To mark Safer Internet Day, the Minister is urging parents across Wales to take a greater interest in their children’s online activities and to take action to ensure they cannot and do not access or share inappropriate content. 

The Minister’s warning comes after the most recent National Survey for Wales, published in 2017, showed 95% of children aged 7 to 15 in Wales used the internet at home, but only 56% of households with children aged 7-15 used parental control filters on their internet connections to block adult or illegal content.

The latest NSPCC figures show that the police are recording an average of 15 internet-related sex offences against children per day in England and Wales, while figures from Childline show a third of sessions relating to online abuse are about online sexual abuse, with the numbers rising year on year. 

Safer Internet Day is a global awareness day to promote good practice in online safety and gives advice and guidance on the risks posed by new technologies such as social media and how to stay safe while using them.

Minister for Children and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“The first priority for every parent is the safety of their child. Because children are now accessing online content at a very early age, it is essential we equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world in a safe and responsible way.  

“This is especially important these days, because many of our youngest children now have their have their own mobile devices. While many parents buy mobile devices to keep in touch with their children and to know they are safe, the dangers they can potentially pose are significant. The growing number of children being abused online is extremely concerning – and it is something we as a government are determined to tackle.

“We all have a duty to keep our children safe. There cannot be a great priority for us as a society. So my message is clear – in order to keep our children safe, all parents must act and do more to ensure their child’s online safety. 

“The Welsh Government is firmly committed to promoting the safe and positive use of technology to our children and young people. But we all need to ensure we play our part in making sure children are kept safe.”

The winners will be revealed at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, on Thursday 8 March.

The categories are as follows:

Tourism Minister Lord Elis-Thomas, said: 

“I’m delighted that we can announce our regional winners today – who are all to be congratulated for making it to the final.  We have seen an exceptionally high standard of entries this year – who all showcase the best of Wales’ tourism businesses and I look forward to celebrating the industry’s achievements at the National Tourism Awards at the Celtic Manor Resort next month.”

Celtic Manor Resort Chief Executive Ian Edwards said: 

“We are delighted to be hosting the 2018 National Tourism Awards for Wales and look forward to a fantastic evening celebrating the best of Welsh tourism. We congratulate all the regional winners and finalists and wish them the best of luck for the national awards ceremony which takes place here at Celtic Manor. We were very pleased to win the Gold Award for Best Business Tourism at the last National Tourism Awards for Wales and we know there will be many more worthy winners rewarded this year.”

The investment will help the company as it competes on a global stage, by increasing production capability at the Pencoed plant.

Ortho is a global leader of in vitro diagnostics, supplying sophisticated technologies that test for a variety of diseases, conditions, and substances, and match blood to ensure that blood transfusion recipients receive appropriate and compatible blood. Ortho serves hospitals, blood banks and laboratories in more than 125 countries and territories.

Ortho has ramped up production significantly to keep up with increasing customer needs, particularly in China, and will add a further production line in 2018 with an option for another by 2020.

The Life Sciences Sector in Wales, of which Ortho is a key player, has some 350 companies that employ 11,000 people. The Welsh Government founded the Life Sciences Hub in 2014 to support the sector and encourage collaboration between universities, academics, private companies and investors.

Speaking ahead of a visit to the company, First Minister Carwyn Jones said:

“Wales’ dynamic life sciences sector continues to go from strength to strength – and I am delighted to announce this funding which will help create nearly 50 new jobs.”

Paul Hales, Senior Director at Ortho, said:

“At Ortho, our purpose is to improve and save lives through diagnostics. A secure and consistent supply of high-quality product is at the core of that purpose, and we are delighted to be increasing our production capabilities to meet the ever rising demand for our products.  We are grateful for the continuing support of the Welsh Government.”

The Minister and Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity visited a number of forestry sites, including a new woodland creation scheme at Westloch and the ‘Sheep and Trees’ scheme at Wakefield Farm. The Minister also received a tour of Forest Research where she was updated on their essential tree-related research work.

The Scottish Government has made it a statutory requirement to publish and maintain a forestry strategy and in 2016, the McKinnon review recommended streamlining the tree planting process and earlier engagement between tree-planting businesses and communities.  

In 2017, a new “Sheep and Trees” partnership initiative was introduced, aimed at helping land managers to identify the many opportunities woodland creation can bring to support and develop their existing farm enterprises.

During a tour of the sites the Minister discussed these developments with Cabinet Secretary Ewing and Forestry Commission Scotland officials as part of her research aimed at advancing policies and initiatives to improve woodland cover in Wales.

The Welsh Government’s Woodlands for Wales Forestry Strategy and accompanying 5-year action plan sets a target of 2,000 hectares of new planting per annum. Increasing woodland cover and developing a competitive and integrated forestry sector are key outcomes of the Strategy.

Hannah Blythyn said:

“Not enough trees are currently being planted in Wales. That is why I identified improving and expanding our woodlands as being amongst my top ministerial priorities. Our Woodlands for Wales Strategy is a long term vision for forestry in Wales and we need to back this up with innovative, effective action on the ground.

“It is important we in Wales are outward looking and seek to learn from other countries’ successes. Whilst the land area available for afforestation is much larger in Scotland than Wales, the visit was an invaluable opportunity to examine the Scottish approach and the subsequent successful increase in woodland creation. I am grateful to Fergus Ewing, Forestry Commission Scotland and everyone I met for the warm welcome.

Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“I was delighted to welcome Ms Blythyn to Scotland. The visit was a valuable opportunity to share our experiences and strengthen our cross-border collaboration.    

“Scotland’s forestry industry is a real success story contributing £1 billion to the country’s economy and supporting 25,000 jobs. Woodland creation is very much at the heart of this success and I have introduced a number of new measures to drive this forward.  By working hand in hand with the industry and other land managers, we are now starting to see a welcome increase in tree planting activity across Scotland.

“I hope we can continue to share experiences and learn from each other as we work to deliver our common goal of planting and growing more trees for the benefit of everyone on these islands.”

The new specifically designed unit, which opened on 29th November 2017, will be key to helping Cardiff and Vale University Health Board reduce waiting times within orthopaedic services. 

Two theatres utilised by Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedic Centre have recently been taken out of commission. In a typical week, these theatres would have seen approximately 55 orthopaedic patients; which meant their closure would have had a significant impact on waiting times.

This new temporary modular theatre is the first stage in the process of addressing the issue while a more permanent solution is planned to replace the two original theatres. 

It is estimated that between January 2018 and April 2018 the number of patients that will be treated within the new temporary modular theatre will be between 100 and 130. 

The use of the modular theatre means less pressure on the health board in terms of outsourcing requirements and ensures improvements in treatment and patient outcomes. In addition, the quality of services at the site in Llandough will be enhanced to recognised standards, benefitting patients and health professionals alike. 

The Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething said;

“I am pleased the modular theatre has opened at the Llandough site, following Welsh Government funding. It will alleviate pressure on the health board, allowing healthcare professionals to do their job effectively, safely and to a high standard. 

“I’m confident that this is the best way forward in terms of value for money for a temporary solution. It will benefit the people of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and will help to bridge the gap while a more permanent structure is put in place.” 

Chief Executive of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Len Richards said;

“We are delighted that Welsh Government has supported our surgical teams in commissioning a new modular theatre at our Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedic Centre at the University Hospital Llandough site. This new theatre means the Health Board can effectively support treatment of patients across Cardiff and Vale that require orthopaedic surgery to improve their health and quality of life.”