Leicester City Liberal Democrats

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have revealed proposals to reform the funding of the National Assembly to promote "accountability, fairness and growth." The Party today provided their suggestions in a weighty submission to the Silk Commission. Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said, "Our vision for devolution has always included making sure that the National Assembly has the appropriate range of powers available to improve the lives of the people of Wales. "The Welsh Liberal Democrats campaigned hard for a Yes vote in the referendum in March because we believed Wales would benefit from a broad range of legal powers. Today we have submitted a plan for a range of financial powers so that the Welsh Government - of whatever party or parties - and the Assembly as a whole can be further held accountable for the decisions they make, and be further challenged to make the economy grow so that the potential tax base is in turn increased". These proposals include: Reform of the Barnett formula, which is used to calculate the amount of money coming to Wales from the UK Government, on the basis of need, so that public services are properly funded Powers to enable the National Assembly to collect half of Welsh income tax and vary it by at least 3p, so that economic growth can be rewarded To have complete control over taxes that affect the Assembly's responsibility, such as stamp duty so that housing can be made more affordable. Also for Assembly control of industry-specific taxes so that Wales can create jobs Borrowing powers so that the Welsh government is able to invest in the infrastructure Wales needs for the future Kirsty added, "We have always advocated reform of the Barnett formula, as being essential to any financial reforms. The Welsh Liberal Democrats want to see this as a precursor to any devolution of taxes. Wales has missed out on funding for over a decade because of this unfair system. "But our submission takes a much wider view of the way the National Assembly should be funded. Powers over taxes makes the Welsh government more accountable to the people of Wales and encourages the Welsh government to pursue better polices for growth. Borrowing powers will give the Welsh government more scope to stimulate the economy. "Welsh Liberal Democrats have been arguing for greater devolution for over a century. This is the latest step in our long campaign for a federal UK. It will strengthen Wales and help make a real difference to the lives of people across the country." Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Peter Black, Assembly Member for South Wales West, has responded to news that the Swansea-Cork ferry service is to close with the loss of 78 jobs. Peter said: "I am sorry to hear about the loss of jobs announced today. I very much regret the Fastnet Line ferry service is to close, but I have to accept the Minister's comments on face value that the proposition presented by Fastnet Line was not commercially viable. "The service was estimated to be worth around £20 million to Swansea's economy, so it is essential for Swansea Council and the Welsh and Irish Governments to work together in order for another service to be back up and running as soon as possible if it can be proven to be commercially workable." Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Figures I recently obtained from the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board have shown a decline in the number of District Nurses in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, whilst at the same time the number of clients dependent on their services has increased by nearly one fifth. In Bridgend the number of qualified district nurses fell from 69.64 whole time equivalents in 2008 to 67.47 by April 2011. Over the same period the number of clients being cared for by the service rose from 4592 to 5435. In Neath Port Talbot qualified staff went from 74.49 WTE to 67.08, with the client base increasing from 3195 to 4418. Whilst Swansea's qualified whole time equivalent staff dropped from 94.981 to 86.481. Their client base remained relatively steady, rising slightly from 3127 in 2008 to 3427 in 2010. I posed these questions because I had been approached by District Nurses who felt that they were being overworked and under-valued. The statistics seem to back up their concern. Despite the fact that the ABMU Health Board have said that they are investing in community services and changing the skill mix of staff so as to meet demand, these figures still show a significant increase in workload for District Nurses and the Health Care Workers who work with them. At a time when the Welsh NHS is seeking to get people out of hospital and provide more care for patients in their own homes, these trends are very worrying. My concern is that these increased workloads will take their toll on the health of District Nursing staff and increase stress levels. I am certainly supportive of the move towards more community medicine and patient independence where appropriate, but we have to have confidence that there is sufficient investment in the relevant services and support staff so as to deliver that safely. At a time when services are being reconfigured so as to bring spending back under control I hope that ABMU can give those assurances. Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Having spoken in an earlier debate on which I achieved consensus across the Chamber, I do not feel that I will do the same on this issue. However, I will do my best. I will say, from the outset, that the Welfare Reform Bill, which is going through Parliament now, would not be the Bill that the Liberal Democrats would have brought if they were in Government on their own. However, at the same time-[Interruption.] I am coming to that bit now-it is a different Bill because the Liberal Democrats are in Government. I believe that we have mitigated a number of particularly difficult aspects and removed the things we felt were unacceptable. That debate is still ongoing in the House of Commons, and it may go back to the House of Lords on some of the amendments. Therefore, I do not think that the Bill as it currently stands is in any way a finished document, and the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for our views, both in Government and in Parliament, particularly in the House of Lords. I took very much on board Leanne Wood's comments about stigma. She is right to an extent that people who receive benefits have been stigmatised over a long period of time. This is not a recent development; it is something that has happened over many years. There is a whole range of reasons why that has happened, but the important thing, from our point of view, is that this Bill must be about not just limiting the amount of benefit paid, but about reforming the welfare system to help people back into work. That is why the universal credit system is an important part of this Bill, given that it will mean that 900,000 individuals will be lifted out of poverty, of which 350,000 will be children. It will also mean that the Government will spend an additional £4 billion in increasing benefit entitlement, although that will be offset by reducing fraud and errors by £2 billion. Joyce Watson: Thank you for taking an intervention. You referred to helping people back into work, but the Government with which you share power in Westminster is not actually helping people back to work. The first thing that it did was to immediately cut the fund set up by the previous Labour Government to help people back to work-the Future Jobs fund. How do you think the benefit changes that currently allow tax breaks for working mothers for childcare are helping those mothers get back to work? I can assure you that it is not helping them to get back to work; it is plunging them into debt. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Order. That intervention took 50 seconds, which is far too long. Peter, you will be compensated. Peter Black: Thank you for that, Deputy Presiding Officer. Joyce, you will know as well as I do that Labour supported the universal credit in principle, because it supports the principle of getting people back to work and ensuring that the benefit system does not undermine people's ability to do that. On the Future Jobs fund, which you referred to, you will know that the coalition Government took the view that it was not fit for purpose. I was just about to refer-and if I had prepared a written speech, I suspect that you would have read this in advance-to the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister on the multi-billion pound fund to get young people back to work, which will create not just training places, but supported employment. Therefore, the coalition Government is investing huge sums of money in helping young people get back to work and training, which we will benefit from in Wales, as will the rest of the United Kingdom. Therefore, there is a clear commitment by the UK Government to create real, sustainable jobs, which will help young people in particular to get back to work. I mentioned universal credit, but I want to move on to some of the other issues that Leanne Wood raised. Many of the examples that will be cited by Members, particularly with regard to disability benefits, will relate to the assessment process, which, in my view, is not fit for purpose. Surprisingly, it is run by Atos Healthcare, but that system, which was put in place some years ago, has a massive failure rate given the number of appeals against decisions in which people are successful and have their benefit reinstated. That, more than anything else, underlines the fact that that system needs to be reformed and changed. As Leanne said, all of the parties here-with the exception of Plaid Cymru which is not in Government at a UK level and has no experience of that-believe that there has to be some form of reform. How that reform is to be pitched is the subject of debate here. As Leanne said, Labour's commitment to a regional cap on benefit is an indication that it too recognises that there has to be reform, although I would not support that initiative. Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, has today been given permission by the National Assembly to introduce a bill that will regulate the process by which mobile homes (park homes) are regulated and sold in Wales. Currently, there are many cases throughout Wales' 80 park home sites of unfair practice. Problems faced by residents range from a lack of site maintenance to changes in ground rent and site policy without consultation, through to harassment and bullying. The Bill would ensure that negotiations between park home site owners and park home owners are independently monitored and that there will be a system of arbitration for owners who have cause for concern about administrative processes. The Bill will also seek to establish a requirement that the owners of park home sites must pass a "fit and proper" persons test as part of a licensing system. Peter Black won the all-member ballot to introduce a Member Proposed Bill before Christmas. There is strong cross-party support and talks with the Welsh Government have been constructive. Peter Black, Shadow Minister for Housing said: "I am delighted that the Assembly has today given the green light for my Park Homes bill to proceed to the next stage of legislation. It is an honour for an Assembly Member, who is not part of the Government, to be able to introduce legislation that will make a difference to the lives of so many people across Wales. "This is a huge issue in Wales that has needed attention for a long time now. In the past the Assembly has lacked the necessary powers to be able to pass legislation on issues like this. During the referendum campaign for increased legislative powers for Wales, we promised people that we would legislate to improve the standard of their lives. This is exactly what we will be doing with this legislation. "This bill I have introduced to the Assembly will seek to protect people by bringing in fair, easy to use processes and clear rights for both residents and site owners. My aim is to impose stricter controls over park home site owners. "At present there is little protection for residents from unscrupulous park homes site owners, a minority of which may exploit their position for personal gain. Problems can include poor site management, vetoing or deterring legitimate sales. "Meetings between potential buyers and site owners will be independently monitored and a system of arbitration will be established for park home owners who feel that they have lost money as a result of undue interference. "The Bill will also develop a "fit and proper" persons test for park home site owners, acting as a licensing system, so that park home owners can be confident that their site is effectively managed. "I must pay tribute to Kirsty Williams AM, who has been campaigning for better protection of park home owners since she became an Assembly Member back in 1999. Her tireless dedication to defending the rights of park home owners in her constituency and many others across Wales will hopefully come to fruition with this bill." ENDS Notes: There are over 80 park homes sites in Wales. Many of these sites are run well but where there are disputes between site owners and residents there is very little legal guidance and support. Licensing of park home sites is governed by the Caravan sites and control of Development Act (1960). Local Authorities are responsible for licencing issues. In 2009 we debated the problems facing park home owners and the need for stricter licencing. AMs were overwhelmingly supportive of the need to improve the rights of park home owners. Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales has stated that a large number of park home residents are older people, as the nature of the homes, which are often in rural or coastal settings, attracts people who move in retirement." Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Peter Black: I thank all those Members who have spoken today. The evidence of cross-party support will be heartening to the park home residents in the public gallery listening to this debate and to the residents who were not able to get here today, who have suffered over the years from the injustices and the lack of protection that the park home regime subjects them to. The passion of many Members here, in speaking on this issue, is worth noting. It is evident that they have had to deal with these problems for many years. I, Kirsty, Ann and everyone else feel strongly about the injustice being visited upon residents as a result of malpractice and abuse in the park home regime. There are a few points that I wish to mention. Julie James is absolutely right: if you get the enforcement and licensing regime right then you can solve many of these problems. We will look to do that, but whether that will be by creating the framework for the Minister to issue guidance or by putting it on the face of the Bill will need to be discussed. However, it is a priority to get that right. 3.30 p.m. I support the concept that residents should be able to take control of their site, but that may well be an issue for the housing Bill as opposed to this one because it will fall outside the scope of this Bill. We do not deal with tenure in this Bill, but I would support including that if the Minister brought that forward as part of the housing Bill. The point about the difference between holiday parks and park homes has been made, but I wanted to underline it. Regardless of what is happening on caravan parks, they operate under a different legislative framework and that is the crucial difference here. The legislative framework that we are bringing forward in this Bill relates to park homes and any issues around caravans and holiday homes would have to be dealt with by a separate Bill-I am sure that someone will come forward with that in due course. Finally, on Rebecca Evans's contribution, it is key that the police are made aware of the issues on the site. I have a document from DCI Colquhoun of West Mercia Police, and we will look to meet with him over the next few months as part of our work in putting this Bill together. The police's approach to the low-level harassment on park home sites is crucial. We cannot do much about it in the Bill, but we certainly need to raise awareness with police forces about these issues and how they should be handled. That document is an important resource that police forces need to take on board. Evidence from the meeting earlier today indicated that most police forces in Wales still need to take note of that and still need to act appropriately when they receive such complaints. That is on my and other Members' radars, and as a result of this debate and of Members having their attention drawn to this document, they will no doubt raise this with their own police forces and ask them to look into this, particularly when such problems are brought to their attention by their own constituents. Therefore, I thank Members for their support for this Bill. I also thank the park home residents who came from all over Wales to the meeting earlier and helped inform Assembly Members, including me, of some of the issues that they face daily on the sites where they live and the need to take this legislation forward to try to deal with those issues. As I said in my speech, we cannot put right every wrong through a Bill of this nature, but we can certainly redress the balance, restore a level playing field and give those residents the protection of the law, which they do not have at present. Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

I start by acknowledging the work of Kirsty Williams, other Assembly Members and Consumer Focus Wales in bringing to the forefront, over a number of years, many of the issues that have led to this legislative bid. They have been assisted in this endeavour by the determination and perseverance of park home residents across Wales who have fought for justice and for protection by the law, which is enjoyed by others but not by themselves. Some of those residents are here today to see for themselves the start of a process that will hopefully deliver the changes that are needed, while demonstrating how devolution and the Welsh Assembly can address specific issues such as this and deliver Wales-only solutions. Park homes are timber-framed bungalows built in residential parks and used by their owners all year around as their primary residence. There are approximately 100 residential park home sites in Wales, with around 5,500 homes housing about 10,000 people. Park homes tend to be largely retirement properties and a popular choice for older people wishing to downsize. However, this means that many people living in park homes are particularly vulnerable, not only because of their age, but because of their inability to effectively represent themselves out of fear and a lack of confidence. Difficulties are caused because part-time residents own their homes while a site operator owns the land. Site operators can withhold consent to park home residents reselling their homes, although this consent should not be unreasonably withheld. Some residents have reported sale blocking by site operators, which causes great financial loss to the park home owner and an easy profit for some rogue site operators. There is also evidence of severe fuel poverty, problems with the supply of electricity, gas and water, and allegations of harassment and intimidation in addition to numerous other issues. In the course of an extensive research exercise covering England and Wales, Consumer Focus has identified a number of common complaints. I have already mentioned sale blocking and low-level harassment, but there is also damage to personal property, increases in pitch fees to an unacceptable level, resale of electricity through third parties, poor maintenance of sites and charging more than the legally permitted commission rate on sales. The purpose of this proposed Bill is to regulate more fairly the process by which residential caravans and mobile homes are managed and sold in Wales. The intention is that the Bill will ensure that negotiations between site owners and park home owners are independently monitored and that there will be a system of arbitration for owners who have cause for concern about the process. I also wish to establish a requirement that site owners must pass a fit-and-proper-person test as part of the licensing system. I think it is worth saying at this point that the majority of park home sites are run well and legally. However, when they are not, there is little recourse available to residents to settle matters amicably and inexpensively. The law needs to be reformed to give fair and equal rights to these park home owners. In 2011, a survey of more than 800 residents' associations on residential park home sites in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland-around 40% of the total number of such sites in the UK-by the park home owners' JUSTICE campaign revealed that basic site maintenance was either not carried out or was substandard on 37% of sites. Some 26% of respondents said that they believed that their site owners engaged in sale blocking and, perhaps most worrying of all, 31% said that there had been reports of bullying and harassment of residents on their site by the site owner. Of the 803 park home sites on 392 parks surveyed by the park home owners' JUSTICE campaign, 48% said that they believed they were living under the regime of an unscrupulous park owner. There are some specific examples. In one case, a gentleman who had retired to live in a mid Wales park home site complained about an increase in pitch fees, just months after fees on the site had already gone up. The owner spat in his face. The second increase meant fees were 20% higher on the site than they had been 12 months earlier. Similar tales can be found on park home sites all around Wales. On one site in north Wales, a water leak was not attended to for more than 10 months by the park owner, despite concerns being raised by the residents' association. Again in north Wales, one park site owner charged an additional 15% for what he termed 'VAT' on the resale of electricity to residents. This was overturned and a rebate granted when he was confronted by the residents' association. However, when a site owner chooses to ignore a residents' association, problems like this can turn into lengthy legal battles between residents and site owners as the current system for arbitration is simply not fit for purpose. The reality is that if you own and live in a park home you simply do not have the same rights as other homeowners. There have been cases where residents have been harassed and threatened until they feel they must leave their homes, at which point they are faced by a new problem: the right of the site owner to veto the sale of their home. Under the 1983 Act, a park home owner can sell only if they find a buyer 'approved of by the [site] owner, whose approval must not be unreasonably withheld'. There are cases where this rule has been actively abused, with site owners unreasonably blocking sales until the resident, in desperation, decides to sell to the site owner at a massively reduced rate. In England, there have been cases where homes have been set on fire by unscrupulous site owners in order to drive out existing residents, and yet, despite convictions for arson, these people are allowed to continue running park home sites in other parts of the UK. There is no fit-and-proper-person test for a site owner. What about the legal avenues open to both site owners and residents who are in dispute? Licensing and planning issues relating to park home sites are dealt with by local authorities. Other legal issues are primarily dealt with by the county courts, which is a highly intimidating and expensive process. 2.45 p.m. The success of the residential tribunal service in England has been limited, with some site owners refusing to acknowledge rulings that go against them. To enforce rulings, residents have to go back to court. Many disputes do not fall under the jurisdiction of the tribunals, rendering the service ineffective. This is a stressful and expensive process and one that many people living in park homes cannot face. The system as it currently stands is failing these residents. My Bill will seek to protect park owners by bringing in fair, easy-to-use processes and clear rights for residents and site owners. We need to beef up the licensing of these sites so that local councils have similar powers of enforcement as they do with houses in multiple occupation and where fines for breaching licensing conditions are far more punitive than at present: the fine for the first breach of a licensing condition is £100, and for the second breach it is £200, as an example of how small the cost for a site owner would be compared to the profits that are available to him. Under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, a local authority has the discretionary power to revoke a site licence by applying to the magistrates' court. However, it can only do so on a third or a subsequent conviction for breach of a licence condition. Many local councils are reluctant to get involved in investigating cases. This could be because there is no duty on them to investigate or prosecute when wrongdoing is found, and because local authorities lack the resources to take action or do not wish to get involved because there is no suitable housing provision for the park home residents to go to if they were to lose their homes. The police are also reluctant to involve themselves in what they consider to be a civil law issue. I cannot pretend that legislation would right all these wrongs, but we can redress the balance. We can give greater rights to park home owners and ensure that, through a robust licensing system, they have the support of the proper authorities in enforcing them. This is just the start of a long journey, but it is one that I hope will have a worthwhile destination at the end of it. We have an opportunity once more to lead the way in Wales in legislating on this issue. I respectfully ask that you give me the green light to take this Member-proposed Bill to the next stage. Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Commenting on a new Cardiff Business School study on inward investment Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Minister Eluned Parrott said: "The language used in this report is damning; it describes the agencies involved in attracting inward investment to Wales as contradicting one another and as being fragmented and disjointed. "This chimes with other evidence to demonstrate that the Welsh Government's lack of vision and co-ordination is costing Wales jobs. Only yesterday the Assembly debated a micro-business report that came to a similar conclusion. The Welsh Government's approach to economic development has been uncoordinated and messy, with multiple agencies competing unnecessarily. "The facts don't lie. Wales has slipped backwards against British regions and countries in terms of inward investment, slipping from having the 2nd best record on inward investment to the 9th. "The disorganised Labour and Plaid Governments of the last decade have cost Wales jobs as they have chosen the path of gimmicks and ideology instead of providing streamlined and accessible business assistance. We must put this right to help Wales grow." Published and promoted by Welsh Liberal Democrats, Freedom Central, Blake Court, Schooner Way, Cardiff, CF10 4DWPrinted (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The ASA ruled that the image used in an advertisement for L'Oréal Paris' Revitalift Repair 10 was altered to change Rachel Weisz's complexion, making it appear smoother and more even. It was judged to be in breach of industry code and "misleadingly exaggerated" the performance of the product.

The advertisement has been banned in its current form and the ASA has warned L'Oréal not to use digital retouching to misrepresent the effect of their products.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said:

"The beauty and advertising industries need to stop ripping off consumers with dishonest images.

"The banning of this advert, along with the previous ASA rulings banning heavily retouched ads featuring Twiggy, Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington, should act as a wake-up call. Thankfully the advertising regulator has again acknowledged the fraudulent nature of excessive retouching.

"The Royal College of Psychiatrists has spoken out about the harmful influence of the media on body image and has highlighted the airbrushing and digital enhancement used to portray physical perfection as an area of concern.

"There needs to be much more diversity in advertising - different skin colours, body shapes, sizes and ages. Studies show that people want to see more authenticity from brands. Images can be aspirational without being faked.

"The Campaign for Body Confidence challenges the narrow ideal of beauty perpetuated by the media and other industries. Tonight the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image is hosting a screening of the documentary Miss Representation which explores the impact on society of such an intense focus on women's appearance, instead of their achievements.

"The film shows how media misrepresentation and under representation of women results in a leadership gap and the silencing of difference."

"In 2010 there were 1,850 deaths and more than 200,000 injuries on our roads. That's some 600 every day. With mechanical failure already contributing to a significant number of these, the Coalition Government has made the right decision to keep frequent MOT-tests.

"This will also see the system strengthened through a combination of open public data and stronger regulation.

"Liberal Democrats strongly believe road safety should be central to the Coalition Government's transport strategy. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to further this agenda."