AM Mick Bates stripped of committee chairmanship

WELSH Liberal Democrat AM Mick Bates has been stripped of his chairmanship of a National Assembly committee pending the result of an investigation into allegations that he verbally abused hospital staff while drunk.

Mr Bates, the AM for Montgomeryshire, is alleged to have abused staff at University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, where he was taken after falling down and hitting his head in the early hours of a morning last month. He has already apologised for abusing anyone during an incident of which he says he has no recollection.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats issued a statement this morning saying: “Following a conversation between Kirsty Williams and Mick Bates they have agreed that he will be relieved of his front bench duties and his Chair of the Sustainability Committee whilst this matter is being investigated. We have informed the University Health Board and Ambulance Service that both Mick and the party will fully co-operate with any investigations.”

AM apologises after allegations he was abusive to hospital staff

Wales On Sunday

A LEADING AM apologised last night after it emerged he faced an investigation over alleged abusive behaviour towards staff in a hospital.

Liberal Democrat Mick Bates was admitted to a Cardiff hospital after falling over in the street and banging his head in the early hours of the morning following a lengthy night’s drinking.

Wales on Sunday has learnt that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) is “looking into” whether Mr Bates “verbally assaulted” members of staff at the capital’s University Hospital during the incident, in the early hours of January 20.

His party has also launched an internal investigation.

Montgomeryshire AM Mr Bates, who had already announced he was stepping down at next year’s election, said last night: “I give an unreserved apology if I abused anybody.”

It is believed he has no recollection of the night’s events.

He was speaking from Swansea where the party is this weekend holding its spring conference.

Although he will not quit as an AM, the 62-year-old is expected to resign his other responsibilities, including as chairman of the National Assembly’s Sustainability Committee, this week.

David Francis, chairman of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is not able to comment on individual cases. The UHB is committed to thoroughly investigating all incidents of violence and aggression towards staff.”

But a senior source told Wales on Sunday there had been an incident involving Mr Bates, and the UHB was examining whether there had been an incident of verbal assault.

Mr Bates’ evening on January 19 had begun with a meeting of the National Assembly’s cross-party Sustainable Energy Group, which he founded.

He then attended a dinner with political friends to discuss arrangements for his retirement next year before going on for drinks in the centre of Cardiff.

At around 3am, Mr Bates fell over in the street, banging his head, and an ambulance was called to take him to the University Hospital of Wales.

He arrived at the hospital at 3.09am and it is there that he is alleged to have verbally abused staff.

It is believed CCTV footage of the morning in question is being studied.

A friend of Mr Bates said last night that the AM had been “shocked and flabbergasted” by the news, having no memory of the night in question.

A spokesman for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: “We take these allegations extremely seriously and do not condone this alleged behaviour.

“We have already begun an investigation to establish the facts.

“Once our investigation has concluded, we will issue a further statement.”

The larger-than-life Mr Bates is one of the Assembly’s more outgoing characters and a regular sight in the Cardiff Bay pubs populated by AMs and their staff.

A former science teacher turned farmer, he has carved out a reputation as a maverick and has been rebuked in the Assembly chamber on a number of occasions for his conduct.

He announced last June he would not be seeking re-election at the next Assembly Election in 2011.

He said he had made the decision purely for family reasons and so as to enjoy a happy retirement with his wife Buddug, who retired from her job as a teacher last summer.

This is a NON-POLITICAL personal plea for your help with something very special...

February 12th is the 21st birthday of a very special young man, and this man deserves your support and attention. His name is Fusilier Tom James.

I am asking everyone that reads this to send Tom a 21st birthday card.

This is your chance to let this brave young man know that you care and that you wish him all the best. It's nothing to do with politics but everything to do with humanity, appreciation and respect.

Please keep any messages of support and well wishes completely non-political.

It is Tom's birthday in a weeks time and time is not on our side. So please make every effort to send your card as soon as possible to the address below;

Fusilier Tom James
PO Box 5057
Nuneaton
CV11 9FP

Many thanks for your support!

Full list of Welsh MPs' expenses repayments

Here are details of the rulings made by Sir Thomas Legg into Welsh MPs’ expenses claims, and, where applicable, the outcome of appeals to Sir Paul Kennedy.

MPs not on the list were found to have "no issues".

Nick Ainger, Labour MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Problem: Claimed for capital as well as interest on mortgage, 2004-05.
Legg decision: Pay back £777.77
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £810.85
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Kevin Brennan, Labour MP for Cardiff West
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £171.40
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £171.40
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £4,439.28
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £5,743.02
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Ann Clwyd, Labour MP for Cynon Valley
Problem: Overpaid for mortgage interest, council tax and furniture claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £4,472.42
Appeal? Yes – total reduced by £2,360.62
Total repaid so far: £4,472.42
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Stephen Crabb, Conservative MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Problem: Overpaid for rent claims in 2005-06 and mortgage interest claims in 2007-08
Legg decision: Pay back £1,639.30
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £3,495.00
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly
Problem: Claimed for insurance, not allowed under the rules; over-paid for mortgage interest and paid twice for a chair.
Legg decision: Pay back £12,959.69
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £13,149.67
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Dai Davies, Independent MP for Blaenau Gwent
Problem: Payments for office costs and over-payment of council tax claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £549.80
Appeal? Yes – reduced by £439.80
Total repaid so far: £110.00
Balance left to pay back: NIL

David Davies, Conservative MP for Monmouth.
Problem: Overpayments for mortgage interest and council tax claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £2,021.39
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £2,033.87
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Paul Flynn, Labour MP for Newport West
Problem: Overpayments for mortgage interest
Legg decision: Pay back £2,625.61
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £3,066.48
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Hywel Francis, Labour MP for Aberavon
Problem: Overpayment for food claims, 2004-05.
Legg decision: Pay back £618.05
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £618.05
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Nia Griffith, Labour MP for Llanelli
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £4,099.77
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £4,099.77
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Kim Howells, Labour MP for Pontypridd
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest claims, and for gas bills.
Legg decision: Pay back £953.11
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £294.00
Balance left to pay back: £659.11

Huw Irranca-Davies, Labour MP for Ogmore
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £2008.19
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £1,750.27
Balance left to pay back: £257.92

Sian James, Labour MP for Swansea East
Problem: Overpayments, mainly relating to council tax.
Legg decision: Pay back £1,105.64
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £1,105.64
Balance left to pay back: NIL

David Jones, Conservative MP for Clwyd West
Problem: Overpayment of mortgage interest claims, and for a chair and a sofa bed
Legg decision: Pay back £2,624.00
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £2624.00
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Martyn Jones, Labour MP for Clwyd South
Problem: Overpayment for rent claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £310.36
Appeal? Yes – appeal upheld in full.
Total repaid so far: n/a
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid Cymru MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
Problem: Paid twice for an air-conditioning unit; paid twice for ground rent; overpayment for mortgage interest claim
Legg decision: Pay back £1,194.60
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £1,194.60
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Alun Michael, Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth
Problem: Paid for mortgage interest on “additional loans not shown to have been for an eligible purpose”. Also overpaid for council tax.
Legg decision: Pay back £19,169.54
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £19,169.56
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Madeleine Moon, Labour MP for Bridgend
Problem: Cost of furniture removals deemed “excessive”
Legg decision: Pay back £599.25
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £88.96
Balance left to pay back: £510.29

Jessica Morden, Labour MP for Newport East
Problem: Paid twice for household goods in 2006.
Legg decision: Pay back £380.55
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £380.55
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Julie Morgan, Labour MP for Cardiff North
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest
Legg decision: Pay back £834.94
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £834.13
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Paul Murphy, Labour MP for Torfaen
Problem: Overpaid for cleaning costs, a wardrobe and for mortgage interest
Legg decision: Pay back £2,480.72
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £243.00
Balance left to pay back: £2,237.72

Lembit Opik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire
Problem: Claimed for a phone bill (£909.42), not allowed under the Additional Cost Allowance, and for £155 in court costs.
Legg decision: Pay back £1,064.42
Appeal? Yes – the phone bill claim was accepted.
Total repaid so far: £195.00
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Albert Owen, Labour MP for Ynys Mon
Problem: Overpayments for food and mortgage interest claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £983.57
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £983.57
Balance left to pay back: NIL

John Smith, Labour MP for Vale of Glamorgan.
Problem: Paid allowance at a time when Parliament was not sitting.
Legg decision: Pay back £683.78
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: NIL
Balance left to pay back: £683.78

Mark Tami, Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside
Problem: Overpaid for mortgage interest claims, and for a dishwasher and a fridge/freezer
Legg decision: £2,557.69
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: £3,151.70
Balance left to pay back: NIL

Betty Williams, Labour MP for Conwy
Problem: Overpayment for mortgage interest claims.
Legg decision: Pay back £750.25
Appeal? No
Total repaid so far: NIL
Balance left to pay back: £750.25

Post plan slammed as ‘cheap way out’

BUSINESSES in Caerau say they have gone into financial meltdown following the closure of the post office.

Shopkeepers, customers and community leaders met on Monday to share concerns over an alarming drop in trade and hand a 900-signature petition to MP Huw Irranca-Davies via Coun Mal Reeves.

Takings at some businesses are down 50% since postmistress Lorraine Evans, blaming a drop in her payment from Post Office, closed the doors in January.

Caerau Development Trust has expressed an interest in relocating the post office from Caerau Road to the old Blaenllynfi School, but traders have offered their own premises as an alternative because they believe the site is too far from the centre of the village.

Julie Handley, manager of Spar in Caerau Road, said businesses had been told it would take 14 weeks to refurbish a new location for the old post office.

She said: “If that happens it’s the end for businesses in Caerau. There’s not one business that has not been hit by it.”

This week’s meeting, held on the day that Mrs Evans contract with Post Office was terminated, took place at the Station Cafe, just yards from the former post office.

There, Elaine Kristaps said: “It’s been terrible since the closure. It’s had a really bad effect. It’s halved trade for people round here.

“Around 40 people came to the meeting - businesses, shoppers and post office users - and quite a high percentage were elderly people.

“This is the main shopping road and if the post office was moved to where the development trust wants it to be then the businesses will suffer.

“We have a room at the cafe. We have been told it would cost £15,000 to kit out and that we can claim this back from a funding agency. I would go for training to run it.”

Lorraine Evans bought the post office business in 2000 for £100,000. She was notified in December that Post Office was halving its payment to the Caerau branch, which created a £23,000 annual shortfall and led to her making two staff redundant.

The trust’s proposed alternative site is around half a mile away, but shopper Gillian Howells said it would be unpopular.

She said: “They don’t grit the roads down here so they won’t grit there. There’s kids hanging round there. It’s terrible.

“I think PO is just looking for a cheap way out.”

The closure has also hurt Village Pharmacy, next to the old post office.

Nick Thorne said: “It’s affecting business and it’s horrible to see the elderly of the community being affected - there’s not a post box in Caerau any more because there’s not one outside the post office.

“My trade is not down as much as 50% but I have seen a big downturn in counter sales.

“I feel it’s important to keep the post office in Caerau Road. It’s the main hub of the area and I don’t think the location of the new site is suitable”.

New school on 'contaminated' land gets go-ahead

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new school on “contaminated” land have been given the go-ahead.

The new 360-pupil school will replace Williamstown Primary and Penrhiwfer Infants, which are both in desperate need of repair.

Williamstown Community Primary School is set to be built on land off Ashdale Road, Penrhiwfer, which is adjacent to the busy A4119 linking Rhondda to the M4.

The site on the planning application, which was approved at the Taff Ely planning meeting, is currently a football field used by Penrhiwfer AFC.

The plans have divided the opinions of local residents and councillors since they were announced last year, as a report by Hyder Consultants UK found high levels of nickel and arsenic.

But reports on the levels of gases in the land did not brand them dangerous, and the council is confident that any problems with developing the site can be overcome.

The school’s would-be neighbours, on Ashdale Road and Oakdale Road in Penrhiwfer, are also concerned that the new facility would cause traffic congestion and noise pollution.

At the planning meeting, two speakers supported the approval of the bid and five objected to it.

Coun Ken Privett, who represents Penygraig, said in support of the plans: “After 150 years, Williamstown Primary School has now come to the end of its useful life.

“The site is not a preferred one, but the only one which can accommodate children from the catchment area for the next 150 years.

“I support the plans for this new school, not for me, but for the 360 pupils who will benefit from it.”

Coun Dennis Weeks, who represents Penygraig and Williamstown and sits on the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee, also spoke highly of the plans.

He said: “The education at Williamstown Primary is absolutely tremendous, so much so that it’s acclaimed throughout the valley.

“But the school building itself is one of the worst in RCT, with dry rot, walls falling apart and fungus on the walls.

“The kids of the school need a modern building. At the moment they have quite a small yard, but if the school moves where it is proposed they will have a grass area, which the people of Penrhiwfer could also use.

“I beg of you to approve these plans. The children are our future and they deserve a better school.”

Residents who objected to the site of the new school voiced their concerns, mainly that extra cars using the narrow Ashdale and Oakdale Roads would cause traffic problems and compromise the safety of children walking to school.

Gareth Thomas, who spoke on behalf of residents in Oakdale Road, said: “One of the recommended routes for children to walk to the new school is across the A4119.

“How can you justify children of three to 11 years of age, walking across a major road?

“We are not against the school, but we are against the site. If the football field was left where it is, and the school was built 100 yards away, it won’t be so attractive to park in Ashdale Road.”

Tonyrefail East member and RCT Council leader Russell Roberts said: “We are talking about providing a 21st century school to replace two 19th century schools.

“It’s our duty to provide that education and if anyone doubts the quality of new schools, take a look at Ynyshir Primary School – it’s absolutely brilliant.”

After a tied vote from councillors on the plans, it took a casting vote from Coun Robert McDonald in the Chair to approve them.

96,000 Welsh children live in severe poverty

WALES has the highest rate of children living in severe poverty of any UK nation, according to Save the Children.

A study published today by the charity claims 96,000 Welsh children were living without basic necessities in 2007-08.

This compares with 95,000 children in Scotland living in severe poverty.

Save the Children has described the Welsh levels of poverty as “staggering”.

In 2004-05 it was thought that 13% of Welsh children were in “severe” poverty but the findings suggest this has risen to 15%. The UK average is 13%.

Measuring Severe Child Poverty in the UK claims an additional 260,000 children across all parts of the UK were pushed into severe poverty in the four years before the recession hit in 2008, which is expected to make the situation worse.

Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan, commenting on the day it was reported 100 top City bankers would receive £1m in pay and bonuses, described the findings as “astonishing and shameful”.

Save the Children claims efforts to reduce child poverty have not only stalled but have slid into reverse and has called for “radical changes” in policy.

Andrew Chalinder of Save the Children in Wales said: “[While] child poverty in Wales reduced over the first half of the last decade faster than any other part of the UK, that trend was reversed and now child poverty in Wales has risen to 32%, with almost half of those children living in severe poverty.”