On Friday 9 July, Ben Lake MP for Ceredigion visited Well Pharmacy in the centre of Cardigan to hear from the staff about how they had dealt with the Covid pandemic, and to understand more about the way in which community pharmacy was changing. Well in Cardigan is one of several community pharmacies in Hywel Dda which has been commissioned to deliver Covid vaccinations in west Wales. They also deliver a strong list of consultations to meet the health needs of the local population, but are keen to do more.

Ben Lake MP has pledged to help tackle rising levels of pensioner poverty. The data, analysed by national charity Independent Age, found that while poverty in the overall population has remained relatively stable since 2012, pensioner poverty has increased by 5% across the UK, with now almost a fifth of pensioners (18%) living in poverty after paying their housing costs2.

Independent Age says these rising figures could be drastically reduced if people receive the financial support they are entitled to via Pension Credit - extra money designed to help with living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income4. However, it has the worst uptake of all income-related benefits and has not risen above 64% for almost a decade.

In support, Ben Lake MP has signed a cross-party letter to Pensions Minister, Guy Opperman MP, calling for the Government to produce an action plan to increase Pension Credit uptake.

During a Westminster Hall debate, led by Liz Saville Roberts MP, on the future of the Welsh rural economy, Ben Lake MP spoke of the significant challenges faced by rural communities regarding digital and transport connectivity. 

During his speech Mr Lake noted that connectivity “remains a tremendous challenge for the rural economy of Wales.” 

Ceredigion MP, Ben Lake has today responded to the UK Government’s announcement of a trade deal with Australia by criticising the Prime Minister for “threatening the long-term viability of the farming sector".

The deal sees the removal of tariffs and quotas on Australian products, including agricultural products. Plaid Cymru is concerned that Australian farming operates in such a way that is impossible for Welsh farmers to compete with, using methods that would not comply with the high environmental and animal welfare standards of production that are applicable in the UK.

Ben Lake MP, Elin Jones MS and Cllr. John Adams-Lewis have written again to the Welsh Government calling for urgent measures to be introduced on Myrtle Hill and the stretch of road between Cardigan and Penparc. 

Myrtle Hill bend has been the site of several accidents over the years, at a frequency that has seen it dubbed locally as ‘Killer bend’. During the final weeks of January 2020 alone, two serious accidents took place on the bend: one causing damage to a nearby telegraph pole, and another causing significant damage to a residential property.  Cllr. John Adams-Lewis and Ben Lake MP met with local residents following the accidents of January 2020 and subsequently wrote to the Welsh Government and the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency urging them to take action.

New figures released by the End Child Poverty coalition have revealed the growing scale  of child poverty across the country, even before the pandemic hit.  

The research carried out by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition shows that in the latest year (2019/20) there were 3,551 of children trapped in poverty in Ceredigion. That’s 33% of children. 

Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion, has urged local charities and good causes to apply for funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Over 3,500 grassroots organisations in Britain will receive a share of almost £17 million this year. 

Local projects can apply for funding from the Postcode Community Trust which is for organisations operating in Wales. Registered charities can apply for up to £20,000 of funding, which is available for both project-based and core costs.  

Plaid Cymru’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, has said that “Westminster’s grip over our economy has created the worst regional inequalities in the western world” and urged the Chancellor to use his Budget to empower communities instead.

Speaking ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget announcement today (Wednesday 3 March), Mr Lake said that the budget is the Chancellor’s chance to “build trust in our economic recovery”.

Ben Lake MP has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the government’s financial support package for businesses and self-employed workers in next week’s Budget as many struggle to stay afloat during continued lockdown restrictions. 

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak is to set out the UK Government’s budget on Wednesday 3 March, almost a year since the last Budget on 11 March 2020.

To help businesses and our local high streets over coming months, the Ceredigion MP has called on the Chancellor to extend the lowered rate of VAT at 5% for hospitality and tourism for a year to March 2022 and to extend the business rates relief package.