A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home.

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates writes…

The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on our lives in so many different ways. Many Wrexham.com readers have contacted me, whether it’s been for support for your business, advice on childcare or benefits or help with getting food and medicine during the outbreak.

It’s clear that our recovery will take some time, but I am confident that we will recover. We are getting through this crisis by pulling together, and will we regroup and prosper again together.

The community spirit we have seen throughout our area has been inspiring and genuinely heartwarming. I have never been prouder to represent the people of Clwyd South.
In Wales, public health and controlling the pandemic remain our top priorities.

Another major part of our work has been to support businesses through this pandemic. Our package of support is the most generous for businesses anywhere in the UK, totalling £1.7bn. When it comes to the economy, the Welsh Government task’s is to ensure that, when the time is right, our businesses, our transport network and our skills system are ready not only to adapt and transition to the post-Coronavirus world but, crucially, that we are ready and able to Build Back Better for the sake of this and future generations.
A key part of this work is ensuring we don’t pull away too soon the critical economic underpinning of the lockdown – the support the UK Government has introduced through the Job Retention Scheme. None of the devolved governments acting on their own had the fiscal fire-power to secure incomes and livelihoods in the way the Job Retention Scheme has, and it is vital it is not withdrawn or scaled back before businesses have been able to properly restart their operations.

The Welsh Government has confirmed that businesses whose headquarters are based in a recognised ‘tax haven’ will not be eligible for COVID-19 financial support.
We don’t think businesses who don’t pay tax should benefit from the interventions we are making to try and protect our economy. This is another important stance in building a better economy and fairer society for Wales. (LINK HERE https://gov.wales/wales-economic-resilience-fund-will-not-support-tax-avoiders)

Everyone in Wales with symptoms of coronavirus is now able to request a test.

Wales has joined a new UK-wide system for ordering home testing kits, in line with the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy (https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect). Anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms will also be able to apply for a home testing kit here: https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-test

This will be supported by a national 119 phone service through which people can also order a home test.

You can read the Health Minister’s Statement here: https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-testing and the advice here: https://gov.wales/testing-covid-19-care-homes-consensus-statement

I have previously raised the issue of testing for care home residents and staff in Clwyd South with the Welsh Government after a number of constituents contacted me with their concerns.

I know from visiting care homes in our area, such as The Old Vicarage in Llangollen, what a remarkable job they do, and I’m acutely aware that they are all having to deal with the many new challenges that coronavirus has brought on top of the usual demands of providing professional and compassionate care.

I welcome the recent announcement by the Health Minister that testing is has been extended to all care home residents in Wales following a change in scientific advice, and I hope it provides reassurance that the Welsh Government is committed to supporting our care homes.

As I have had to postpone my usual advice surgeries, I have been holding a number of telephone surgeries for people living in Clwyd South. Arrangements for upcoming surgeries will be confirmed through local media and on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/KenSkatesMS/).

My constituency office remains closed until further notice, but I am still here to help.
Please email [email protected], ensuring that you include your full home address and a contact number. If you need to speak to someone, you can also call 0300 200 7114 and will be automatically transferred to a member of my team working from home.

For more information and useful links and contact details which may help answer your questions, visit my website: http://www.kenskates.co.uk/en/update-on-covid-19/