Ben Lake MP calls on Climate Minister to to take action for zero-emissions by 2050
Ben Lake the MP for Ceredigion is calling on the climate Minister to take action now to get the UK’s carbon budgets on track for zero emissions by 2050. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change, the UK has a responsibility to play its part in cutting carbon emissions sufficiently to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. This means reaching zero carbon by 2050. However, at the moment the UK’s carbon budgets are aiming for just 80% cuts by 2050—and it is forecast to exceed those targets from 2023 onwards.
Ben Lake MP's Christmas card competition
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Want to take part in Ben Lake MP's Christmas card competition?
Ben Lake has launched a competition aimed at primary school pupils across Ceredigion to design his 2018 Christmas card. Ben will be sending Christmas cards once again this year to Assembly Members, Members of Parliament, societies, groups and organisations he's worked with over the year to wish them a peaceful and merry Christmas.
Ben Lake MP boards Green Dragon Bus service
Ben Lake MP took time out of his busy schedule recently to visit Preseli Rural Transport Association better known locally as Green Dragon Bus, who provide community transport services that enables people who live in the south of Ceredigion to access local facilities and services.
Green Dragon Bus is a not-for-profit organisation which provides door to door and scheduled services to residents across south west Wales. Their mission is to help those unable to use mainstream transport, due to their disability or age or having no access to normal public transport, to reach their destination, wherever that may be, and lead as much of an independent life as is possible, in respect of transport.
Ceredigion MP calls for police funding formula reform
On 12 September, Ben Lake MP contributed to an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on the financial sustainability of police forces.
After shadowing Dyfed Powys Police officers at his home town of Lampeter recently, the Ceredigion MP urged the Minister for Policing to look again at the police funding formula, so that it better reflects the specific challenges of sparsely populated areas. Ben Lake MP spent a day on the beat in Lampeter as part of the #GiveADayToPolicing campaign, a scheme for Parliamentarians to better understand the challenges currently facing our police forces across the UK.
During his shift Mr Lake had the opportunity to experience a variety of aspects of local policing – from spending time with the neighbourhood policing team, attending response calls and discussing policing challenges with front-line police officers.
Ceredigion MP welcomes pay award commitment for teachers in Wales
The UK Government has said it will give Wales an extra £23.5m towards the pay award for teachers following scrutiny and pressure from Ben Lake MP.
A pay-rise was announced by the UK's Education Secretary for teachers across both Wales and England on the 24th of July, to be implemented from September onwards. Details on how the pay-rise would be funded in England were published but in a response to a question from Plaid Cymru MP, Jonathan Edwards, the Education Minister said that he expects the Welsh Government to pay for the increase in Wales, despite it being the responsibility of the Westminster Government.
As a result, schools and local authorities across Wales started this academic year unclear about how much they would have to pay towards what was otherwise a welcome increase to teachers' pay, at a time of shrinking school and local government budgets.
Ceredigion MP commends pioneering work at Pwllpeiran
Earlier this month Ben Lake MP travelled to the heart of the Cambrian Mountains to meet with the team of researchers at Pwllpeiran Upland Research Platform.
Pwllpeiran, part of IBERS at Aberystwyth Univeristy is the only publicly owned upland research farm in Wales and for the best part of a century it has played an important role in the development of agriculture in Wales.
80% of utilised agricultural land in Wales is classifed as ‘Less Favoured Area’, and as such a combination of altitude, soil characteristics and climatic conditions restricts most farms within these areas to extensive sheep and cattle production. Over the years, Pwllpeiran’s main aim has been to significantly improve the viability of farming in the uplands to ensure continued agricultural productivity in disadvantaged areas whilst also stemming rural depopulation.
Concern over rising rural crime level
NFU Mutual Report sees 41.4% increase in costs of rural crime costs in Wales
Ben Lake, Member of Parliament for Ceredigion, has expressed concerns following a recent report that showed a sharp rise in the cost of rural crime levels in Wales.
Estimates from NFU Mutual, which insures more than 75% of farms in the UK, showed the cost of thefts from rural homes, business and farms in Wales for 2017 stood at £1.9 million - an increase of 41.4% on costs incurred in 2016.
Ben Lake urges good causes in Ceredigion to apply for funding of up to £20,000
Ben Lake MP is encouraging good causes in Ceredigion to apply for a share of a funding pot worth over £3 million that has been raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery to support projects helping local people.
Awards of between £500 and £20,000 are available to both charities and community groups, with applications being open for the funding from 1 August until the 15 August.
This is the last chance organisations will have to apply for the funding in 2018, and so far this year over 350 projects across Great Britain have been supported. With previously funded initiatives ranging from community choirs for carers, to sports clubs, to wildlife conservation charities, this is a fantastic opportunity for groups to access funding to make a difference in the local community.
Plaid Cymru pledges solidarity with women affected by unfair pension reforms
Leader and MP write open letter to thank WASPI for their tireless campaign.
The Leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood and MP for Ceredigion Ben Lake, have today written to the WASPI campaign praising their ‘inspirational example’ of grassroots campaigning.
In the letter Leanne Wood, AM for Rhondda and Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion have committed their firm support for the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign, pledging “to do all we can to help ensure a fair deal for women affected”.
Better mobile phone coverage for communities across Ceredigion
EE have launched three brand new sites providing better mobile phone coverage in the communities of Cenarth, Capel Dewi and Pontsian. Until now, there has been a signal blackspot in these villages with local people, businesses and tourists all complaining about the poor connectivity.
Ben Lake MP took on the challenge of working with the mobile phone operators to urge them to look into the problem and invest in better coverage for the area.
Last week, EE announced that the three masts had been officially switched on which could see the three villages have reliable 4G coverage for the first time. EE’s 4G coverage is now in more places in Ceredigion than their 2G and 3G coverage. To make the most of the network, constituents are advised to use a 4G calling capable handset and plan.