http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Kirsty Williams AM en-GB Kirsty Williams AM http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Kirsty Williams AM 2008-10-07T13:46+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000072/rural_fuel_rebate.html It cannot be said that we are not lucky to live in Brecon and Radnorshire - with its beautiful green rolling landscape right on our door step. We are living closely with nature and in communities that have strong identities and strong support networks. I would not change any of this for the world. Yet at the same time it feels like we are having to continuously fight for the very survival of this way of life and for the lifelines that link these communities. The Government may state policy on sustainable communities but at every turn they are acting to erode rural communities; from our post offices to our hospitals to our public transport to our schools - these essential services that not only serve our communities but are often at the very heart of their existence and without which will slowly wither away. As these services are taken away from us the transport links between services and settlements become ever more important. With an aging population and the rising cost of fuel we cannot afford to reduce our transport network and allow the elderly and vulnerable to fall into isolation we must build a sound and sustainable transport service in preparation. 2008-06-27T00:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000069/its_time_to_make_national_parks_democratic.html As National Park Residents, we know all too well that the realities behind the rolling Beacons and breathtaking views that so entice visitors to our area, are the same as those of any living and working community. Like any other area we need jobs, homes, services, and facilities for young people. Yet we often cannot make those decisions about whether or not to repaint our house or build an extension without coming into contact with the National Park Authority. So surely if they can play such a significant role in of our lives they should open, transparent and accountable. 2008-06-25T09:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000067/crosfield_house.html In recent weeks there has been much discussion about how we value our armed forces. Are they paid enough? Are their families adequately supported when they are away on tours of duty, and most importantly of all do we look after properly them if they are wounded and maimed? The government has faced a great deal of criticism from many quarters that there are inadequate facilities for the treatment of wounded troops, and rightly so. After all it was the government that sent these young people to Iraq and Afghanistan the least they can do now is look after them. 2008-06-17T09:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000068/welsh_bus_issues.html Recent weeks have seen some rare good news for long suffering public transport users: In England OAPs and disabled people have joyously accepted their new concessionary passes for free bus travel; and in parts of Wales, including the Cambrian coast, free rail travel for pass holders has been expanded. Great news! But, and there is a big but for those living in rural mid wales there has also been a flip side to the coin. 2008-05-30T21:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000061/crumbling_foundations.html For months the Government has refused point blank to admit that there were any problems with the roll out of the Foundation Phase, the new curriculum for 3 to 7-year-olds. Finally after immense pressure from teachers, unions, local authorities and from within the Chamber we have got them to back down and admit that the implementation plans were flawed. 2008-05-16T00:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000062/10p_tax.html At a time when we are all tightening the money belt due to the hotly discussed 'credit crunch', Labour have gone and doubled the starting rate of income tax from 10p to 20p in the pound. Ten years ago, Gordon Brown introduced the 10p tax rate saying it would help the lowest paid people in Britain now they are doubling tax for the least wealthy in our communities. Indeed 5.3 million taxpayers are worse off under the changes. The effect of the change to the tax system is to double the rate of income tax paid on the first £2230 of taxable income from 10p to 20p in the pound. For those on higher incomes, this is offset by a cut in the standard rate of income tax from 22p to 20p in the pound. Though the standard rate of income tax has been cut from 22p to 20p in the pound, a single person with no children would have to be earning over £18,500 to be better off under the tax changes. As it stands a single person with no children earning less than £18,500 will be a net loser by up to £232 a year. 2008-05-02T00:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000066/knowledge_transfer.html At a time when Wales' economy is being driven backwards by a complacent coalition Government, with a 1.4% fall in economic activity over the past year compared to marginal increases in England and Scotland, the UK-wide credit crunch and the economic crisis looming ever larger in the shadows is certainly of little comfort. This along with the overawing emergence of China and India as major international economic powers have presented an industrial challenge never before seen and one which we as a country will have to learn to live with and adapt to. China, with its stringent education system and work ethic is fast showing that 'knowledge' is a key asset in setting the course for sturdy and vigorous economic development. The importance of our 'knowledge economy' is only set to grow, but the key question is, will our knowledge economy itself grow and follow in the footsteps of Ireland's success? 2008-04-20T00:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000063/post_office_closure.html You will all be as familiar with the news that 14 local post offices across Powys have been earmarked for closure as you are with the iconic pillar box red and yellow of the post office sign. Our local post office is an essential social and economic hub of the community, not only a place to buy stamps and pick up your pension but a place to catch up with neighbours and friends. But with the Labour Government's decision last year to close one in every 5 branches our traditional Post Office and all that it represents is fast becoming a rarity. 2008-04-11T00:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000065/local_transport.html The Plaid-Labour Government is certainly not letting-up in its affront on public services. Having struck another blow to the abilities of local authorities to deliver frontline services, with the abysmal budget settlement, where Powys was at the bottom of the pile; they are still marching on in their destruction of local provisions. 2008-04-04T00:00+01:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000060/save_our_post_offices.html The local Post Office with its Red and yellow sign is an iconic image that sits at the heart of what we see as a traditional Welsh village. But with the Labour Government's decision to close one in every five branches last year our traditional Post Office is becoming an endangered species. Last week the true extent of the threat to our post offices in Brecon & Radnorshire was revealed with announcements that there would be 6 complete closures and that 8 other branches were to shut and be replaced by outreach services. 2008-03-27T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000059/petitioning_the_assembly.html When people think of the Assembly they all too often picture Grey-Suits in Cardiff offices making decisions with scant regard for the voices of those they serve back in their constituencies. While this may indeed sometimes be an accurate image of the Assembly Government and its Ministers, the Assembly as a whole is fighting this undemocratic practice. As well AMs listening to the concerns of their constituents through surgeries there is now also a process for the people of Wales to speak directly to the Assembly in the form of petitioning. 2008-02-29T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000058/climate_change_and_buses.html Climate change; a phrase no doubt all too familiar, indeed it could be said that if we spent less time talking about climate change and more time taking action to combat it we may be in a better state of affairs. Last week the Assembly debated 'climate change'; a tall order to fit such an immense topic into just 60 minutes. As always there was cross party consensus that this was a terrible infliction on Wales and that action needed to be taken to reverse the trend. However whilst the other parties paid lip service to greening our nation the liberal democrats were the only party to have policies to reinforce the positive words being spoken. 2008-02-22T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000056/crossborder_health.html This week I will be making a trip abroad. I am heading across the border to England and meeting Hereford hospital's Chief Executive to discuss the ever present 'cross border' difficulties, that judging by my mail bag and surgeries, a great many of you are all too familiar with. To those living in Cardiff this may sound like a strange and foreign concept; indeed to a Powys patient trying to get treatment it can often seem that we are caught up in the complicated world of international negotiation. But can it really be that difficult to have continuity of service across what is undoubtedly an historic and important divide, but an arbitrary line nonetheless? Living in the marches we are all familiar with the fluidity of transport and business links between England and Wales and we do of course speak the same language which can so often be an obstacle to international dealings. In Brecon and Radnorshire we know that the border is not an impenetrable barrier to our day to day activities; but it seems that to the Cardiff bubble of decision makers it is held as an impassable edge for all that is Welsh. 2008-02-14T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000054/social_service.html I am a strong believer that in order for Parliamentarians to carry out their job to the best of their ability they must spend as much time as possible out in their local communities talking and listening to residents, service users, workers, OAPs, professionals and business people. Assembly Members cannot stay hidden in the Cardiff Bay bubble of the Senedd, talking about people's lives and futures, without having been out into the real world to talk with the experts who have first hand experience, namely the people whom they represent. 2008-01-28T16:59+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/articles/000057/fuel_poverty.html It may be a new year but the cold nights are still with us and many amongst us will still be fighting back the chill and warming up by putting on by flicking on the central heating switch. But for some it's not quite that simple, a large number of vulnerable and often elderly people in our communities are without adequate heating systems or without the money to pay for ever- increasing fuel prices. You may be surprised by the idea of fuel poverty in this country but it is a very real and important issue. Rural areas such as ours, with the many old stone cottages, have more than their fair share of homes that are hard to heat and this is made worse by the fact that charges are again on the rise. 2008-01-25T00:00+00:00