Barclays closure set to leave Aberaeron as 'No Bank Town'
Local elected representatives have expressed their frustration following an announcement by Barclays that their Aberaeron branch would be closing.
Barclays has announced it is to close its branch on Sgwâr Alban, Aberaeron on 31 May 2019, citing a substantial fall in the number of in-branch transactions and increasing use of online and telephone banking.
The decision to close the branch will leave the town without a single bank branch – following the previous closure of NatWest and HSBC.
Ben Lake formally elected vice-chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on hill farming
A launch event for the new parliamentary group was held at Westminster this week, in partnership with the NFU, and was attended by MPs from across the political spectrum, including the farming minister George Eustice.
During the launch event, MPs heard more about the significant contributions of hill and uplands farming in producing food, maintaining and enhancing the environment and driving the rural community.
The cross-party group presented the minister with a copy of ‘The Manifesto For The Uplands’ which calls for more funding to be made available for hill farming as well as calling on the Government to secure tariff-free access to the EU market.
Ben Lake MP encourages local charities to apply for up to £20,000 funding
Ceredigion MP, Ben Lake is encouraging local charities and good causes to apply for over £3 million of funding that has been raised by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Applications are open from 6 February until 20 February, where a whole host of good causes from social enterprises to voluntary groups and registered charities are eligible to apply for grants of between £500 and £20,000.
Increase to schools' pensions contributions must be covered by UK Government funding
The UK Government’s Department for Education is currently consulting on proposals to allocate up to £910 million in additional funding to schools and colleges in England to cover higher teacher pension scheme costs in 2019-20, arising as a result of changes to the discount rate applied by the Treasury in valuations of public service pension schemes.
Although education is a responsibility of the Welsh Government, the changes to the employer liabilities under the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will impact on the budget of schools and colleges in Wales. As these changes to employer contributions are a result of decisions taken by the UK Government, it is crucial that the Treasury makes funding available to cover the increase in Wales as they intend to do in England.
Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion, has called on the UK Government to clarify whether the funds allocated to cover the increased pension contributions in England will also be made available to schools and colleges in Wales.
UK regional inequality worst in Europe
Research by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) has found that the severity of regional inequality within the UK would qualify it for more than £11 billion in EU regional development funding under the 2021-2027 cycle.
The current funding cycle runs from 2014-2020, during which time Wales is expected to have received £2.06 billion in support from the EU – or around 20% of total allocated to the UK.
The UK Government has suggested replacing EU investment with a new UK Shared Prosperity Fund after Brexit. However, despite promising to consult on the fund before the end of 2018, it has not published any substantial details as yet. It therefore remains unclear how much funding will be available, how it will be shared across the UK, and who will be responsible for handling the allocations.
Farmers unions warn that no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for agriculture sector
Ben Lake has met with NFU and FUW representatives and local farmers to discuss the implications leaving the EU without a deal would have for the sector.
Agriculture is key to wealth and job creation in Ceredigion. It is estimated that every £1 generated in agriculture translates into some £7.40 for the local economy through supply chains and spending, and that each job in farming supports 3.5 jobs in other sectors. Red meat exports, and lamb in particular, are the backbone of the agricultural industry in Wales. The single market is a vital export destination for Welsh food and drink in general. Over 80% of food and animal exports goes to the EU, and between 35% and 40% of all Welsh lamb produced.
Elin Jones reacts to Welsh Government’s next steps in Ceredigion broadband rollout
Elin Jones AM and Ben Lake MP’s offices have been working together to ensure that Ceredigion is prioritised in the funding of Broadband by the Welsh and UK Governments. This week saw a long awaited statement from the Welsh Government Minister responsible for Broadband in Wales, Julie James AM, outlining the next steps in rollout of Superfast Broadband.
Local representatives seek government support following unprecedented flooding
Plaid Cymru Assembly Members and Members of Parliament in West Wales have issued a statement following the flooding across the region this weekend.
The local representatives will this week seek to urge both Welsh and UK Governments to provide funding for local councils to undertake urgent assessments and repair works for public infrastructure, as well as providing support to individuals affected by the flooding.
Ben Lake MP and Jonathan Edwards MP will be urging Westminster government ministers to take advantage of the financial support available via the EU's Solidarity Fund.
In the National Assembly for Wales, Assembly Members Adam Price, Helen Mary Jones and Elin Jones will be seeking assurances that the Welsh Government will be assisting local authorities via the Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme.
Fair farm funding must be decided by four nation approach, says Plaid Cymru
Ceredigion MP and Plaid Cymru Defra Spokesperson Ben Lake has called for new systems to ensure Wales has a say on farm funding post-Brexit. He made the call during the Second Reading of Westminster’s Agriculture Bill.
Despite agriculture policy largely being the preserve of the Welsh Government, the overall level of funding for farm payments is decided in Westminster. Mr Lake called for the governments of all four nations to have a role in deciding the funding for farm payments going forward.
The Bill was also criticised for taking devolved powers away from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and centralising them in Westminster.
Investing in young people to be at heart of Plaid Cymru's economic policy
A week on from his election as Plaid Cymru’s new leader, Adam Price has said that investing in young people will be at the heart of the party’s economic policy going forward.
Adam Price said that the lack of economic opportunities for young people in Wales's rural communities was creating a “brain-drain” in Wales - a crisis that will only become worse after Brexit unless action is taken.
The Plaid Cymru leader was visiting the Crwst bakery in Cardigan with Ceredigion MP Ben Lake ahead of the party’s annual autumn conference in the town over the weekend.