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2013

Launch of Swansea Academy of Inclusivity and Learner Support (SAILS) (21/03/2013)
Address by Honorary Patron, Dr Hywel Francis MP at Swansea University.

Address to the Tata Global Leadership Development Programme - Waterfront Museum, Swansea (08/03/2013)
TATA and Wales: Margam, Baglan And Crymlyn Burrows.

Address to Equalities and Human Rights Commission (16/01/2013)
It is a great privilege to be asked to address you today, the new Commissioners, along with Baroness O'Neill, the existing Commissioners and senior staff from the EHRC at this Board Induction.

2012

Inter-Parliamentary Union and Commonwealth Secretariat Conference
(Geneva 12-13 November 2012)
Strengthening the Role of Parliamentarians in Establishing Human Rights [in Implementing Universal Periodic Review Recommendations]. The Case of the UK
Dr. Hywel Francis MP, Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the UK Parliament

Carers and Learning: Some Current Challenges and Opportunities [Paper for Open University Conference] (26/10/2012)
Thank you for your invitation to this conference and a particular thank you to my old friend Rob Humphreys, Director of the OU in Wales, and to Gayle Hudson for leading on the OU’s work with carers in Wales. In a recent debate on carers in Parliament I paid tribute to the OU for taking the important step of making carers one of your key target groups.

Speech at Pontypridd by Dr Hywel Francis MP, Chair Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) for launch of the consultation on the Welsh Government’s Framework for Action on Independent Living (20/09/2012)
Thanks to Jane Hutt and the Welsh Government for inviting me in my capacity as Chair of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights. And thanks also for the constructive engagement of Jane Hutt and her colleagues with my Committee’s inquiry into Independent Living of Disabled People. Baroness Jane Campbell and the late Lord Jack Ashley should be thanked for their work over the years. In the JCHR’s Report, we commended the Welsh Government’s decision to produce its framework for independent living, having previously heard evidence from witnesses such as Rhian Davies of Disability Wales (who will be speaking later) that Wales did not at the time have such a framework or strategy.

2011

Carers Rights Day: Margam 2nd December 2011 (02/12/2011)
I am very pleased to be with you today on Carers Rights Day to campaign with you and to celebrate with you the work of carers locally and throughout the country.

Hywel Francis speech for opening of new Afan Water Treatment Works (18/11/2011)
Thank you for inviting me to the opening of this remarkable new facility. It’s impressive on a number of levels.

Remembering Richard Burton - Opening of Richard Burton Trail, Pontrhydyfen, 10th June 2011.
It is a privilege to be here today with family and friends to recognise the life of Richard Burton at Pontrhydyfen where he was born in 1925. At that time the whole of Pontrhydyfen was in the Aberavon constituency. My neighbouring Member of Parliament, Peter Hain sends his very good wishes and warmly welcomes this Trail as I do.

Caring for Learning and Learning for Carers (26/05/2011)
Thank you for your invitation to speak at this conference which I am sure will be most instructive in exploring new learning opportunities with and for carers. I have chosen to talk to you on the theme of ‘caring for learning and learning for carers’.

The Westminster Foundation Event - 29 March 2011
Human Rights and Parliamentarians.

Cymmrodorion event in London on 16th March 2011
It is a privilege and a delight to be invited to speak tonight to the Cymmrodorion and Wales in London tonight. In thinking about what I should say this evening I was reminded of that warning to all Governments of the Twentieth Century: there are two bodies you take on at your peril – the Brigade of Guards and the Miners’ Union.

2010

Forty Years of Regeneration in the Upper Afan Valley - A Bevan Foundation Report (08/12/2010)
This important report on the future of the Upper Afan Valley which I commissioned as the local Member of Parliament, has been written by its Director, Dr Victoria Winckler. The report addresses some of the big challenges facing those of us who live in Valley communities – formerly mining communities. Indeed, these are challenges that are faced by so many post industrial communities throughout the world from Abercregan to Appalachia.

The Annual Lecture of the Welsh Political Archive 2010 (05/11/2010)
I am doubly honoured to give this lecture at the National Library of Wales which I first visited whilst at Gwersyll yr Urdd in Llangranog in 1958. Our guide was the late Owen Edwards who was then working at the Library. Circles really do intersect in Wales, in space and over time.

2009

Alliance Conference - Regeneration: The View from Aberavon and Westminster (22/09/2009)
I very much welcome the opportunity to speak at this Alliance Conference to give the perspective of a Member of Parliament representing this Constituency of Aberavon which has successfully transformed itself through a range of regeneration strategies.

Keynote Address on 20th Anniversary of the Swansea University Part Time Degree Scheme (12/09/2009)
I am delighted, indeed honoured, to be part of this very special celebration - a celebration of twenty years of collective progress and personal achievement.

The Community of Learning (04/09/2009)
I am very pleased to be with you today to give my full support, as the local Member of Parliament, as an individual member of the Community Trade Union and as a former tutor in community adult education and trade union studies.

In Praise of Aberavon! (22/01/2009)
I was once asked to play for Neath but I turned them down: I was never good enough to play for Aberavon. I remember a few years later a local trade unionist who gave me a useful piece of advice: "Don’t attack that Manager – he wears an Aberavon jersey!"

2008

Remembering Tower’s Struggles (21/01/2008)
The personal is the political and the inspirational Tower story is testimony to that. I have many personal Tower stories which touch the lives of so many people in Wales and throughout the world.

2007

Big Magazine Article - Wales, Britain and Slavery; Parliament Remembers (March 2007)
It is rare – indeed unheard of – to have total unanimity in a Parliamentary debate. But this did happen recently when MPs commemorated the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery and I had the privilege of contributing twice in that debate.

2006

The South Wales Miners’ Library, thirty-three years on ‘An Educational Citadel’ and more (November 2006)
I am very pleased to be here today to preside over this special event, the re-opening of the South Wales Miners Library on its 33rd anniversary,

Who Cares for the Carers? The Story of Community MP Hywel Francis’ Carers Equal Opportunities Act (November 2006)
The Story of Community MP Hywel Francis’ Carers Equal Opportunities Act.

True Internationalist Voice from the Valleys (October 2006)
In the centenary year of the Parliamentary Labour Party it is pleasing and very appropriate that one of the most distinguished and remarkable members is recognised in an excellent biography.

Aberavon MP Dr Hywel Francis writes about his summer in his constituency (September 2006)
The Summer Parliamentary Recess provides the only real time for me to meet lots of people and organisations in my constituency which I am unable to meet throughout the year because of my Parliamentary duties in London.

2004

The Carers Revolution (03/12/2004)
Today - National Carers Rights Day - is about the future. For me, and for everyone present here today it is about ensuring that carers have the same rights - equal rights.

The Carers Equal Opportunities Bill N. Ireland (15/09/2004)
Doing the Right Job; Doing the Job Right Conference. The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Belfast.

The Carers Equal Opportunities Act Gwbert on Sea (10/09/2004)
I am delighted to be with you to thank, formally, officially and in person, Carers Wales for its support in achieving our Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004.

2003

Paul Robeson: His legacy for Wales (12/07/2003)
Hywel Francis explores the legacy left by Paul Robeson for Wales, manifested through the Welsh Anti-Apartheid Movement, and considers the lessons for Wales today.

2002

John Baillie Lecture (13/05/2002)
Can I say at the outset how privileged and honoured I am to be invited by NATFHE to give the John Baillie Memorial Lecture and for this to coincide very appropriately with the launch of the Paid Educational Leave Campaign.

2001

The explosion in Corus (10/11/2001)
There are just three things you can do on occasions like this – support the families, thank the emergency services, call for an inquiry and await the results.

Talking Point (21/10/2001)
I returned to Parliament last week after a recess in which I have been busy with surgeries, visits to communities and setting up a joint office with Dr Brian Gibbons AM.

Address to the Swansea Bay Racial Equality Council (31/07/2001)
I would like to thank Taha Idris and the Swansea Bay Racial Equality Council for your kind invitation to address the AGM.

Welsh Language WLP Conference (03/03/2001)
The recent controversy over the Welsh language highlights three key factors relating to the future of the Welsh Language.

Education WLP Conference (02/03/2002)
I am proud to speak here in this debate as the Prospective Parliamentary Labour Candidate for Aberavon.

2000

Hywel Francis WLGA speech (08/09/2000)
A Discussion Paper by Professor Hywel Francis, University of Wales Swansea.

Dic Penderyn Commenorative Service (12/08/2000)
Tribute by Professor Hywel Francis at St Mary’s Church, Aberafan.