William Graham AC yn llofnodi cen i warchod moroedd Cymru

Mae William Graham AC yn cefnogi ymgyrch Pysgod Deiseb Ymddiriedolaethau Natur Cymru i warchod ein moroedd a’r bywyd gwyllt anhygoel maent yn ei gynnal.

Meddai William Graham AC: “Yng Nghymru, mae gennym gysylltiad cryf â’r môr erioed, a’r planhigion ac anifeiliaid mae’n eu cynnal.  Mae môr iach a chynhyrchiol yn rhoi ocsigen i ni ei anadlu a bwyd i ni ei fwyta.  Bydd creu Ardaloedd Morol Gwarchodedig a reolir yn dda yn helpu ein moroedd i ymadfer a ffynnu trwy reoli gweithgareddau a all niweidio bywyd gwyllt. Bydda i’n gwneud hynny allaf i barhau i bwyso ar y Llywodraeth i greu rhwydwaith o Ardaloedd Morol Gwarchodedig a reolir yn dda o gwmpas Cymru.”

Dywedodd Simon King OBE, Llywydd yr Ymddiriedolaethau Natur: “Mae ein moroedd o dan straen oherwydd gorbysgota, llygredd a’r newid yn yr hinsawdd. Ond gallant gael eu gweddnewid yn Foroedd Byw sy’n llawn bywyd a lliw ac sy’n achosi i ni i gyd ryfeddu atynt. Mae gan y Cynulliad y pŵer i reoli a gwarchod ein moroedd i’w helpu i fod ymysg y mwyaf cynhyrchiol a thoreithiog o fywyd gwyllt ar y ddaear. Gallwch atgoffa’r Llywodraeth o’i hymrwymiad i Ardaloedd Morol Gwarchodedig trwy lofnodi cen ar Bysgodyn Deiseb ar www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish neu drwy anfon y neges destun FISH at60777.”

Bydd y Pysgod Deiseb yn dychwelyd i’r Senedd yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn i ddangos i Lywodraeth Cymru faint mae’r cyhoedd yn cefnogi Ardaloedd Morol Gwarchodedig yng Nghymru.

Nodiadau i olygyddion:

• Mae yna chwe Ymddiriedolaeth Natur yng Nghymru’n cydweithio i warchod bywyd gwyllt i’r dyfodol. Rhyngom, mae gennym fwy na 30,000 o aelodau ac rydym yn rheoli 230 o warchodfeydd natur, gan gynnwys 28 o warchodfeydd arfordirol.  Rydym hefyd yn ymgyrchu ar lefel leol, rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol dros warchodaeth well i fywyd gwyllt a’r amgylchedd yng Nghymru.
• Mae’r Ymddiriedolaethau Natur yn ymgyrchu ers blynyddoedd lawer dros ddeddfwriaeth gynhwysfawr i gael gwarchodaeth well i fywyd gwyllt morol a rheolaeth effeithiol ar ein moroedd.  I gael mwy o wybodaeth, ewch i http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/livingseas
• ‘Pysgod Deiseb’ yw ymgyrch Ymddiriedolaethau Natur Cymru i gael cefnogaeth gan y cyhoedd dros Ardaloedd Morol Gwarchodedig a Pharthau Cadwraeth Morol yng Nghymru.  Mae cennau wedi’u llofnodi’n cael eu gosod ar ein pysgod, a fydd yn y pen draw yn ‘heigio’ gyda’i gilydd i’r Senedd a San Steffan i ddangos faint mae’r cyhoedd yn cefnogi / faint o gefnogaeth sydd gan y cyhoedd dros / i Ardaloedd Morol Gwarchodedig.  I gael mwy o wybodaeth, ewch i http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish

William Graham AM signs a scale to protect our seas

William Graham AM is supporting Wildlife Trusts Wales’ Petition Fish campaign to protect our seas and the amazing wildlife it supports. 

William Graham AM said:  “In Wales, we have always had a strong connection to

WG signs a scale to protect our seas

 

the sea and the plants and animals it sustains.  A healthy and productive sea provides us with oxygen to breathe and food to eat.  The creation of well-managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will help our seas to recover and flourish by managing activities that can damage wildlife.  I will do what I can to keep up the pressure on the Government to create a network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas around Wales.”

 

Simon King OBE, President of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Our seas are stressed from over-fishing, pollution and climate change.  But they can be transformed into Living Seas that pulsate with life and colour and are a source of wonder to us all.  The Assembly has the power to manage and protect our seas to help them become some of the most productive and wildlife-rich on earth.  You can remind the Government of its commitment to Marine Protected Areas by signing a Petition Fish scale at www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish or texting FISH to 60777.”

 

The Petition Fish will return to the Senedd later in the year to demonstrate to Welsh Government the level of public support for Marine Protected Areas in Wales.

 

Notes for editors:

• There are six Wildlife Trusts in Wales working together to protect wildlife for the future. Between us, we have more than 30,000 members and manage 230 nature reserves, including 28 coastal reserves.  We also campaign at local, regional, and national level for better protection of wildlife and the environment in Wales.

 

• The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for many years for comprehensive legislation to achieve better protection for marine wildlife and effective management of our seas.  For more information, please visit http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/livingseas

 

• ‘Petition Fish’ is Wildlife Trusts Wales’ campaign to gather public support for marine Protected Areas and Marine Conservation Zones. in Wales.  Signed scales are being attached to our fish, which will eventually ‘shoal’ together to the Senedd and Westminster to demonstrate the level of public support for MPAs.  For more information, please visit http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish

Welsh Cancer Drugs Funds

5^th September 2011  

William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) speaking in Plenary debate calling upon the Welsh Government to establish a Cancer Drugs Fund: 

 William highlighted that the Health budget in Wales is being cut by 5.8% over the next 3 years. NHS funding per head in England will grow £1,926 per head in 2009-10 to £2,035 in 2012-13; in this time funding in Wales will fall from £2,075 to around £2,002 per year. 

 “It has been verified that each year £1 billion of the Welsh NHS budget is not utilised effectively as a result of ‘extremely costly’ mistakes; more than £50 million of medicines are returned to pharmacies unused, and must be incinerated. This is money which is literally going up in smoke that could otherwise be used to provide life-prolonging treatments”. 

 I acknowledge the MacMillan Cancer Support claim that the present system is ill-equipped to deal with the growing number of people needing help; services are not keeping up with the changing nature of cancer and their on going needs.” 

 “Cancer treatments are changing. Increasingly the focus is upon recovery and cure”. A Welsh Cancer Drugs Fund would direct treatment to the most effective drug for each individual patient’s requirements”.

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Disable Access in South Wales Region

  21 September 2011  

Disable access in Newport, Chepstow, Abergavenny & Pontypool. 

William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) speaking in the Assembly debate on the accessibility of the transport network for disabled people called for “access to be an integral design feature of our transport network”. 

“There are 30 railway stations in South Wales East;  

•24 of these are unmanned

•13 are accessed by ramps with a gradient steeper than 1:12

• Only 3 have accessible lavatory facilities.

I appreciate that many access issues arise from the age of our stations; however, form August 2007 until September 2010 wheelchair access to the Assembly Government funded Platform 4 at Newport Station was via a taxi arranged by station staff”. 

“It is an alarming statistic that 23% of disabled people have had to turn down a job due to a lack of accessible transport”.  

“Public transport is only truly ‘public’ if it is available to everyone”. 

“If information about accessibility is not readily available, then accessible services become inaccessible”.

William Graham (Opposition Chief Whip and Conservative AM for South Wales East) questions the Assembly Heritage Minister on maximising the potential of the recent discoveries at Caerleon

28^th September 2011 

 

William highlighted the range of recent discoveries at Caerleon; notably the port and harbour wall. 

 

“These along with the amphitheatre, barracks and baths have uplifted Caerleon status as a major site of for the study of all aspects of Roman history”. 

 

“I was pleased that the Minister recognised this and confirmed Assembly support for any campaign for Caerleon to be awarded World Heritage Status”. 

 

“It is vital that we maximise the fullest potential of Caerleon for academic study and attracting tourists; along with economic and social investment”.

Minor Injuries Units

4/10/2011

William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) called upon the Assembly Health Minister to make a statement on Hospital Minor Injuries Units in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board Area.  

“The proposed closure of the minor injuries units at Chepstow, Monmouth and Panteg hospitals will cause great concern to people throughout South Wales East. People need to be re-assured that this service will be continued and how they can access treatment for minor injuries”. 

“I acknowledge that ‘patient safety’ was the driving factor for making these decisions. However the Health Board must now ensure the public are made aware of how they can access the most effective medical care”.  

“Statistic may direct the future provision of health service provision; but we must never lose sight of the fact that these numbers represent real people and their concerns need to be fully addressed”. 

“A Ministerial statement would have offered the best opportunity to raise public awareness and direct them to accessing faster, effective treatment of all injuries”.

MAXIMISNG OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS IN NEWPORT

4/10/2011 

Speaking after Conservative Councillor David Williams presented a petition to Russell George AM on behalf of the National Assembly Petitions Committee calling for the City of Newport to be designated as an enterprise zone, William Graham AM said: 

‘There has been widespread disappointment that the well-established Cardiff Business District has enterprise zone status whereas the underperforming Newport City Centre has been ignored. With so much untapped potential existing in the City I would urge the Minister for Business, Enterprise and technology to consider extending the status to Newport and abandon the sector-oriented approach to Enterprise zones.’   

The Conservative AM for South Wales East also pressed the First Minister during Assembly questions to outline how the Welsh Government has converted the opportunities presented by hosting last year’s Ryder Cup into real achievements, particularly in terms of the levels of inward investment attained: 

‘While the Ryder Cup has left an important legacy of improved infrastructure and boosted golf tourism to Wales by 21% with the sport being worth £42 million to the Welsh economy, predictions that event would yield significant long term investment and new business for the local private sector have been realised with mixed success. The Conservative-led Newport Council has taken an impressive lead in promoting the City as a place to visit and invest, but this must be supported by a Welsh Government strategy focussing on inward investment and maximising opportunities for the area’s existing firms.’ 

‘During the last Assembly the First Minister responded to my requests to  publish a list of firms attracted to Wales after discussions at the Ryder Cup in Celtic Manor by indicating that the Welsh Government had several promising leads but that they had to remain private owing to commercial sensitivity. While the First Minister’s reply today that negotiations with potential investors are still occurring is encouraging, I believe that the Welsh Government should publish a review of their work in attracting investment arising from opportunities presented by hosting the Ryder Cup to gauge the effectiveness of the approach taken.’ 

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GRAHAM: ANDREW RT DAVIES CAN LEAD WELSH CONSERVATIVES TO FURTHER GAINS

14^th July 2011

Speaking at the Swalec Stadium today following the announcement that Andrew RT Davies has been elected as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Group in the National Assembly, William Graham AM said:

‘Andrew RT Davies has the vision and drive to lead the Welsh Conservatives to build upon the gains that the Party made in May’s Assembly elections. Having been closely involved in his leadership campaign I have seen at first hand Andrew’s energy and ambition to work towards Wales having a better, more prosperous future.’

The Shadow Minister for Local Government added:

‘Andrew’s experience in Business will be particularly significant as the Welsh Conservatives look to champion the cause of SME’s and the need for job creation while challenging Welsh Labour’s appalling neglect of the private sector and complacent attitude on the economy. Similarly, Andrew’s background in farming and appreciation of the issues facing rural communities will reassure the many people in Wales concerned at Labour’s decision to downgrade the Rural Affairs to a non-Cabinet position.’

ENDS

GRAHAM WELCOMES NEWPORT LORD MAYOR APPLICATION

9^th July 2010

Commenting on the news that the City of Newport is applying to have a Lord Mayor, William Graham AM said:

‘The accolade of Lord Mayor would be a major boost for the City in its recovery from recession.’

The Shadow Minister for Local Government, who was previously a Conservative   Councillor on Newport Council for sixteen years, added:

‘As Leader of the Opposition for the Conservative Group on Newport Council I supported the successful application for the grant of City status in 2002.’

 

ENDS

 

GRAHAM WELCOMES NEWPORT PLAID COUNCILLOR TO CONSERVATIVE FOLD

8^th July 2011

Speaking after the news that Councillor Michael Brunnock, who represents Tredegar Park on Newport City Council, has defected from Plaid Cymru to the Conservatives today William Graham AM said:

‘I warmly welcome Mike Brunnock’s decision join the Welsh Conservatives. The Conservative Group have won plaudits for their leadership of Newport City Council, transforming the City’s roads and maximising opportunities for businesses located in the City.’

The Conservative AM for South Wales East continued:

‘Mike’s decision to join the Conservatives represents another bitter blow for Plaid Cymru, coming in the wake of a disappointing Assembly election in which the Party lost four seats. Welsh Conservatives have continued to attract increased support at local and national level and are well placed to make gains in next year’s Council elections.’

ENDS

William Graham AM