A view from Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency 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. (You can view an archive here).

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates writes…

As Wales comes out of the crucial fire-break period, we have a new set of national rules which were set out by the First Minister last week.

When the fire-break was announced, the Welsh Government vowed it would only last two weeks – the shortest time possible – to keep the disruption to people’s lives and businesses to a minimum. The action was led by advice from medical and scientific experts.

As we move into a new phase, I would implore people to take on board what the First Minister has repeatedly said over the past few days – that people, not government rules, continue to hold the key to the success of Wales’ response to coronavirus.

The fact remains that viruses do not spread themselves. People spread them. If we all continue to work together during this extremely difficult, crucial period, we will bring coronavirus infections under control in Wales, we will prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed and, most importantly we will save lives and prevent more families from going through the pain and suffering of losing loved ones.

The Welsh Government continues to publish a wide range of advice and guidance on its coronavirus portal, including an FAQ section on the post-firebreak rules which you can find here.

On Sunday I attended a particularly poignant remembrance service in Rhos.

While circumstances meant that we pay tribute differently this year in Clwyd South and across Wales, it is as important as ever to honour the people who gave their futures for ours.

I would like to thank the organisers for arranging such a safe and respectful remembrance service in incredibly difficult times and for inviting me to lay a wreath in memory of the fallen.

While I welcome welcome the extension of the furlough scheme, it is now clear the Chancellor could have offered Welsh workers and businesses this much-needed reassurance much earlier and I am concerned at the damage the delay has already caused.

The Welsh Government has been calling for this commitment for several weeks and we now need the UK Government to commit to backdating support for Welsh firms for the entirety of the fire-break period so that they are not disadvantaged while English businesses benefit.

We will continue to press the UK Treasury to backdate support and to work more flexibly with the Welsh Government to allow Welsh firms to access the vital support to which they are entitled.

Over the next few weeks I will be visiting a number of companies in Clwyd South who have been supported through the Welsh Government’s own £1.7bn Coronavirus funding package to see how they have adapted their operations and discuss how our own investment has helped them.

Locally, as Wrexham.com reported recently, Betsi Cadwaladr University Board has identified its preferred site for a long-awaited new surgery in Cefn Mawr.

This is something I promised to push for and I will continue the campaign alongside local county councillor Derek Wright until there are spades in the ground.

This is a major step forward and I’m grateful to the health board for committing to progressing this project as quickly as possible. I look forward to more details being made public once a business case had been approved and funding secured.

This week I will also be discussing plans for a new health centre for Hanmer with the health board, Dr Kieran Redman, the surgery’s patient action group, Simon Baynes MP and my Senedd colleagues Llyr Grufydd and Mark Isherwood.

I continue to be contacted by constituents after MPs voted against extending free school meals over school holidays.

It’s important to clarify that the vote did not affect Wales, where the Welsh Government has already guaranteed free school meal provision for all holidays up to and including Easter 2021.

We can’t wish the virus away, but we can make sure that children don’t go hungry over Christmas. You can find out more and how to apply here.

I welcome the UK Government’s recent U-turn on this policy following the campaign by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.

Although I am unable to hold public surgeries at present, my team and I are still here to help and are continuing to deal with casework as normal. If you need advice or support, please email [email protected] and include your full home address and contact number.

You can also find useful information about coronavirus support on my website www.kenskates.co.uk and Facebook page @KenSkatesMS. I also put out regular e-newsletters with the latest Welsh Government coronavirus updates and local news, which you can subscribe to here.

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency 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. (You can view an archive here).