Latest news with #WelshGovernment
Business News Wales
an hour ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
North Wales Growers Offered Chance to Contribute to School Meals
Food producers and independent businesses could benefit from a partnership with Conwy schools. Conwy council's Catering department has piloted a Welsh Government Foundational Economy and Business Wales initiative encouraging more local authorities to use Welsh suppliers when designing primary school menus. Following a pilot study which focused on green vegetables including broccoli, the organisations are calling for growers in the region to meet the demand and explore pathways to supplying fresh produce for schools. Consultant Dafydd Aled Williams, former Health and Wellbeing Manager for Conwy, says partnerships have been formed in light of Welsh Government's Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) initiative, with local authorities focused on health, sustainability and supporting families facing cost-of-living challenges. 'There has been a lot of research and work behind the scenes over the last year to introduce more Welsh produce onto schools' menus,' said Dafydd. 'Taking broccoli as an example, there was a test period where pupils were given fresh broccoli for a period of three weeks and much preferred it to frozen. 'The task then is to see how financially viable it would be to introduce fresh locally grown broccoli, which on evaluation would be on a long-term basis, but at present there is nobody in the region producing the quantities needed to supply schools. 'We can see the project unfolding over the next three years initially, identifying potential local commercial vegetable growers to work with the current fruit and veg wholesaler to explore budgets and costs. 'This demonstrates that there are commercial opportunities in growing other foodstuffs including leeks, onions and also salad vegetables such as cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce, which would have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy, for the environment and ultimately the healthy eating habits of future generations of children.' He added: 'Conwy Council has worked incredibly hard to use independent businesses and local produce where possible and other local authorities have done the same, so hopefully if everyone keeps moving in that direction it will be of long-term benefit to businesses and schools in North Wales and beyond.' Earlier this year, Business Wales held virtual events on Social Value in the Public Sector and Welsh public sector supply chains, in addition to procurement, frameworks and tendering processes. Menter Môn's Food Project Manager David Wylie says there is an exciting journey ahead and 'opportunities' for growers in North Wales. 'We have interested parties and are working hard to encourage more independent producers and businesses to capitalise on what will be huge demand,' he added. 'We want them to play a major role in public sector supply chains and appear on the menus of schools in Conwy and other local authorities keen to use more local food and drink. 'This in turn will boost the economy, employment, and give these small businesses a new revenue stream.' Examples of recent projects include the Larder Cymru Welsh Food for Schools scheme, backed by the Welsh Government Foundational Economy Team, which promotes Welsh produce and producers from across Wales and highlights how, by buying from them, schools will shorten their supply chains, encouraging sustainability, lowering carbon emissions. For more information, email david@ or visit Homepage | Business Wales.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Business
- Wales Online
First Minister criticised by Labour Senedd members over 'scattergun' Welsh Government policy
First Minister criticised by Labour Senedd members over 'scattergun' Welsh Government policy Eluned Morgan faced tough questions over her government's international strategy First Minister Eluned Morgan (Image: PA Media ) Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan was criticised over the Welsh Government's international strategy, including by some of her own party's Senedd members. She appeared at the Senedd's culture committee and was asked about international strategy and plans for an investment summit in December at the Celtic Manor in Newport. Labour's Llanelli MS, Lee Waters, asked what a planned summit would actually achieve. "You've created a summit. Well, having organised lots of conferences – conferences can take a lot of energy and deliver very little, so [it's] interesting how you measure that." The First Minister responded there were three priorities – to raise the nation's profile, grow the economy and establish Wales as a globally responsible country. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here When she was further questioned, she said: "We've got a lot of ambitions and we're doing a lot of work on it and we're expecting it to deliver quite a bit.' Asked again what December's summit at Celtic Manor will deliver, she said: "Well, you'll have to wait and see because we don't know until it's actually happened." The First Minister who was previously accused of undermining scrutiny by earlier declining to give evidence, said she would not give "chapter and verse" on expectations for the summit. Article continues below Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan then said: "I have to say I'm really unclear about what the answer was to Lee Waters' question there. "It seems very scattergun rather than strategic – that's my impression from the evidence I've just heard – how are you able to reassure me, that's not the case?" Mrs Morgan deferred to Welsh Government officials: Andrew Gwatkin and David Warren. Mr Gwatkin said: "It's not a case of us being headless, jumping from one thing to another. "There is a constant and core to what we do…. but, of course, we're a small team – we can't adapt to everything… we can't do everything and our budgets, similarly, are what they are." The questioning then turned to the international strategy, which in a previous role, Mrs Morgan was responsible for. It contains 270 actions. During the meeting on June 18, she pointed to the impact of the pandemic, Brexit, war in Ukraine and US president Trump on that. However, another Labour MS then had his say. Blaenau Gwent MS Alun Davies, said: "What we want is to understand how the government is spending public money… to hold [the] government to account for that and that's a fair and reasonable request to make." She responded that "over the summer" the 270 actions would be looked at "so it's clear and more transparent". "There will be some things in there we haven't been able to achieve because the world has changed." She then added: "Just to manage your expectations, we've got one person working on this,' with Mr Davies earlier joking: 'I've been a member here for 20 years, first minister, my expectations are well managed." Article continues below
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
A44 traffic: Aberystwyth to Llangurig section to shut
Drivers face a 77-mile diversion when a section of the main road between mid Wales and the coast closes for two days over the next fortnight. The A44 between Llangurig and Aberystwyth will be shut at Tyn-y-Cwm and Sweet Lamb, Pantmawr during the daytime from 7am to 7pm on Monday June 23 and 30. Roadworks along the same stretch of road was due to take place on Friday (June 20) but have since been cancelled "due to unforeseen circumstances", according to the Welsh Government's trunk road information service Traffic Wales on Thursday. A44 diversion map The 77-mile diversion heading east towards Llangurig, if it were completed in full, will take drivers along the A470 Llanidloes bypass to Caersws and Glantwymyn before joining the A489 to Machynlleth. Motorists will then head down the A487 towards Aberystwyth and rejoin the A44 to Pantmawr, which is located between Eisteddfa Gurig and Llangurig. A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: "Due to a technical issue the work will now begin on Monday, June 23. "This is expected to be the only day of closure for this phase of the work. "Signage is being updated." Roadworks along other Powys A-roads will be happening on the outskirts of Newtown and Welshpool starting from next week. Overnight closures along A489 Newtown Bypass will take place between 7pm and 6am between Wednesday, June 25, and Monday, June 30. There will also be night-time roadworks along the A483 Welshpool Bypass which will close the road between 7pm and 6am from Thursday (June 19) to Friday, 27.
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- General
- Leader Live
'Perfect storm' as Flintshire schools face ALN and funding pressure
That was the fear expressed by Hawarden, Ewloe councillor Dave Mackie at Thursday's meeting of Flintshire County Council's Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee. They were discussing a report on funding for specialist provision and additional learning needs (ALN). There was widespread praise for the creative work being done by schools and headteachers to deliver support for the increasing number of pupils presenting with ALN and the increasing complexity of their support needs. But the committee had serious concerns that funding pressures could soon force schools to prioritise support for those most in need. It was also revealed that there is, for the first time, a waiting list for out of county provision for those pupils with requiring the most specialist support, as all available places are now full. "We are experiencing a perfect storm of cuts in school funding, problems from Covid which you can't ignore, reduction in school rolls and the need to for ALN provision,"said Cllr Mackie. "This could lead to some very very serious problems. We know schools have had to reduce their staff and the point about specific individual care is it requires staff. "We must acknowledge the scale of the financial pressures in order to make suitable provision. "Clearly we are in a perfect storm not of our own making and we are expecting schools to cope. I think we are expecting too much." Jeanette Rock, Flintshire's senior manager for inclusion and progression, said that in 15 years she had never seen so much legitimate demand for additional educational support. "We really are seeing increased levels of need and complexity," she said. "I've worked in this role for 15 years and never seen this level of legitimate need. "Out of county provision is full. We have a challenge to find suitable places for our children and we have a waiting list for the first time. "A number of our children are struggling to engage with larger school buildings and it's fair to say that our primary sector are feeling the pinch." There was tentatively good news in the report. A feasibility study in 2018 identified the council needed to invest £38m in specialist facilities for pupils with specific needs. That bid has been submitted to the Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities Fund and is being reviewed to ensure planned works are still fit for purpose. But concerns over operational funding led to a recommendation that the committee ask full council to requisition the £1.2m of additional funding given to the authority as part of the Welsh Local Government Settlement to further support ALN provision in the county. "I have noted we are in a red risk area for funding," said Buckley Bistre West Cllr Carolyn Preece. "Where will the money come from to support this. "The Welsh Government seriously needs to recognise we are still feeling the effect of Covid. We need more provision, more funding for this specialist educational delivery that is a mandatory statutory provision because the outcome of good ALN support is amazing, it enriches people's lives. I would like to recommend that we request that £1.2m of additional money received by the council in the budget be given to the education budget because our schools really need this." The committee supported the recommendation.
The National
4 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Yes Cymru deliver Crown Estate campaign letter to Downing Street
All 22 local authorities in Wales, the Senedd, and an overwhelming 75% of the Welsh public have supported the campaign on, with the final council voting unanimously to support the proposal last week. In the letter, YesCymru set out the case for the transfer, stating that "Westminster's failure to act is strengthening the case for independence" and driving public support. Thee group highlighted the significant rise in backing for an independent Wales, from around 5% before the 2014 Scottish referendum to 41% in the most recent poll, conducted in April. READ MORE: Robin McAlpine: Why support for independence is surging in Wales Campaigners are calling for the management of Crown Estate assets in Wales to be devolved to the Welsh Government, and for the profits from these sites to stay in Wales also, instead of going to the UK Treasury. Crown Estate Scotland manages seabed, coastline, rural estates and other assets, delivering the profits to the Scottish Government for public spending. The Crown Estate in Wales, valued at over £850 million, generates significant revenue from Welsh land and seabeds. Several peers argued in October that it is only fair to devolve the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government, given Scottish assets were devolved to Scotland in 2016. Director of YesCymru, Rob Hughes, said: "Wales has been overlooked and undervalued for far too long. All we're asking for is fairness, and when that's denied, more and more people see independence as the only way forward." The letter outlines that YesCymru is willing to engage constructively with the UK Government, not only on transferring the Crown Estate but also on preparing the way for a referendum on Welsh independence. Hughes concluded: "This united support across Wales shows that YesCymru can bring people together behind a clear demand, and that real change is possible when voices across the country speak as one."
