 Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has said she has been heartened by the generosity of local businesses and volunteers over the festive period.
The MS has been collecting items for Christmas hampers for older residents in the area which have been organised through the Lamplighter Community Café in Bishopston. Rebecca Evans MS said: “I am so grateful to the volunteers who, inspired by the wonderful community response during the March lockdown, have continued to support our older residents. These festive hampers are a lovely and thoughtful touch! “I am also indebted to the local businesses who have offered their support, even in such a difficult year. The treats so kindly donated by Olives and Oils in Mumbles, and Blakes Popcorn will definitely add a little something special this Christmas.” Picture: Rebecca Evans MS collecting items for the hampers from Olives and Oils, Mumbles. Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the announcement that parents and carers on low incomes with children who are self-isolating will be eligible for a £500 support payment.
Rebecca Evans said: “I am pleased that the Welsh Government’s Self-Isolation Support Scheme, which provides financial support to people on low incomes or who are facing financial hardship when they are asked to self-isolate by the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service, is now being extended to help parents and carers who have to take time off work to look after their children when they have to self-isolate because of a coronavirus outbreak in their school or childcare setting.” The Self-Isolation Support Scheme will be extended to parents and carers on low incomes who meet the criteria for the main scheme. To qualify, they must have a child attending a school or childcare setting up to and including in year eight – or up to age 25 if the learner has multiple and complex additional needs – and who has received a formal notification to self-isolate from Test Trace Protect or their education or childcare setting. Rebecca Evans added: “For many families, taking time off work to care for their children who are in isolation leads to a loss of income. The Welsh Government’s £500 payment can make a real difference". Swansea’s Senedd Members are welcoming the latest figures which show that thousands of businesses across Swansea have benefitted from Welsh Government financial support.
Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, said: “The pandemic is both a health and economic crisis, and local businesses tell me what an incredibly difficult period this has been. More than 4,000 Swansea businesses operating from a business premises have received much-needed grants worth more than £50m.” Mike Hedges MS, Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, said: “The Economic Resilience Fund has also been important in helping see businesses through the worst of the pandemic. So far, more than £27m has been awarded to 4,600 businesses in Swansea.” On the 30 November the First Minister announced a £340m package of support directed primarily at the hospitality, tourism and related supply chain sectors. The purpose of the fund is to support businesses into the new year with cash flow support to help them survive the economic consequences of the restrictions put in place. Julie James MS, Member of the Senedd for Swansea West, said: “Alongside the grants and rates support, the Welsh Government is providing loans to businesses through the Development Bank of Wales’ Covid-19 Wales Business Loan Scheme. More than £6m has been provided to 93 local businesses, and this has helped to safeguard 1,444 jobs here in Swansea.” Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the news that recycling across Wales has exceeded it’s 64% target.
Rebecca Evans MS said: “Recycling in Wales has reached a record high, and this is thanks to the commitment of people in Gower and across Wales who are making determined steps to ensure that we leave behind a sustainable and healthy environment for generations to come.” The figures show 1.51 million tonnes of material was generated within Local Authorities in Wales in 2019-20, a decrease of almost 2.0 per cent on 2018-19. Nearly a million tonnes (984,935 tonnes) of this waste was recycled, re-used or composted. Since devolution the Welsh Government has invested £1 billion in household recycling. Rebecca Evans said: “Wales is a world leader in household recycling, and these encouraging figures show Wales is set on track to meet the Welsh Government’s zero waste goal by 2050.”
Saturday the 5th of December marks this year’s Small Business Saturday, and Rebecca Evans MS, and Tonia Antoniazzi MP are encouraging their Gower constituents to ‘shop local’ this weekend
and in the run up to Christmas. The pair have supported Small Business Saturday for many years, but this year it has a special resonance. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said: “Small businesses are the beating heart of our communities, and this year, more than ever, they need our support. Small businesses across Gower have gone above and beyond throughout the crisis to sustain our communities, so ‘shopping local’ is a great way to say ‘thank you.’” The Welsh Labour Government has supported small businesses throughout the Coronavirus pandemic by providing the most generous and comprehensive package of support anywhere in the UK – the £1.7bn plus business support package complements other UK schemes. Rebecca Evans MS said: “Our package of grants and rate reliefs has meant that more businesses in Wales have received some form of government support than in any other part of the UK. Despite this, I know that many businesses are still facing a tough time. Choosing to support local traders when you shop can make all the difference, sustaining local jobs. And you can find some wonderful and unique Christmas presents that you won’t find anywhere else!” Tonia Antoniazzi MP and Rebecca Evans MS are using their social media channels to promote Gower’s small businesses – if you would like to get involved, please send them an email. ENDS Notes to editors: Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.
Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, has welcomed the announcement that GP recruitment figures in Wales have reached record numbers for the third year running. 200 new GP trainees have been recruited this year - a 7% increase from last year’s figure of 186. Rebecca Evans MS, said: “At a time when the vital role that the NHS and it’s staff play is so firmly in our thoughts, it is encouraging to see so many people coming forward wanting to play their part and wanting to make a career of treating and caring for people.” The trainees have been recruited by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), which over the last few years has established a number of initiatives to promote Wales as a great place to train and work. They include a targeted scheme offering £20,000 to GP trainees taking up posts in specified areas with a trend of low fill rates. Rebecca Evans added: “This notable increase in GP training in Wales will have a direct impact on the care and treatment that patients in Wales will receive in the years ahead.” ENDS  |
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Neither The Welsh Parliament, nor Rebecca Evans MS are responsible for the content of external links or websites.