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Flying Start is the Welsh Government’s targeted early years programme for families with children under 4 years of age living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales. It provides free, quality, part-time childcare for 2-3 year olds; an enhanced health visiting service; access to parenting programmes; and support for speech language and communication.

Some of the other key statistics show:

•  88 per cent of offers of childcare in a Flying Start childcare setting were taken up during 2016-17, a small rise from 2015/16 (86 per cent).

• Flying Start health visitors worked with 25% of all children under the age of 4 during 2016-17

• 94 per cent of children aged 3 and living in Flying Start areas were on roll at a maintained school (2016). A small increase from 93 per cent in 2015.

• 82 per cent of children living in Flying Start areas were fully immunised by their 4th birthday (2016-17). A slight decrease from 83 per cent in 2015/16.

Commenting on the figures, Communities and Children’s Secretary Carl Sargeant said:

“Giving children the best possible start in life is a top priority for the Welsh Government. Flying Start is a key early intervention programme, helping to improve children’s life chances and reducing the need for later remedial action. The programme helps tackle adverse childhood experiences which can have a long-lasting impact on young people throughout their lives.”

“Today’s figures show that Flying Start continues to provide much needed support to families living in some of the most disadvantaged communities across Wales.”

 

The figures were announced today in a written statement by Economy Secretary Ken Skates on the progress and future of the Welsh Enterprise Zone Programme which coincides with the publication of the Enterprise Zone key performance indicator annual report for 2016/17.

Key targets for the eight Enterprise Zones in 2016/17 were all either met or exceeded: 

• 1,744 jobs were created, safeguarded or assisted ;

• £123.2m of public and private sector investment was secured;

• 159 enterprises were supported by the Welsh Government;

• 7000 m2 of land remediated/made available for development/floor space created or refurbished

The significant five year milestone figures were warmly welcomed by Ken Skates who said:

“Much has been achieved through the efforts of the Enterprise Zones to date and I have been pleased to note progress in each Zone since inception. Each Zone is unique and is at a different stage of development, yet achievements in each Zone have been significant. 

“Since its inception to the end of March 2017, the Wales Enterprise Zone programme has contributed to the Welsh economy by supporting more than 10,000 jobs through a competitive package of financial and other incentives including business rates support, tailored skills support, apprenticeship schemes and bespoke infrastructure projects.”

He said it was important that the Enterprise Zone programme continued to drive improvement in the Welsh economy particularly with the uncertainty caused by the vote to leave the European Union.

Enterprise Zones have much to contribute to the Welsh Government’s commitments, he said, particularly those to create new jobs, reduce business rates bills and create apprenticeships.

Mr Skates emphasised that the Welsh Government remains committed to the eight Enterprise Zones located across Wales and stated:  

“I place great importance on a place-based approach which is tailored to local needs and circumstances and I am reviewing the Enterprise Zone offer to ensure that it will continue to deliver against a more regional approach to economic development, for example the recent announcement of a Technology Park for Ebbw Vale signifies this commitment.”

The consultation is the first step towards fulfilling the Welsh Government’s Commitment to bringing forward the Fees Charged to Tenants Bill to address fees charged in the private rented sector.

Mr Sargeant said:

“I believe the time has come to ask serious questions about the future ability of anyone to charge fees to tenants when they enter into a tenancy. 

“Fees can cause major problems for people when looking for accommodation. To ask tenants to come up with a tenancy deposit, which is often in excess of a month’s rent, plus a month’s rent up-front and an “administration” fee can cause a major financial headache for some and has the potential to drive people into debt.

“I want to know the extent of the fees charged, what those fees cover and understand the implications of the removal of these fees for letting agents, landlords, tenants and any third parties involved in the private rented sector.

“I encourage everyone with an interest  to participate in this consultation,  which will help to inform what fees, if any, can be charged in the future.”

Last year the UK Government passed the Trade Union Act 2016. The Act imposes stringent new strike ballot thresholds in public services and also monitors and restricts the activities of trade unions in supporting the workforce.

The NHS, education, local government and the fire service are examples of devolved public services which are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

The Welsh Government’s Trade Union Bill dis-applies parts of the Act that relate to these services.

This means that the imposition of an overall support threshold of 40% on strike ballots, provisions on trade union facility time and conditions on payroll deductions for trade union membership – commonly known as check-off – will be reversed and will no longer apply to Wales.

The Bill also protects the position where agency workers are prevented from covering the work of public sector employees during industrial action, in the event the UK Government acts to remove that protection.

Welcoming the passing of the Bill, Local Government Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“This is a very significant day for devolved public services in Wales and devolution as a whole.

“We should never have been in a position where we had to introduce a Bill to reverse parts of a UK Act. Time and again we warned the UK Government that this damaging and divisive legislation interfered with devolved policy and the powers held by the National Assembly for Wales. Even their own lawyers advised them that they would be on thin ground when it came to this area but they still decided to press ahead.

“We always said that the Trade Union Act was unnecessary and would lead to more confrontational relationships between employers and workers, undermining rather than supporting public services and the economy.

“Key sections on ballot thresholds, facility time and check-off would make the delivery of devolved public services in Wales more difficult, changing the balance of the relationship between employers and unions.

“In Wales, the Welsh Government, employers and the trade union movement work together constructively. We have built up a tradition of social partnership, founded on respect for the work of trades unions and the rights of their members, and it is a tradition that has served us well – especially when you consider how the UK Government has handled disputes in recent years.

“Today, the National Assembly for Wales has taken the right course of action and acted to protect public services here from this regressive UK Act. We will robustly defend any attempt by the UK Government to interfere in this legitimate and democratic process.”&nbsp;

Commenting on today’s Senedd vote on the Trade Union (Wales) Bill, Wales TUC General Secretary Martin Mansfield said:

“The Welsh Government promised that they would protect our devolved services from the Westminster government’s anti-union attack and today they delivered on that promise.

“The Wales TUC warmly welcomes the new Bill and the strong support shown by the Assembly for our social partnership approach in Wales.

“Our government is committed to working in partnership with unions and employers to get the very best deal for our Welsh public services and its valued workforce. 

 

“The ‘Welsh Way’ works in avoiding industrial action. Our partnership approach is all about engaging with employers and government at an early stage, allowing us to deal with disagreements before they become disputes through mature negotiation and honest debate. 

 

“Thanks to the support of Welsh Government and other political parties in the Senedd, this approach can continue to deliver for both the people of Wales and for the services we all rely on.”

Commenting on previous threats from UK Government ministers that the UK Government would seek to legislate against the Trade Union (Wales) Bill in the future, Martin Mansfield added:

“The UK Government must now fully respect the democratic will of the people of Wales and the decision made by our National Assembly to pass this Bill. Any underhanded attempts to interfere in how our devolved public services are run in Wales would be undemocratic and unconstitutional.”

The £450,000 funding will secure support for a cohort of 50 companies on the Fit For Nuclear (F4N) programme – a unique service to help UK manufacturers get ready to bid for work in the civil nuclear supply chain.

The programme enables companies to measure their operations against the standards required to supply the nuclear industry – in new build, operations and decommissioning – and take the necessary steps to close any gaps.

Forecasts suggest that globally, over the next twenty years, there will be £930billion investment in new nuclear reactors and £250billion in the decommissioning of existing nuclear reactors.

Ken Skates said:

“The nuclear sector will provide a wide range of business opportunities over the next twenty years and we want to ensure that businesses in Wales are in a position to bid for and win a share of this business.

 “In Wales, research has identified that Welsh businesses have the potential, with the relevant accreditations and organisational systems, to compete for a significant proportion of nuclear sector contracts both in Wales and further afield and Welsh Government is eager to support business efforts to maximise their share for the benefit of the Welsh economy.”

Helen Arthur, F4N programme manager at the Nuclear AMRC, said:

“The 20 Welsh companies currently working through the F4N programme have highlighted the wealth of high-quality manufacturers in Wales which could meet the demands of the nuclear industry. We are very excited to continue working with the Welsh Government to make sure that more Welsh manufacturers can access our support and get ready to win work in the nuclear supply chain at home and worldwide.”

F4N has been developed by the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), part of Sheffield University, with the support of its top tier partners, including nuclear new build developers and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which use the programme to identify potential companies for their supply chains.

There is no set timescale for businesses to undergo an assessment to being granted Fit For Nuclear status but most achieve it within 12-18 month timeframe.

 Expressions of interest are now being sought from businesses in Wales wishing to participate in the F4N programme. Eligible companies must have a manufacturing facility in Wales, a turnover of £1.6m or above and employ ten or more people.

Participating companies range from contract manufacturers with no nuclear experience – that are aiming to take a first step into the sector – to established suppliers wanting to benchmark their position and drive business excellence.

For more information and to register an expression of interest by 1 August 2017 business should contact: DigwyddiadauNiwclear.NuclearEvents@wales.gsi.gov.uk or visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/fit-4-nuclear-programme-–-funding-available (external link).