December 2022 News and Blogs

Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice As we approach Christmas, I want to update Members about recent issues relating to our ongoing humanitarian Ukraine response. After months of asking for certainty about the future funding of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the UK Government has provided some clarity about a number of issues we have discussed in the Siambr. The UK Government’s announcement about future Homes for Ukraine funding includes an extension to the host...

Simple advice, with no or very low-cost actions that households can take to reduce their energy use and bills this winter, is now available to the public under a new UK Government information campaign. The ‘It All Adds Up’ energy saving campaign will raise public awareness of straightforward actions that people can take to cut their bills by bringing down the amount of energy needed to keep their homes warm and stay safe this winter...

The PCS union has announced industrial action by some Border Force members on 23 December 2022 to 26 December 2022 and 28 December 2022 to 31 December 2022, at the following locations: Birmingham Airport Cardiff Airport Gatwick Airport Glasgow Airport Heathrow T 2, 3, 4 and 5 Manchester Airport Port of Newhaven If you are planning on moving goods on the affected dates This industrial action could lead to disruption at ports, airports, and Inland...

Goods export values by Welsh businesses have recovered beyond pre-pandemic levels and totalled £19.4 billion for the year ending September 2022, an increase of more than a third compared to the previous 12-month period and £1.7 billion higher than the year ending September 2019, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced. The latest provisional figures show Welsh goods exporters have demonstrated significant resilience amid ongoing challenges in the global trading environment, from the war in Ukraine...

45,000 visas for seasonal workers will be available for businesses next year, the UK Government confirmed, providing a boost for the UK’s horticulture industry. The allocation will allow businesses to recruit foreign workers to come to the UK for up to six months through the Seasonal Worker visa route – an uplift of 15,000 compared to what was available to businesses at the start of 2022. For further information please select the following link Government...

Working in partnership, Business Wales and Visit Wales have now launched Sustainable Tourism Wales. The new business support scheme provides advice and support on how to save money, promote your business using sustainability practices and realise your green ambitions. If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to sustainability or maybe you've started making changes but want to take it to the next level, you can download our short, handy resource packs, which include...

Upcoming bank holidays in Wales and England. 2022 26 December Monday Boxing Day 27 December Tuesday Christmas Day (substitute day) 2023 2 January Monday New Year's Day (substitute day) 7 April Friday Good Friday 10 April Monday Easter Monday 1 May Monday Early May Day bank holiday 8 May Monday Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III 29 May Monday Spring bank holiday 28 August Monday Summer bank holiday 25 December Monday Christmas...

The Welsh Government has launched a new initiative to encourage more local spending on food by the Welsh NHS, schools and local government to help support Welsh producers, create more jobs and boost prosperity in local communities. A new online food procurement resource, ‘Buying Food Fit for the Future’ is part of wider Welsh Government plans to support Wales’ everyday local economies. Estimates suggest the Foundational Economy accounts for four in ten jobs and £1...

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) launched the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing in January 2020. The strategy is designed to bring partners together to transform the country’s financial wellbeing in a decade. Since then, MaPS has been coordinating proposals for a Delivery Plan for Wales, with input from over 90 stakeholders. The result is a plan co-produced with Welsh Government, which covers practical and deliverable initiatives that can both make a difference to people...

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, more people may be forced into debt and will turn to or consider borrowing money from illegal lenders or loan sharks. Illegal money lending is a criminal offence, and loan sharks often target vulnerable people. Loan sharks lend money and charge interest on the loan without the legal authority. They operate within our communities often taking advantage of vulnerable people. Not always violent criminals, loan sharks seem friendly and helpful...