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welshlabour: @CountryStandard. Looks like you captured the Welsh Young Conservatives fringe event!...
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Carwyn Jones six month progress report on our Welsh Labour Government.
"It is now six months since our Welsh Labour Government was elected, so this is a good opportunity to report on the progress we have made since winning 30 seats in the National Assembly in May’s polls.
Of course central to our work is the ‘Programme for Government’. This turns our wide ranging manifesto into the specific actions that your Welsh Labour Government will take to ensure we work for a fairer and brighter future for Wales.
Given the severe problems facing the Welsh and UK economy we have a very strong focus on jobs, skills development and building confidence in the Welsh economy. In the face of the Tory cuts and George Osborne’s economic policies this is no easy task. But we can make a difference and, for example, our Welsh Jobs Growth Fund will provide 4,000 young people with a job or training opportunity each year.
Welsh Labour is keeping to our promise not to allow another lost generation in Wales.
We are also taking action to build up key sectors in the Welsh economy with targeted support of enterprise zones to add value, generate new wealth and create jobs in the economy.
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Welsh Labour’s Health and Social Services Minister Lesley Griffiths AM today released “Together for Health – A Five Year Vision for the NHS in Wales”.
The vision sets out the compelling need for change in the NHS in Wales,. The recent report of the Bevan Commission pointed to a number of challenges facing the NHS in Wales, including a rising elderly population, health inequalities, more people with chronic conditions, medical staffing pressures and some specialist services being spread too thinly.
Lesley Griffiths explains that Together for Health is our response to these challenges. It has been developed with the help of clinicians and the trade unions, and sets out how the NHS in Wales will look in five years time.
We need a rebalancing of how many services are delivered but service change is just one aspect of this vision. The bigger picture is the change in thinking and behaviour, with a focus on positive health and improving the quality of care and services based around people, not buildings.
The main commitments include:
Primary and community care services – such as GPs, community nurses and pharmacists – will play a leading role in transforming the way care is provided closer to people’s homes;
A focus on preventing ill health, to address public health challenges such as obesity and smoking rates;
All district general hospitals will retain an essential role, although some of the services they provide at the moment will change as new technology and treatments mean less people need to be admitted to hospital.
a number of centres of excellence – such as for cancer or stroke care – will ensure the very best skills and equipment are on hand round-the-clock for the most complex, life threatening conditions;
clinical networks comprising primary and community service staff will support local hospitals in providing care closer to home after patients’ discharge from specialist centres, and a greater use of telemedicine to increase 24/7 access to services in rural areas;
to drive up quality, information on NHS performance in terms of health outcomes and patient satisfaction will be published, including annual reports on each major service area; and
a compact with the public – an agreement between the NHS and its patients – will be drawn up, to ensure people have the information they need to take responsibility for their own health.
Lesley Griffiths explains that sustainability is at the heart of the Welsh Labour Government’s agenda, and there is an increasing consensus among clinicians that unless we take action now to address the challenges facing the NHS, that safe, sustainable, high quality services, delivering the best outcomes for patients, will not be achievable.
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Commenting on today’s growth figures, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said:
“This is damning verdict on the Tory-led Government’s economic policy. 0.5% growth in just 12 months is less than half what the Government needs to stay on track for the three times downgraded OBR forecasts. Trying to cut the deficit too far and too fast has not only stifled growth and hammered businesses and jobs in Wales, but also put the deficit up by £46 billion and rising. So their policy is failing even by its own narrow and dogmatic terms. It is costing Wales dear.
“Wales needs an alternative like Labour’s five point plan for jobs and growth:
“A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund more employment and training opportunities for young people in Wales.
“Help to bring forward investment projects to stimulate growth and jobs - to get people back to work and strengthen our economy for the future.
“Reversing January's damaging VAT rise now for a temporary period - a £450 boost for a couple with children - immediate help for our high streets and for struggling families and pensioners.
“A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements, repairs and maintenance - to help homeowners and small businesses.
“A one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers - helping small businesses to grow and create jobs.”
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Labour’s five-point plan for jobs in Wales
1. A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund more employment and training opportunities for young people in Wales.
2. Help to bring forward investment projects to stimulate growth and jobs - to get people back to work and strengthen our economy for the future.
3. Reversing January's damaging VAT rise now for a temporary period - a £450 boost for a couple with children - immediate help for our high streets and for struglling families and pensioners.
4. A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvments, repairs and maintenance - to help homeowners and small businesses.
5. A one year national insurance tax break for every small firm which takes on extra workers - helping small businesses to grow and create jobs.
A BETTER WAY IS AVAILABLE
Labour launches new campaign with a "Plan for Jobs in Wales".
Labour today launches a new plan for jobs in Wales with a five point plan to secure growth in the economy. Labour has et out a clear five-point plan to create jobs, help struggling families and support small businesses".
Owen Smith MP Shadow Treasury Minister said
“This is a really worrying time for families – struggling with higher food prices and gas bills, worried about their jobs and their children’s futures”.
“Far from being a safe haven Britain’s recovery was choked off last autumn – well before the eurozone crisis. Our economy has stagnated for nine months, unemployment is rising again and only Japan has grown more slowly in the G7 over the last year. David Cameron’s austerity plan is hurting, but it it’s not working”.
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