Mr Hanson said:-

“I was pleased to meet with local Members, who are doing a sterling job in helping to support people with learning disabilities in the Flintshire area.  The KeyRing Network supports people, to undertake social activities, daily living tasks, employment and accommodation. 

The Group are hoping, shortly, to undertake a conference on hate crime, which will involve North Wales Police, Fire Service and Health Service.”

The KeyRing Network is supported by Wesley Owen (Supported Living Manager), and is funded by the Supporting People Fund.  In Flintshire, there are currently around 36 people supported by the Network, and it is hoped that over the next year, it will expand to a 5^th Network in Flintshire.  If anyone would like more information, regarding KeyRing, they can contact Wes Owen on 07825275404 or wes.owen@keyring.org.

Jason Green, a Flint Member said:-

“KeyRing Network helps people with learning difficulties to go on trips, and helps to support them in their lives.  I am grateful to them for their services.”

Mr Hanson said:-

“Figures released by North Wales Police show that crime has fallen dramatically in Flintshire in the past twelve months.  In all areas of crime, there have been significant reductions.  I am pleased that in Flintshire:-

·        Violent Crime:   -20.9% decrease recorded

·        Burglary Dwelling:   -32.4% decrease recorded

·        Vehicle Crime:   -29.5% decrease recorded

·        All Crime:   -18.6% decrease recorded

·        Anti-Social Behaviour:   -19.2% recorded

These figures reflect very well on the policing performance in Flintshire, and I pay tribute to the local Police for this reduction.

Sadly, we have had some serious incidents recently, but people locally need to be aware that crime remains low, is falling, and I hope that this will be maintained”.

Clybiau Plan Cymru Kids’ Clubs was established in 2001 to help communities in Wales by promoting, developing and supporting quality, affordable, accessible out of school childcare clubs.  They work in communities with communities setting up after school, holiday and before school childcare clubs for 3-14 year olds.

Mr Hanson said:-

“It was a great day to visit the children at Carmel School.  The Club provides really good activities for the children whilst helping parents who have to work during the long summer holiday.  There are still a few places left and parents should ring tel:  01352 712234 if they are interested in looking at places.”

The award was presented on the occasion of the Cottage Nursing Home’s annual summer barbecue, which this year had a Swiss theme to coincide with the Swiss national day.  Andreas Lanini, the owner of the Cottage Nursing Home, was born in Switzerland.

Mr Hanson said:-

“It was a real pleasure to present the award to the Cottage.  This is an extremely vigorous and challenging award to gain and it is a tribute to the staff that they have successfully gained the award.  The Cottage provides high quality nursing care, and is a credit to Mold”.

The Flintshire MP will sponsor one of the “patches” which will raise money for UNICEF, which works with families, communities and governments in more than 190 countries worldwide to protect and promote the rights of all children.

The patch takes the form of a cropped photo, which appears, along with other photos, on a flag, which will be taken up to Everest in May of next year.

The team are planning to climb the world's highest mountain with a flag made up of over 50,000 patches. On these patches will be the pictures of people from all over the world who have come together to be part of an Everest expedition to raise a huge amount of money for UNICEF.

By sponsoring a Patch people will join thousands of others as their picture will be printed on the largest flag ever flown on the summit of Everest. By becoming a part of the Patch Expedition team people will also be helping UNICEF to make a difference to thousands of children across Nepal and South Asia through one of their many projects in the region.

David Hanson said:

“I am delighted to support the Patch expedition. Clearly Sarah and Steve have come up with a truly innovative way to raise funds for such an important cause.

“If people want to find out more about the expedition they should visit the group’s website and see how they can get involved. It costs £5 to sponsor a patch.”

 www.patchexpedition.com

The Government’s own Office of Budget Responsibility predicts that the implementation of the Budget will see employment down by over 100,000 and lower growth this year and next.

David Hanson said:

“This Government is slashing the very programmes that our young people need in place to get them into the job market and participate in the recovery.

“Programmes like the future jobs fund and cuts to the number of university places available are a real concern for the young people of Flintshire.

“The Office of Budget Responsibility predicted that Osborne’s strategy will mean tens of thousands more people on the dole queue, and will bring employment down by one hundred thousand.  

“And this is based on an optimistic assessment of the private sector’s capacity to absorb those losing their jobs. Labour market experts suggest that the Government’s plans will have a much larger impact on unemployment.

“When it comes to growing our economy, again these plans fall wide of the mark. 

“The Budget set out a corporation tax cut of 4%, implemented over the next 4 years. But it is paid for by a slashing investment allowances that encourage businesses to take a longer term view.

“Manufacturers have labelled these plans a “disaster” and said they would make businesses “think twice about investing in the UK”.

“I will be opposing this cuts programme where they are to the detriment of the people of Flintshire and I will be standing up for local jobs and our public services.”

Figures released today show that unemployment in Flintshire fell in June of this year down by 127 from the previous month.

Labour’s Future Jobs Fund has created over 10,400 jobs in Wales with a commitment to 7,000 more in the future.  But the government is scrapping this help, cutting university places and abolishing Labour’s Youth Guarantee of a job or training place for any young person who has been out of work for six months. 

David Hanson, MP for Delyn said:

“Although I am encouraged that unemployment has come down in Delyn over the last month and is down from this time last year, I am worried by the cuts outlined by the new coalition which will impact on local jobs and growth.

“The Labour Government was committed to supporting jobs in Flintshire through the downturn and I am particularly concerned for the future of local young people, who should not pay the price for this government’s unfair cuts.

“Scrapping support for youth jobs is wasting the talents of an entire generation.  That’s why I believe there should be more opportunities for young people around here to find work.”

Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“These figures show just why it is dangerous and callous to cut support for jobs and the economy.

“May's small fall in unemployment is welcome and reflects the extra support Labour put into the economy as it started to come out of recession.

“Cutting 90,000 youth jobs and hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs while the private sector is still so fragile will condemn many people to a lifetime on the dole.”

The British Crime Survey, released today, shows that overall crime has fallen nine per cent with theft against the person down by 28 per cent and there are big drops in vandalism and vehicle-related theft.

Recorded crime is also down by eight per cent.

Statistics for North Wales also show a drop in crime, with overall police recorded crime down by three per cent. Robbery is down by 20 per cent, vehicle offences down by 19 per cent and criminal damage offences down by 13 per cent.   

David Hanson said:

“These figures are very welcome indeed. As Police Minister before the General Election I worked hard to give local police forces the powers and resources they needed to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

“The first duty of any government has to be to protect the people, which is why reducing levels of crime and developing neighbourhood policing were so important to the previous Labour Government. 

“Yesterday I stood up in the House of Commons and spoke out against cuts of £135 million to policing, introduced by the new Tory Lib Dem Government, which will lead to fewer police on our streets.

“North Wales Police do an excellent job for the people of Flintshire and I will continue to support them in everyway I can.”

David Hanson said:

“Congratulations to Rhydymwyn FC who have worked so hard to clinch the title and gain promotion. It is great to see a local Flintshire club doing so well and I wish them all the best for the coming season.” 

David Hanson said:

“A great deal of work was carried under the last Government to tackle child poverty and I stand by our commitment to end child poverty by 2020.

“However, there is clearly a lot more that needs to be done and through these difficult economic times we need to renew our focus on those that need support the most. The work of the Child Poverty Action Group in this area is very important and I am happy to sign their pledge.”

Shan Nicholas, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said:

“All the main parties have committed to ending child poverty by 2020, but David Hanson MP stands out as one of the first to have signed a personal pledge committing to action. It is important MPs understand the leadership role they can take in their area to bring partners together like local councils, schools, service providers and the voluntary sector, as well as showing public leadership by raising public understanding of child poverty in their constituency.

“Britain has one of the highest child poverty rates in Europe and this has an appalling impact on the life chances of many children. There is no reason why British children should suffer more than our neighbours and we are delighted that David Hanson MP is so strongly committed to ending child poverty.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

§         The Child Poverty Champions Pledge says:

“I promise to keep the commitments my party voted for in the Child Poverty Act and to work in parliament and in [my constituency] to end child poverty by 2020”

§         David Hanson MP signed the pledge at a reception held by the Child Poverty Action Group in parliament on 6 July 2010. The reception also launched the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook 2010/11 published by the group, a free copy of which was given to all Child Poverty Champion MPs to help them with their casework with low income families. You can find out more information about Child Poverty Action Group their handbooks and other work to help end child poverty at www.cpag.org.uk

§         Child Poverty Champion MPs have also been asked to write to local stakeholders and spend time with low income families in their constituency and visiting the services they rely on to help drive forward implementation at local level of the Child Poverty Act and better understand the challenges these families face. The have also been asked to join a new All Party Group to End Child Poverty that will have its inaugural meeting this autumn.

CPAG media contact: Tim Nichols, Tel. 07816 909302.