Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal Democrats

Figures released today have shown cancer waiting times at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board are at their worst since 2010. The Welsh Labour Government has a target for 95% of urgent patients to be seen by a specialist within 62 days, but statistics published this morning show that only 69.9% of the cases treated by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg started definitive treatment within this time period. Abertawe LHB has the worst cancer waiting times in the whole of Wales. Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democraats South Wales West AM said: "It is disturbing to see how cancer waiting times are getting worse in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. Sixty two days is already an incredibly long time for a person to have to wait to be seen by a cancer specialist, to force people to wait even longer than that is completely unacceptable. "The Welsh Labour Government's waiting target hasn't been met by Abertawe LHB since June 2010, yet rather than seeing progress, the percentage of people waiting for treatment has grown once again. This is intolerable. "It's a sad fact that the Welsh Labour Government is failing many cancer patients across Wales. Whether it is inadequate cancer care, poor ambulance response times or dire A&E waiting times, the Welsh Labour Government is not offering a health service that patients in Wales want and deserve." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has given a guarded welcome to proposals by five health boards in South Wales to reconfigure maternity, accident and emergency and in-patient children services into five hospitals including Morriston and Princess of Wales. The proposals, which will go out to consultation tomorrow involve relocating consultant-led maternity and neonatal care, in-patient children's services and those accident and emergency referrals requiring consultant involvement to the Heath Hospital, Morriston Hospital, a new care centre in Gwent, Prince Charles Hospital and Princess of Wales Hospital. In addition, Morriston and UHW will work together to create a major trauma centre on two sites. However, Mr. Black warned that although it now looked as if Swansea and Bridgend will retain key specialities, local residents should not be complacent. "These proposals are not set in stone," said Mr. Black. "There will be a consultation period between 23 May and 19 July during which many representations will be made, particularly from those keen to reverse the decision to downgrade the Royal Glamorgan. The final decision is not due to be made until October. "We need therefore to remain vigilant, continue to make the case for our hospitals to keep these services locally and above all, ensure that the new consultation reflects the views of residents in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed the decision of the Health Minister to ensure that the drug Kalydeco is made available for the 13 sufferers of Cystic Fibrosis in Wales who will benefit from it. Mr. Black had previously written to the Health Minister on behalf of a number of constituents to ask him to overrule the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group decision not to approve this drug in Wales. The Minister has now decided that a way must be found to provide Kalydeco within NHS Wales for those eligible patients with cystic fibrosis. He has therefore confirmed that Kalydeco will be available for these 13 individuals Commenting Mr. Black said: "The drug, which has been approved for use in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland could lead to an increase in life expectancy of 10 years and already has made an improvement to the quality of life for people with the G551D mutation of Cystic Fibrosis in other parts of the UK. "I am pleased that commonsense has prevailed in this case and that the Minister is also tasking the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer to set up a review of the appraisal process to deal with these new, innovative medicines for rare diseases." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed measures in the Queen's Speech that will help 4,520 businesses in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend by cutting National Insurance Contributions, introduce a flat rate pension for all and take action to tackle anti-social behaviour. The National Insurance Contributions Bill announced by the Queen will introduce a National Insurance employment allowance of £2,000, reducing the cost of employment and supporting small businesses aspiring to grow and wanting to hire their first employee or expand their workforce. The Anti-Social Behaviour Bill will build on the Coalition Government's already impressive record on tackling crime, the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour inSwansea, Neath, Port Talbot, and Bridgend has already fallen by over 34,000since 2010, by ending the discredited ASBOs, which became a rite of passage among some young offenders and were routinely breached by them. Among other measures, the new legislation will introduce a Community Trigger, ensuring communities can trigger investigations if they have not been dealt with properly up to that point, and a Community Remedy which will give victims of low-level crime and anti-social behaviour a say in the punishment of the offender once they've admitted guilt. The Government also plan to bring in a single flat rate pension of £144 a week from April 2016. The change will help women who have given up work to raise children and end means-tested top-ups such as pension credit. This is in addition to the triple lock, championed by the Liberal Democrats, which has ensured a record rise in the state pension of £12.50 a week since 2010. The triple lock will continue to safeguard an increase in the state pension in line with earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher. Mr. Black said: "These changes are important components of the Coalition Government's agenda of protecting communities, reintroducing fairness and helping to stimulate the local economy. "Building strong local businesses that last, ensuring that pensioners get a fair deal and tackling anti-social behaviour are popular measures that will make a big difference for many people and communities in the region I represent." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has branded the Welsh Labour Government's failure to address ambulance response times an 'absolute disgrace', as figures show that in Bridgend only 45.5% of ambulances responded within the 8 minute target, the figure for Neath Port Talbot is 51 % of ambulances, whilst for Swansea it is 56.2%. This makes it the 10th successive month in which the ambulance service has missed the important category A (immediately life-threatening) All-Wales response target. The Welsh Labour Government's target is for 65% of category A calls to receive an ambulance response time within eight minutes. These figures are the worst since 2010. Mr. Black commented: "The Welsh Labour Government's failure to address ambulance response times is an absolute disgrace. This Welsh Labour Government has completely failed to get a grip on poor response times and the issue is only getting worse. "Why should the people of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend have to put up with some of the worst response times in the whole of Wales? "I recognise that there were a large amount of calls in March with difficult weather conditions, but there really is no excuse for these appalling figures. Welsh Labour Ministers should hang their heads in shame. "Fast ambulance response times often mean the difference between life and death. Targets here in Wales are already 10% behind those in England and Scotland, yet still Wales is nowhere near meeting these unambitious targets. "Welsh Ambulance staff are working incredibly hard to deliver the best response times they can, but they are clearly working in a failing system that is getting in the way of them doing their job." ENDS Response times can be found here: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2013/130424-ambulance-services-march-2013-en.pdf Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has written to Neath Port Talbot Council to raise concerns about their proposed changes to home to school transport. The Council intend to remove the escorts that accompany children on school buses and take away the right for pre-schoolers to buy a seat on the bus. They say that in order to remove the risk associated with unaccompanied 3 and 4 year olds they will stop them using the bus so that the Council no longer need to pay for an escort. Mr. Black said "I am concerned about the safety of a bus driver being expected to keep order and identify whether a child is getting off at the right stop and is being collected by the right adult whilst driving a 57 seat coach. I do not believe that sufficient consideration has been given to the welfare of the children when making this decision." "The proposal to remove the right for a parent to buy a seat for their pre-school child was done without proper consultation as it was sneaked in at the last minute and was not in the original consultation document. I have asked the Council to think again. "If this were to be implemented many parents on low incomes or without private transport would be adversely affected. This could lead to the child not attending school until compulsory school age leaving them at a disadvantage to their peers. I believe that Neath Port Talbot Council need to undertake a proper consultation on this." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly for South Wales West, Peter Black has called for urgent action from the Welsh Government to tackle the burgeoning number of cancelled operations in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend as a result of the measles outbreak. Mr. Black raised the issue with the Welsh Health Minister in the Assembly this afternoon, following reports that the number of patients hospitalised from measles has increased by 24% in the past week. He told the Minister that this had left little capacity in local hospitals with the result that many more operations are being cancelled for lack of a bed space. Mr. Black said: "I accept that we need to put resources into tackling the real threat that is posed by the measles outbreak; however we also need to balance that against the clinical need of other patients and ensure that urgent operations, particularly in life-threatening situations are not lost. "The accounts I have had of cancelled operations, some of which have been from people in very distressing circumstances, are from across the range of NHS specialisms provided in our region. "I would have expected Ministers and health boards to have shown the necessary foresight to make sure the system has sufficient in reserve to be able to cope with situations like that now facing us. For instance, Ministers should have found out years ago which areas in Wales had low rates of vaccination, and put plans in place then to educate parents and target vaccinations at older children. "People in South Wales West have a right both to expect that important operations to relieve painful and disabling chronic conditions should be carried out as arranged, and to expect that those needing emergency treatment can get it as needed. "Rather than waiting for problems to arise, Ministers need to begin to anticipate likely problems and plan to meet them. Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Families in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend are to get greater financial support for childcare thanks to a major new initiative. Welsh Liberal Democrats analysis shows that the £1 billion boost to help parents with childcare costs could benefit 18,445 families in the area, 8,368 in Swansea, 4,966 in Neath Port Talbot and 5,111 in Bridgend. The Coalition Government's scheme will save the typical working family with two children up to £2,400 a year. The Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has today welcomed the plans, which were announced by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, as "much needed help" for working families. "Everyone knows that the cost of childcare is a big worry for many families," said Mr. Black. "Almost a quarter of employed mothers say they would like to work longer hours but can't do so because of the cost of childcare. "Making sure all families, and mothers in particular, can afford to work is important to help build a stronger economy as well as deliver a fairer society. This has been an absolute priority for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats and I am delighted we are able to give parents this much needed help." Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg said: "The rising cost of childcare is one of the biggest challenges parents face and it means many mums and dads simply can't afford to work. This not only hurts them financially, but is bad for the economy too. "This announcement of a £1bn investment in childcare will make sure it pays to work. "An extra £1,200 for each child will make a real difference to families in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend and families across the country just like you, who find it constantly worrying about how to juggle the family budget. "Extending support for working families on Universal Credit will also make sure it is worth working extra hours even if you're on low wages." ENDS Notes to editors: It will be phased in from autumn 2015 and will ultimately be open to around 2.5 million families with children under 12. From the first year of operation, all children under five will be eligible, initially opening the scheme to 1.3 million families, and the scheme will build up over time to include children under 12. To be eligible, families will have all parents in work, with each earning less than £150,000 a year, and will not already receive support through tax credits and later, Universal Credit. They will receive 20% - equivalent to the basic rate of tax - of their yearly childcare costs up to £6,000 per child. The new tax-free childcare scheme will massively extend support compared to the current system of Employer Supported Childcare (ESC). ESC will continue for current members if they want to stay in it, but new claimants will get support through the new tax-free offer. ESC will also continue to be open to new joiners until the tax-free childcare scheme is available. Eligible ESC recipients may choose to move into the new tax-free childcare scheme if they wish, but will not be able to receive both. For a family with two children, the new offer will be worth more than double the amount of a single claim for ESC, and will be open to around five times as many families. For parents who currently receive childcare support through tax credits and in due course Universal Credit, the Government will increase childcare support to improve work incentives and ensure that it is worthwhile to work up to full-time hours for low and middle income parents. An additional £200m of support will be provided within Universal Credit, which is equivalent to covering 85% of childcare costs for households qualifying for the Universal Credit childcare element where the lone parent or both earners in a couple pay income tax. The details of how to provide this support will be determined as part of the consultation on the scheme for parents not in receipt of Universal Credit, to ensure the two schemes operate effectively together. The new tax-free offer will be phased in from autumn 2015, partly funded by the phasing out of ESC. The £200m Universal Credit offer is planned to be phased in from April 2016 as childcare support moves from tax credits into Universal Credit and will be funded from within social security budgets at the time. Details will be set out in future spending reviews. The Government will shortly consult on the detail of the new tax-free childcare scheme, including on how employers could continue to play a role in supporting their employees with childcare costs within the new system. Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Assembly budget deal between Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats 16 months ago is delivering over £6.5 million extra into schools in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend from next month. The deal in November 2011 secured an extra £450, given directly to schools to provide support for the poorest pupils. However, the Welsh Liberal Democrats insisted that this would not be a one-off. Instead they agreed that the grant to be repeated for three years. Despite the fact Labour refused to increase the amount for the next financial year, local schools will get the same boost this year and the year after. "This is a good deal for local school children," said Peter Black. "It means that for the second year running schools in Swansea will receive over £2.8 million between them, Bridgend schools more than £1.7 million and schools in Neath Port Talbot will share nearly £2 million. "Four in five of those pupils receiving free school meals will fail to get five good GCSEs including maths and English. Investment in local schools is the best way to break down the cycle of poverty, poor health and a weak economy. "The deal that Welsh Liberal Democrats did with Labour in 2011 so as to get their Assembly budget through ensured a much higher priority for education. That will continue into the next financial year and the one after that." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed the announcement that Skewen-born Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler will be representing the UK at Eurovision this year. Famous for hits such as 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', Tyler will sing 'Believe in Me' at this year's singing competition. Mr. Black said: "I am so pleased that Bonnie will be representing us at Eurovision this year. She will give 110% to help the UK win this year. A small part of Skewen will be represented in Sweden. "I have raised a Statement of Opinion at the National Assembly for Wales, so I urge all Assembly Members to show their support by congratulating and backing Bonnie. "She will do Wales proud as well as the whole of the UK at Eurovision this year." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has challenged the First Minister to justify his government's failure to provide IVF facilities for couples in South Wales West after it was revealed that there is now an 18 month waiting list for treatment. Speaking during First Minister's Questions today, Mr. Black pointed out that the new IVF treatment centre at Neath Port Talbot Hospital is a year behind schedule, meaning that it will not open until April this year. That is 18 months after the Welsh Government ceased to send patients to the London Women's Clinic at Singleton Hospital because they disagree with private medicine. Women waiting for IVF treatment are being sent to Bristol at an additional cost of £500,000 to the NHS. Mr. Black challenged the First Minister to say whether he thought this was value for money: "The Welsh Government's ideological decision to make this change has led to additional cost to a hard-pressed local health service, greater stress and anxiety for those women and their families who have to travel over 60 miles for treatment and a much longer wait overall," he said. "It is quite scandalous mismanagement by Welsh Labour Ministers." "The London' Women's Clinic in Swansea should not have been closed until the new clinic in Neath Port Talbot was open. Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has criticised those Neath Port Talbot Councillors who characterised requests for more money for children's social services as Oliver Twists always coming back for more. Mr. Black was commenting on Neath Port Talbot's Children, Young People and Education Scrutiny Board's who expressed concerns about a £1.3m overspend on Children's Services in the county. "The Scrutiny Board needs to sharpen up its act," said Mr. Black. "Overspending the public's money when there is no reason to do so is obviously wrong. But the council's priority must be the swift protection of vulnerable children, and getting help to families that are not coping. "It is here that the scrutiny board needs to concentrate its attention rather than coming up with catchy sound-bites on the money issue. They are missing the point. "With 490 looked after children, Neath Port Talbot is in trouble. The Scrutiny Board needs to be looking at the effectiveness of the procedures the department is using, how well it works with its statutory partners, and how its recruitment and retention of staff is managed to name but three. "Protection of vulnerable children is the Council's sole responsibility by law. Getting that right means building an efficient, effective, and humane system, and then funding it properly. Effective scrutiny will help to produce such a system." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has expressed his concern at the proposals contained in Neath Port Talbot Council's consultation over the future of school transport in their area. Neath Port Talbot Council are proposing to cease offering free transport to pupils going to faith schools if there is a mainstream school that is nearer. In addition, there are proposals to stop providing passenger assistants on primary school buses. Mr. Black said: "The suggestion that the service for pupils of faith schools should be withdrawn is at odds with the aim of promoting parental choice. It looks like the thin end of a very thick wedge. What is to prevent the Council from targeting pupils who attend Welsh-medium schools in future? "The withdrawing of passenger assistants is downright foolish in my view. These invaluable workers intervene to defuse difficult situations and keep an eye on the children generally. It is not reasonable to expect bus drivers to keep order, retrieve lost property, and make sure children are being met whilst driving the bus at the same time. That is the recipe for an accident. "These proposed changes will very soon mean that only the relatively affluent will be able to send their children to faith or Welsh-medium schools in Neath Port Talbot. The choices available to local families on low to medium incomes will be reduced." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has described the Welsh Governments treatment of IVF patients in South and West Wales as scandalous, following revelations this morning that there is now an 18 month waiting list for treatment. Mr. Black was responding to news that the new IVF treatment centre at Neath Port Talbot Hospital is a year behind schedule, meaning that it will not open until April this year. That is 18 months after the Welsh Government ceased to send patients to the London Women's Clinic at Singleton Hospital because they disagree with private medicine. Women waiting for IVF treatment are being sent to Bristol at an additional cost of £500,000 to the NHS. "The Welsh Government's ideological decision to make this change has led to additional cost to a hard-pressed local health service, greater stress and anxiety for those women and their families who have to travel over 60 miles for treatment and a much longer wait overall," said Mr. Black. "It is quite scandalous mismanagement by Welsh Labour Ministers." "The London' Women's Clinic in Swansea should not have been closed until the new clinic in Neath Port Talbot was open. "Welsh Liberal Democrats have been raising their concerns with Welsh Ministers on the floor of the Assembly constantly over the last two years but they have consistently failed to take action. Their inefficiency is costing people their health and costing the Welsh taxpayer money" Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has called for the Welsh Labour Government to urgently address poor ambulance response times in Neath Port Talbot after statistics released today have shown that only 47.3% of urgent calls arrived within the target time. The statistics have shown that the All Wales ambulance response rate was its lowest in 2012 and the 65% all-Wales target was missed for the seventh successive month. The Welsh Labour government's target is for 65% of category A calls to receive an ambulance response time within eight minutes. Only 56.1% of calls in December received an ambulance within that time. Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats is also calling on the Health Minister to raise the all-Wales target to 75% to match Scotland and England and so that the current review into the ambulance service can be based on realistic funding to attain that target. Peter Black commented: "The figures released today have shown that ambulance response rates in December were the lowest of any month in 2012. Wales has the slowest ambulance response times in the whole of the UK and they have been getting worse. The Welsh Labour government cannot hide behind adverse weather conditions or unusually high sickness rates as they have done in previous winter seasons. "People in Neath Port Talbot are not getting the service they deserve at critical times in their lives. One major reason for these dismal figures is the persistent failure of Welsh Labour Ministers to establish what resources are needed to match rising demand for ambulance services. "An ambulance service that is able to respond quickly, with well-skilled, motivated staff is often the crucial first stage in a response to medical emergencies. While paramedics and technical staff are striving for excellence, they are facing immense pressure and having to work with increasingly stretched resources." Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, commented: "Until now, Wales has funded its ambulance service to meet a target of 65% of ambulance responses to life-threatening conditions within 8 minutes - whereas England funds to achieve 75%. The Minister herself should now decide to raise that target, so that the review can be based on realistic funding to attain it. "What Wales does not need is another period of re-organisation, such as by breaking up the all-Wales ambulance service and losing many of its specialist personnel. Uncertainty may cause some to go in the next few months unless it is made clear that the review will be focused on financing and efficiency - not on breaking up the organisation." ENDS Stats can be found here. http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/health2013/ambulance-services-december-2012/?lang=en Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has expressed concern at Neath Port Talbot Council's proposal to scrap free bus travel for pupils at church schools in the area. The Council has announced their intention to stop free travel for children living over the statutory distance and who attend church schools in Neath Port Talbot. Mr. Black said, "This decision could limit the choice that every parent should have over which school their child attends. I am worried that this could be the thin end of the wedge and will set a dangerous precedent. The next logical choice for a cut of this kind is Welsh medium education, which also draws pupils from a wide area. I am aware that the Council need to save money but it must not be at the expense of parental choice" "Neath Port Talbot's Labour Council currently charge £260 a year for each child who uses a school bus but is not eligible for free transport. If this proposal is passed, then many parents who want their children to go to a church school will now have to pay that charge. This amounts to a tax on choice and discriminates against those who wish their child to be educated in accordance with their faith. "The potential for such a cut was highlighted by the Welsh Liberal Democrats when the Assembly's travel to work measure was passed. We tabled amendments designed to protect parental choice and guarantee travel for those opting to send their children to religious schools. However the then Labour/ Plaid Cymru Government voted our amendments down. Now we are seeing the consequences of that vote." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has questioned the decision-making process behind a Council's bid for a loan of £375,000 from the Welsh Government for a now-abandoned project. Mr. Black has received a reply to a freedom of information request about an invest-to-save loan of £374,730 secured by Neath Port Talbot Council in March 2010, to transform the way that they deliver children's services. However, according to the latest Social Services Inspectorate's report* the adoption of the new Lean systems approach to managing children on the risk register, led to 'inconsistent and in some cases unsafe practice.' The report goes on to say that the model did not work for a number of reasons including the high volume of referrals coming into each team requiring a timely response, the high numbers of child protection cases requiring legal action, a lack of capacity and inexperienced social workers not getting the management support that they needed. Neath Port Talbot Council has 486 children in care and over 800 on the at-risk register. "This project has now been abandoned, leaving the new head of children's services to pick up the pieces," said Mr. Black. "The Council's children's services are in special measures and not considered currently fit for purpose. However, the money still has to be repaid, with the final installment of nearly £125,000 due in the next financial year. This is an additional burden for a Council already struggling with finding £16 million of savings over the next five years. "From what I can see from the social services inspectorate report, the decision to proceed with this project plunged children's services in the County Borough into chaos, potentially putting many children at risk. Questions need to be answered as how the decision to borrow the money and invest in this project was taken? What risk assessment was undertaken and how robust was it? Were elected members involved in the decision? How was the project monitored during its lifetime and did that involve an assessment of its impact on the workloads of social workers? "The investment in this new system appears to be one of the reasons why children's services in Neath Port Talbot are in special measures. And yet there has been no scrutiny of this decision and no apology or explanation from the Council. This money has been wasted whilst local children have been put at risk. That is an outrage." Diwedd/Ends Note for Editors: The *CSSIW report is linked here: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/cssiw/report/121116npten.pdf. Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement that the Government no longer intends to expand regional and local pay - a policy that would have had a detrimental effect on Wales. Over the past year the Welsh Liberal Democrats have led the campaign against regional and local pay. In September, the Welsh Liberal Democrats took a motion to the UK party conference calling for Ministers to put an end to Tory plans for regional pay. South Wales West Liberal Democrats Assembly Member, Peter Black commented: "I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats have put a brake on George Osborne's plans for regional or local pay. Yes, we need to rebalance the economy, but regional or local pay isn't the answer. "The Welsh Liberal Democrats have always believed that moves towards regional or local pay would further ingrain regional inequalities. It is the people of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend that would have paid the price for this ill-thought out policy. That is why we took our campaign against regional pay to our Party Conference, which not only secured our party's position on the matter, but also gave our Ministers in Government a clear direction. I am immensely proud that the Welsh Lib Dems played such a key part in this campaign." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Commenting on the raising of the Personal Allowance further than already planned, the Welsh Liberal Democrats Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black said: "Liberal Democrats are working for a stronger economy and a fairer society, so that everyone can get on in life. That's why we are cutting taxes for working people in Wales. "Today's announcement means that by April, 140,400 ordinary working people in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot will get a further Income Tax cut, bringing the total tax cut to £600 a year since Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition Government. "This news is particularly welcome because it also means that the Liberal Democrats have lifted 12,510 low-earners out of paying Income Tax altogether since the Coalition Government came to power in these two council areas. "Liberal Democrats want fairer taxes, which is why we made raising the tax-free allowance our number one priority at the General Election - so important that we put it on the front page of our manifesto. "When times are tough, with rising bills and wages not keeping pace with inflation, we want to give people real, practical help. "Cutting Income Tax will not deal with all of those problems, but it will help. And I hope it will make a big difference to every family in this country." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has expressed his concern to official figures that showambulance response times in the Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend lagging well below the all-Wales target. The all-Wales figure has also fallen to 59.9%. The Welsh Government's all-Wales target is for 65% of category A (immediately life-threatening) calls to have an ambulance response time within eight minutes. The Bridgend area though has returned a figure for October of just 50.9%. In Neath Port Talbot only 52.8% of calls saw ambulances turning up within 8 minutes for the most serious cases.. Swansea's response time also lags well behind with 60%. Mr. Black said: "The response time figures released today are deeply worrying. The all-Wales figure of 59.9% for October is the lowest so far this year. We have the slowest ambulance response times in the whole of the UK, and that is despite the Welsh Labour Government having set a response time target which is fully 10% below the English target of 75%. "Yet rather than seeing the service improve, it is getting worse. In parts of Gower the dependence on part-time fire fighter co-responders is growing. In one case a co-responder waited 45 minutes with a 15 year old suffering from chest pains before a paramedic arrived. "Our ambulance staff strive for excellence, but face immense pressures and have to work with increasingly stretched resources. They need to be able to count on the Welsh Government to help them do their job properly. At the moment, that is clearly not happening. "Last month the Welsh Liberal Democrats exposed the fact that the Welsh Ambulance Service budget had not been set a full six months into the financial year. The Welsh Labour Government had forced the Ambulance Trust into an impossible position. It is clear that Wales is suffering the consequences of having a Welsh Labour Government that is wholly inept at handling our NHS. "In the Welsh Liberal Democrat ambulance debate held earlier this month, the Labour Health Minister announced there will be yet another review into the performance of the ambulance service. This will be the ninth review in six years - we've seen enough reviews, what we want to see is improvement." Published and promoted by Peter Black, 1st Floor, 70 Mansel Street, Swansea, SA1 5TN. This website was established while I was an AM and is paid for by me. Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY