Running to 7 March, Food Waste Action Week aims to mitigate the impact food waste has on the planet. 

Ben Lake MP has encouraged residents across Ceredigion to take part in the ‘Food Waste Action Week Challenge’ to ensure no edible food ends up in the bin.

Plaid Cymru call in Welsh Government’s NVZ decision

The Welsh Government’s recent decision to place the whole of Wales under a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone has been called in by Plaid Cymru, to be voted on in the Senedd on 3 March. Plaid Cymru will lead this debate and if successful the regulations will not come into force in April.

Llŷr Gruffydd MS, Plaid Cymru’s Farming Spokesperson, has called the decision a U-turn on the promises made to farmers over the last year by the Agriculture Minister, who had repeated several times that it would be inappropriate and insensitive to introduce the NVZ regulations during a global pandemic.

Ben Lake MP urges Chancellor to extend support for hospitality to 2022

Plaid Cymru’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, has today (18 February 2021) urged the Chancellor to prioritise the survival of the hospitality sector in the 2021 Budget, by extending the furlough scheme and maintaining the lowered rate of VAT for the sector. A failure to do so would “not only deal a blow to the sector but also to the wider Ceredigion economy”, according to the Plaid Cymru MP.

8 quick and simple tips to help you save money, time and energy, supported by Ben Lake MP

For many households, wintery weather often sparks debate about what temperature to set the thermostat at or how many layers to wear. But for some, the cost of heating a home can be a worry, particularly with more people spending time at home during the pandemic. 

To help families in Ceredigion to better manage their home energy use and save money on bills, Ben Lake MP, National Energy Action (NEA) and Smart Energy GB have teamed up to collate a list of simple things we can all do to make a positive difference.  

During Children’s Mental Health Week (1-7 February), Ben Lake joined young people and mental health experts from leading UK children’s charity, Action for Children, for an online event to discuss the services which are supporting children across the UK. 

Mental health problems affect children of all ages. Worryingly, the latest NHS figures show one in six children had a probable mental health disorder in 2020 – an increase of almost half in three years, with the Covid-19 pandemic likely to have further detrimental effects on mental health. 

Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion Ben Lake has called on the Chancellor to extend the VAT lifeline for hospitality businesses for another twelve months to help with the economic recovery as we emerge from Covid.    

In July, the UK government cut VAT on food, accommodation, and attractions to 5%, which was extended until the end of March.

Ben Lake MP says that keeping VAT at 5% would provide much needed certainty for struggling businesses and help the hospitality industry return to profitability, safeguarding jobs across Ceredigion.  

Plaid Cymru has urged the current Welsh Government to use its unspent funds to immediately freeze council tax.

Elin Jones MS and Ben Lake MP have issued a joint statement regarding the urgent financial situation at the National Library for Wales.

The UK Government has decided to postpone the Environment Bill after it was debated in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon, 26 January.  

The Environment Bill sets long-term binding targets for improving the UK’s natural world. Amendments to the planned legislation were debated by MPs yesterday, but the Bill will not return to the Commons until the next Parliamentary session.  

MPs and campaigners have argued that the delay will make it harder for the UK Government to hit targets to improve water, reduce waste and protect wildlife. The hold-up will also impact the Welsh Government’s ability to implement programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change. 

A new public awareness campaign from Alzheimer’s Research UK – aimed at encouraging people to look after their brain health throughout life to reduce the risk of dementia – is being backed by Ceredigion MP Ben Lake. 

The Think Brain Health campaign has been launched by the UK’s leading dementia research charity to help the public understand the potential for them to reduce the risk of developing dementia. 

Up to 40% of global dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed by healthy lifestyle changes, according to a 2020 report from the Lancet Commission, yet research from Alzheimer’s Research UK reveals that only 34% of the public believe they can reduce their risk of dementia.