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…

I am being contacted by a growing number of constituents who are extremely anxious and worried about the upcoming reduction in Universal Credit.

In just a few weeks, the UK Government will impose the largest reduction to the basic rate of social security since the Second World War. Clwyd South and Wrexham would be among the hardest-hit constituencies in Wales if this £1,000-a-year cut is voted through by MPs – and Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths and I have recently called on the UK Government to abandon it.

The Welsh Government, along with the UK’s other devolved administrations, has also written to the UK’s Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey, urging her not to withdraw this crucial support for some of the poorest people in society.

As benefits are not devolved to Wales, it is incumbent on Members of the UK Parliament to vote against them. We continue to hear daily soundbites from the Tories at Westminster about ‘levelling up’, which all sound pretty hollow when they’re complicit in plunging low-income families into further financial problems.

All but four Welsh constituencies will see over a third of working-age families with children hit by the planned cut – including 42% in Clwyd South.

Along with Lesley Griffiths, I visited the Discretionary Assistance Fund headquarters on Wrexham Industrial Estate last week to hear more about their amazing work.

The Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) is a Welsh Labour Government initiative that provides urgent grants to people who have nowhere else to turn. The nationwide service is administered by the team in Wrexham, who work with more than 600 partner organisations.

This is a critical time for many local families as we start to look beyond the pandemic. Sadly, rising fuel prices, coupled with Universal Credit cut and the increase to National Insurance, will result in further financial hardship for many local people.

More and more people in our area are feeling the squeeze and I am pleased that the Welsh Government hasn’t abandoned those most in need.

Since my last column, the Welsh Government has also announced a new £48m package of funding to support social care in Wales and confirmed social care settings will be provided with free PPE until March 2022.

In addition, the Welsh Government has said businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic will be protected from eviction until March 25 and registered childcare providers will benefit from 100% non-domestic rates relief for a further three years.

Together with volunteers, my team and I have been out delivering my eight-page summer newsletters to thousands of homes across Clwyd South over the past few weeks, and the final few will be out this week. It is also available in digital form, so if you haven’t received one and would like a copy please email [email protected]

It was a pleasure to welcome North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin to Llangollen this week. We discussed a range of local issues, as well as Andy and his new deputy Wayne Jones’ plans to strengthen neighbourhood policing in our communities.

Andy and Wayne will also be focusing on tackling the most serious violent and organised crime, including drug dealing and gangs which prey on vulnerable people.

First Minister Mark Drakeford recently announced an extra £3.7m to fund more Police Community Support Officers in Wales, bringing the total paid for by the Welsh Government to 600, which will dovetail with the Commissioner’s plans to solidify the link between residents and North Wales Police.

Although responsibility for policing is not devolved to Wales, Welsh Labour pledged to fund more PCSOs before the election in May because of the long-term cuts to police budgets which have affected Welsh communities, including in Clwyd South.

I look forward to working with Andy and Wayne over the next few years.

A North Wales nurse became the first person in Wales to have a third Covid-19 jab as Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board launched its autumn booster campaign.

Anyone, regardless of age, who has not yet had their first two vaccination jabs is able to book online – just follow the link here.

If you need advice or support, please email [email protected] and include your home address and a contact number. You can also find regular coronavirus updates on my Facebook page and sign up to my weekly newsletters 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).