Mr Hanson, who has long-standing experience in the criminal justice system as a former Minister of State for Prisons will explore what works well and what are the areas for improvement. He will consider the needs of three distinct groups- young people, women and men – and review the barriers to effective delivery. He will undertake the review over the summer and report back to the Minister by the end of November 2018.

Education, training and libraries in prisons in Wales has been devolved to the Welsh Government since 2009 and the Welsh Government currently funds this learning through a joint Memorandum of Understanding with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and with funding provided for this purpose by the UK government.

The Minister said:

“I am grateful to David for agreeing to undertake this review of education in Welsh prisons. He brings with him a great deal of experience and knowledge from his time as Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Youth Justice.

“We know that excellent education in prisons is vital if we are to reduce re-offending. Boosting skills and employment is believed to be one of the most effective means of combating crime by breaking the cycle of disadvantage and inequality that many offenders experience. We also know that, at the moment, prison education in Wales is not as good as we would like it to be.

“David’s review, therefore, is the first step in making the necessary improvements that we need to rehabilitate prisoners and provide them with the skills and confidence they need to become economically active members of society after they are released.”

Mr Hanson said:

“I am delighted to undertake this review of education in prisons for the Welsh Government. I hope that I can utilise my experience as Minister of State for Prisons to ensure that this evaluation produces are report which can earmark key areas of reform and opportunity.

“Ensuring that we have a criminal justice system that rehabilitates offenders is key. By creating a prisons system that educates and retrains offenders we are producing new members of society who can contribute and pay their own way. This will be an evidence led investigation and I hope that we can build upon past successes, root out current failures and embrace future opportunities so that the prisons system in Wales is the envy of the UK.”

Huw Irranca-Davies is using this year’s National Playday (Wednesday 1st August) to urge children and parents to get out and play, either in their own community or by attending one of the many community events are taking place in parks and other open spaces across Wales.

The importance of physical activity for children and young people is clear. It has multiple benefits for children’s physical, mental and social needs and aids strong growth, co-ordination and helps to reduce the risk of children becoming overweight or obese. 

Research shows that by the age of 11, more than 40% of Welsh children are either obese or overweight. 

Minister for Children, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“These days, children and young people spend a lot of their time indoors playing computer games and using their mobile phones and other electronic devices to socialise with their friends. But the amount of time they spend outdoors, being physically active, is falling. This is one of the reasons why 40% of Welsh children are either obese or overweight by the time they reach the age of 11.

“The Welsh Government places great value on play and its importance in the lives of our children. We believe children have a fundamental right to be able to play and that play is central to their enjoyment of life.

“As well as a celebration of children’s right to play, National Playday is a great way of focussing on the important role play should have in children’s lives. Play is essential for the growth in children’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. It also contributes to their and their families’ health and well-being, as well as their future life chances. 

“I want to urge parents to use this year’s National Playday as an opportunity to get their children out to play.”

During term time, there are a number of programmes such as Active Journeys to Schools, Daily Mile, and School Sport to empower children and young people to build more activity into their daily routines.  

Over the summer holidays, there are a range of summer play schemes and other community activities for example Streetgames and Parkrun operating which children and young people can access. The Welsh Government is continuing to support and invest in community-based approaches.

Mike Greenaway, Director of Play Wales added:

“Today and over the last thirty-one years there have been thousands of great events across Wales celebrating Playday and children’s right to play. Playing is important to children and it makes a significant positive impact on their physical and mental health, wellbeing and happiness. 

“As a society – adults, organisations and governments – we need to continue working together to ensure everyone values the child’s right to play and that it’s provided for by making certain that every child in Wales has enough time, space and permission to play outdoors every day of the year.”

TWI Ltd offers technology and ongoing support services to improve customers’ welding, joining and allied processes and to demonstrate product performance. Companies like TWI Technology offer their customers a complex mix of both goods and services and the Minister said it is vital they continue to benefit from full and unfettered access to the EU Single Market.

Rebecca Evans said:

“It was extremely useful to meet the team at TWI and to discuss how they are planning for when we leave the European Union.  

“I am concerned that the UK Government’s White Paper on Brexit is advocating a different trading relationship with the EU for services than for goods.

“We have repeatedly warned that the UK cannot take the huge economic risk of cutting ourselves adrift from the Single Market and Customs Union. This is particularly true for manufacturing sectors and specialist services, which in Wales are so important in providing high-paid, high-skilled jobs.

“Welsh businesses benefit hugely from our current position in the EU Single Market and the message from firms like TWI is clear; this access must continue for business to thrive. At the Ministerial Forum in Cardiff today I will urge the UK Government to listen to Welsh businesses and to commit to securing the access that firms like TWI require.

“The White Paper was a belated step in the right direction and provides a better starting point to begin negotiations, but much more flexibility is needed from the UK Government to deliver a Brexit which works for Wales.”

The Minister’s first stop was at Cardigan Castle where he had an opportunity to see the how the £11m restoration project has transformed the castle into a vibrant visitor attraction with accommodation and restaurant.  The Castle won the Georgian buildings category of the Channel 4 Restoration of the Year 2017 and has also been named as one of the projects for the European Year of Cultural Heritage for 2018.  The latest development at the Castle is the interactive interpretation on the Eisteddfod, and Cardigan Castle’s role in hosting the first in 1176.  

With less than a week to go until the 2018 Eisteddfod, the Minister had an opportunity to speak to Director of the Castle Jac Owen Davies about his future plans.  Jac took up the past last year after moving back to west Wales following his time in London as director and general manager at the pro Rugby League team London Skolars and as chief executive officer at the London Welsh Centre.

The Minister then had an opportunity to meet with the owner of Pizza Tipi James Lynch, also owner of Fforest in Cilgerran where excellent local produce, the commitment of the staff and the stunning location along the River Teifi are proving a real recipe for success. There he discussed further opportunities for the town to maximise its tourism potential and provide further employment for young local people.

Since expanding from a micro-bakery and opening a café, deli and restaurant in one of Cardigan’s iconic buildings over Easter, Catrin and Osian Jones, the two local entrepreneurs behind Crwst, have been going from strength to strength. They’ve recently taken over further space on an industrial estate in the town to keep up with demand and have quickly established themselves as one of the destination eateries for the town. The Minister met with Crwst chef, Sam Everton who won the top chef under 24 award in the World Skills Competition this year. Crwst have also been shortlisted as a Regional Finalist for the second year running in the Rural Business Awards.  

Cered (Welsh Language initiative for Ceredigion) were also at Crwst, providing an overview on how Cymraeg yn y Gweithle helps local businesses develop a sense of place by promoting the Welsh language in business.

El Salsa is another example of a business which has had a busy start since opening their permanent premises in their home town of Cardigan earlier this month.   El Salsa have won a string of street food awards and are a well known name in many festivals and events. They have been a welcome addition to the Cardigan food scene and are a further example of the many success stories in and around Cardigan at present.

Culture, Tourism and Sport Minister, said:

“I was delighted earlier this week to launch a new resource to celebrate the castles and history of the Lords and Princes of Wales. Cardigan Castle is of course one of the 24 castles alongside abbeys and other historical sites signposted in the booklet –I was delighted to visit today to see how the castle has been transformed – and is again at the heart of life in Cardigan.

Having a tour of Cardigan today and seeing the variety and quality of what the town has to offer has been a real pleasure. There’s a vibrancy in the town, with the new developments making the most of the town’s culture and heritage, giving people a sense of what Aberteifi is really about.  The town’s industrial heritage is also turning around, with Hiut Denim making a name for itself world-wide.

This is a town which is proud of its history and, through offering a quality experience, employing local staff and excellent local produce, it is also a showcase to the best of rural west Wales.  I’m delighted to see Cardigan facing the future with confidence and vision.  It’s been wonderful to hear of the success stories and of the plans the town’s businesses have for the future – long may their success continue.”

The figures are taken from a comprehensive report which has been published by the Welsh Government showing progress in each of Wales’ eight  Enterprise Zones.

Figures revealed in the Enterprise Zones annual report 2017/18 show businesses located in the Zones benefited from in excess of £5.3m of direct support, while public sector  investment in transport and infrastructure to improve accessibility to the zones stood at over £52m. 

The Llangefni Link Road, which is part of the plan to develop Llangefni Campus as an internationally renowned Energy and Engineering Training Facility, the Eastern Bay Link Road in Cardiff and the new Brynmawr to Tredegar section of the A465 are just some  of the  infrastructure investments included in the report that have been designed to  support the growth of the  Enterprise Zones. 

The annual report also reveals that: 

• nearly 96% of premises in Enterprise Zone locations have been Super Broadband enabled
• £11m worth of business rate support has been allocated to businesses in the zones 
• designated sites within Deeside, Ebbw Vale, Haven Waterway and Port Talbot have been given Enhanced Capital Allowances to support ongoing work to enhance the infrastructure and make them more attractive to investors. 

The Economy Secretary said: 

“I am pleased to report that our Enterprise Zones supported 1550 jobs in the last financial year, taking the total of jobs now supported through the programme to more than 12,250. 

“The report also show that collectively the zones have benefitted from £57.6 million of public sector investment, with funding being used to improve transport links and infrastructure and provide businesses with the best possible conditions in order to help them develop and grow  over the short and longer term. 

“While all eight Enterprise Zones are at different stages of development and face their own challenges and opportunities,  the report confirms that they are all making significant progress, and   laying the foundation for the type of inclusive and sustainable prosperity that we are working hard to drive through our Economic Action Plan.” 

View: Enterprise Zones annual report 2017/18.