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20 Most Recent Press Articles
It's time to make National Park's democratic
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in B & R Express on Thursday 12th June 2008 on Wed 25th Jun 2008
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.
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Read "It's time to make National Park's democratic" in full (555 words).
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Crosfield House
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 13th June 2008 on Tue 17th Jun 2008
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.
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Read "Crosfield House" in full (515 words).
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Welsh Bus Issues
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Mid Wales Journal on Friday 30th May 2008 on Fri 30th May 2008
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.
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Read "Welsh Bus Issues" in full (550 words).
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Crumbling Foundations
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 8th May 2008 on Fri 16th May 2008
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.
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Read "Crumbling Foundations" in full (529 words).
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10p Tax
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Mid Wales Journal Friday 25th April 2008 on Fri 2nd May 2008
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.
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Read "10p Tax" in full (517 words).
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Knowledge Transfer
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Parliamentary Monitor, Supplement: Blue Skies on Sun 20th Apr 2008
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?
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Read " Knowledge Transfer" in full (590 words).
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Post Office Closure
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 4th April 2008 on Fri 11th Apr 2008
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.
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Read "Post Office Closure" in full (529 words).
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Local Transport
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Mid Wales Journal on Friday 28th March 2008 on Fri 4th Apr 2008
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.
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Read "Local Transport" in full (506 words).
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Save our Post Offices
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in B & R Express on Thursday 27th March 2008 on Thu 27th Mar 2008
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.
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Read "Save our Post Offices" in full (627 words).
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Petitioning the Assembly
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 29th February 2008 on Fri 29th Feb 2008
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.
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Read "Petitioning the Assembly" in full (459 words).
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Climate Change and Buses
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Mid Wales Journal on Friday 22nd February 2008 on Fri 22nd Feb 2008
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.
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Read "Climate Change and Buses" in full (558 words).
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Cross-Border Health
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in B & R Express on Thursday 14th Feb 2008 on Thu 14th Feb 2008
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.
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Read "Cross-Border Health" in full (643 words).
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Social Service
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Mid Wales Journal on Friday 1st February on Mon 28th Jan 2008
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.
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Read "Social Service" in full (564 words).
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Fuel Poverty
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 25th January 2008 on Fri 25th Jan 2008
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.
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Read "Fuel Poverty" in full (567 words).
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Cross Border Services
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 21st Decemebr 2007 on Fri 21st Dec 2007
Living in the marches we are all familiar with the fluidity of service use across the Wales-England border. To residents of Radnorshire it may seem obvious that the undoubtedly historic and important divide, but arbitrary line nonetheless, 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.
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Read "Cross Border Services" in full (489 words).
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Small School Closure in Wales Report
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Times Education Supplement Commentry Friday 16th November on Fri 23rd Nov 2007
Well, the IWAs 'Small school closure in Wales' report has certainly caused a stir. The much talked up report was heralded weeks before its release as shocking and conclusive evidence that small school closure was a 'good thing'. The controversy loving media chose to make it top news; LAs and WAG delighted that finally there was to be real evidence that their money saving closures could now also be justified on educational grounds. Yet the morning after the dizzy launch the hangover kicked in as the report was read and its substance questioned beyond the sound bite hype.
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Read "Small School Closure in Wales Report" in full (797 words).
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NSPCCC Child Abuse Campaign
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 23rd November 2007 on Fri 23rd Nov 2007
This autumn the NSPCC have moved with a bang into the second phase of their 'Cruelty to children must stop. FULL STOP.' Campaign. My postbag has been full of postcards sent by constituents as part of the NSPCCs call on organisations and individuals to make protecting children in our communities a priority. Having successfully spent the last eight years of the campaign raising awareness of child cruelty issues they are now moving to push us all to take action to end child cruelty full stop.
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Read "NSPCCC Child Abuse Campaign" in full (487 words).
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Affordable Housing
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in County Times 2nd November 2007 on Fri 2nd Nov 2007
Powys had the third highest average house prices in Wales for 2006, with the average house price being £159,000. Since 1999 there has been an average price increase of 169.5%! For most of us these are crazy figures for young families and first time buyers these are beyond crazy they are simply unaffordable. Across Wales as a whole house prices in 2006 were 6.28 times full-time pay rates. In Powys this figure was at 7.95 - the 4th highest ratio in Wales. A worrying pattern of inequality is beginning to emerge, with all of the 9 local authorities classified as rural having the highest house price to earnings ratios in Wales. This means that in country areas such as ours, this problem is bigger than areas more traditionally seen as being deprived such as the Valleys. Surprising to some, not so surprising to the 305 people in Powys who contacted the council regarding their homelessness between April and June of this year and the steady stream of constituents who contact me on the issue.
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Read "Affordable Housing" in full (547 words).
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Mental Health
Written by Kirsty Williams AM and published in Mid Wales Journal on Friday 26th Oct 2007 on Fri 26th Oct 2007
Although I am no longer a member of the Health and Social Services Committee, old habits die hard, and I am delighted that last week we saw proposals for the Assembly to have the power to make its own mental health laws accepted. This Legislative Competence Order seeks to draw law making powers from Westminster to Cardiff and give the Assembly the power to add and build upon the current mental health legislative framework. It is regrettable that time and opportunity has been wasted due to the previous Minister refusing to ask for framework powers over this subject when the legislation was going through parliament, but it is certainly better late than never. With approximately one in three people in Wales suffering from some form of mental illness at some stage in their life it is an area of law that will impact hugely upon the welsh population.
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Read "Mental Health" in full (533 words).
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Micro-generation
Written by Kirsty Williams AM on Thu 25th Oct 2007
As the cold nights draw in, many of us are warming up by putting on the central heating with the easy flick of a switch. But it's not always 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 fuel. Some people are 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 our fair share of homes that are hard to heat made worse by the fact that charges are ever increasing.
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Read "Micro-generation" in full (565 words).
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