August 2008
I am not a Member of Parliament who normally seeks controversy. That may be a weakness. As Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, however, I sometimes cannot avoid it. Two recent reports, one on cross border England and Wales Health Services and the other on the workings of our pre-legislative scrutiny of Welsh Assembly proposals, meant that I had more than my fair share of attention recently on Welsh and English language television and radio.
Even though big issues like health, education and transport are largely dealt with by the Welsh Assembly, I still find that, through the Welsh Affairs Committee in Parliament, I am often involved in these vital policy areas because the United Kingdom Government and Parliament still has from time to time a major influence. I welcome this involvement but I am conscious of the need to work in partnership with my Assembly colleagues and I am glad I have an excellent working relationship with most of them, especially my two most local colleagues, Dr Brian Gibbons AM and Mrs Gwenda Thomas AM.
Again, the delivery of local public services – such as schools and social services – are matters entirely for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council but I still take a keen interest in them. As Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is by common consent the best in Wales, it rarely gets public praise because few newspapers will be sold if 'good news' is the only news. So here is my contribution to correct that. I wrote recently to Croeserw and Duffryn Schools on their excellent inspection reports and also commended the local authority for its report on one important area of its services.
I was also pleased to read the recently published 'joint review of NPTCBC Social Services'. Overall it stated 'that Neath Port Talbot Council is judged as having mainly good services'. The quality of services provided were considered 'excellent'.
I was particularly interested to note that areas for development included promoting assessment and support for carers. I know that the recently appointed Carers' Champion Cabinet Member Councillor Peter Rees will be keen to take this forward enthusiastically. He will certainly have my personal support as the author of the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act as well as Wales Carers' Champion in Government Mrs Gwenda Thomas AM and all our local carers' organisations.
Well done Croeserw, Duffryn and our local Council for three excellent reports.
