Bovine TB by the government is a long-standing sticking point for both farmers and environmentalists, and the current regulations around handling of agricultural run-off (The NVZ – Nitrate Vulnerable Zones regulations) are also hugely controversial.
In asking the Government for a statement, Llyr Gruffydd asked Cabinet Secretary Jane Hut-
“What is the Government advice to Welsh farmers on how to meet this deadline that you’ve put on the industry, in light of your decision to adhere to calendar-based farming, when nature, of course, doesn’t keep a close eye on the calendar and operates very differently?”
Note-
In the new regulations that came into force this year, the window for spreading slurry closed on October 1st on tillage land until the 31st of January, and will close on 15th of October until the 15th of January for grazing land.
A visit to a ‘vitally important’ habitat restoration scheme.
On a visit to Hafod Elwy, high up above Llyn Brenig in Conwy County, Llyr Gruffydd saw for himself the vital restoration work at work on the precious peatland habitat and said-
“For a long time, we’ve neglected, ignored and often abused this vitally important habitat. Now we’re starting to understand its importance, not only at a local level, but on a global scale too.
“The work carried out by this small team really does make a difference, and the results are already becoming visible.”
Peatlands are a vital carbon store, and can store many times more carbon than even he densest of forests. Only 4% of Wales’s land area is peatland, but retain around 30% of our land Carbon. Sadly, around 90% of our peatlands are damaged, and in a damaged state they invariably leech carbon back to the atmosphere.
Llyr Gruffydd added-
“The process involved in the restoration is simple. Firstly, the hydrology is fixed, which means that excessive drainage of the land is reversed. The rest is left to nature. Vital plant species like the sphagnum family soon return, and within years the increase in biodiversity is astounding.
“The Hafod Elwy site is a former conifer plantation, which was planted when peatlands weren’t recognised as ecologically important. The last remaining signs of the trees are disappearing and a natural equilibrium is being restored. Now we have water voles, snipes some curlew and a range of plant species returning home to the site.”
The benefits of the restoration of the peatland doesn’t end with carbon-capture and biodiversity, it has benefits beyond the site. The water run-off from the land is in far better condition than from damaged land, but more importantly, it helps reduce flooding further down the catchment area. Peatlands work like huge sponges – soaking up rainwater in wetter months, and releasing water slowly during drier times of the year.
The project in Hafod Elwy is administered by Natural Resources Wales and is funded by the Welsh Government.
To learn more about Natural Resources Wales’s National Peatland Action Programme click-
Natural Resources Wales / The National Peatland Action Programme (cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk)
Paying Senedd tribute to Wrexham man killed in Ukraine
Llyr Gruffydd has paid a moving tribute in the Senedd to Ryan Evans from Wrexham, who was killed in Ukraine last month. The former Ysgol Morgan Llwyd pupil was working as a security advisor for Reuters news agency when his hotel was struck by a Russian missile attack.
Addressing the Welsh Parliament, Llyr Gruffydd MS said:
“I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to a very special man form Wrexham, who was tragically killed in Ukraine in August. Ryan Evans was working with Reuters news agency in Kramatorsk in the east of the country, just 16 miles from the front line when the hotel he was staying in was hit by a Russian missile.
“Ryan was a security advisor for Reuters, and was staying at the hotel with a team of fellow journalists. The strike injured many of his team including an Ukrainian cameraman who was left in a coma with life changing injuries.
“As a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham he is fondly remembered by staff and former pupils alike, and after leaving school Ryan joined the Royal Welsh Regiment at the age of 17 where he served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan – rising to the rank of Corporal.
“Upon leaving the armed forces in 2010 he started working as a close protection officer accompanying British diplomats on missions to many countries including Libya, Tunisia and Syria. More recently, as a close protection specialist, he accompanied journalists into the most hostile environments and war zones.
“His final trip was one of over 20 that he’d made to Ukraine since the conflict began – always on a mission to ensure the utmost safety of his co-workers.
“Reuters paid tribute to Ryan describing him as a ‘world class security operator’. He had worked extensively in Israel this year as well as in Gaza and the West Bank providing protection to journalists. He recently covered security for Reuters staff at the Paris Olympics and was a trained paramedic, helping injured civilians on numerous occasions.
“Tragically, Ryan leaves his widow, Kerrie, and four children.
“I’m sure that all of us at the Senedd would like to extend our deepest condolences to them and his wider family in their huge and painful loss.”
Visit to a 'special project' in Mold that supports young carers
Llyr Gruffydd met groups of young people, some of primary school age who are registered carers for family members at the NEWCIS charity in Mold and piled on praise for the youngsters saying-
“These are very special members of our society. Not only are they subject to responsibilities most of us couldn’t imagine at that age, but they do it with unbelievable maturity.”
“As a society we’ve found the instances of young people taking on huge burdens as carers becoming ever more frequent. They are not rare cases but a common necessity to keep families all over the country functioning.”
The charity NEWCIS which is based in Mold offers support to carers of all ages, including the youngest children. By offering respite sessions where the young carers come together for weekly social events the carers get to relax and share experiences with others experiencing similar life challenges.
Soon the charity will be moving into new premises in the old Barclays Bank building in Mold, where all their staff, services and the spaces they need will sit under the same roof.
Claire Sullivan CEO on behalf of NEWCIS said-
"It was great to have the opportunity for our Young Carers to meet with and ask their own questions to Mr Gruffydd they really enjoyed the experience.
“To be able to show the MS around our new base was fantastic. We hope the move to the new premises will give us additional capacity for services that are vitally needed, the building will be a community resource and we hope that carers and their loved ones will enjoy the new space and the facilities.”
Llyr Gruffydd added-
“Although the Welsh Government has made progress in supporting young carers by introducing the Young Carers ID card, the Short Break Scheme and the Carers Support Fund i feel we can do more. Plaid Cymru are exploring proposing additional schemes to offer support. These include a young carers travel pass and a mental health support scheme.”
“It is vital that we offer our carers all the support they need. Although some work is happening, we can do much more for these young people.”
If you need more information on the support offered by NEWCIS – visit www.newcis.org.ukor email them at [email protected]