As we welcome the new year, I hope everyone in Mid and South Pembrokeshire has had a joyful and prosperous start to 2025. The break over Christmas and New Year provided me with the time and space to reflect and renew my focus on delivering well-paid jobs in our community, boosting local economic growth and drastically improving our public services.
Failing Healthboard
I have been engaging extensively with local GP practices, local dentists, social care providers as well as constituents who have been sharing their experiences of healthcare in Pembrokeshire. I have provided all this data to Hywel Dda, including a comprehensive survey, which revealed that 62% of respondents wait more than a week to secure a GP appointment, and 87% believe that healthcare services have worsened in recent years. However, the shocking reality is that management team at Hywel Dda do not recognise the extent of the problem and the level of dissatisfaction in our community - they remain in denial.
I will continue to call out the failures of the Hywel Dda management team and I have submitted a Freedom of Information request to them, seeking clarity on current waiting times, service availability, and planned measures to address these failings. I will also be meeting with their Chief Executive, Phil Kloer, in early February. We desperately need to see improvements in our healthcare access and delivery.
Well-paid Jobs
Providing opportunities and good well-paid jobs for our young people in Pembrokeshire is one of my top priorities. It was therefore fantastic to see Pembrokeshire identified by the UK Government as a Key Growth Region for clean energy, providing investment for local people into industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction. It was therefore a pleasure to meet Eugene Grice, a local apprentice from Neyland, as part of UK Nuclear Week to discuss his experiences and the importance of apprenticeships in providing valuable skills and opportunities for our youth.

ECO4 & Insulation Schemes
Since being elected in July I have been hearing from many constituents who have been affected by the Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Schemes. I have received reports of incorrect installations, faulty and shoddy building work, lack of valid warranties, grant misuse and regulators simply siding with contractors. It was therefore incredible positive to see the Government tackle this issue head on, stating that the schemes need urgent reform and cannot command confidence. I will continue to work with the Government as they look at the entire landscape and overhaul this system to ensure stricter enforcement against non-compliant installers and enhanced support for homeowners.
Community Engagements
It was a pleasure to visit the team at Paul Satori to hear about the truly exceptional work that they do in our community in providing end-of-life care and to meet with the team at Pembroke Pharmacy to discuss their challenges in delivering healthcare in the community. I was also thrilled to attend another visit at Pembrokeshire College, to talk with the students and hear their perspectives on vocational training and education as well as future opportunities within the energy sector. I ended this month by meeting with our local farmers at the National Farmers' Union (NFU) to work with them to address the challenges they face as an industry and the support they require.

St David's Peninsula
I attended the St David’s Peninsula Tourism & Trade Association to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the Tourism sector. Tourism is a critical part of the economy in St David’s and across the county and I will continue to work with the sector provide the support it needs. I also met with residents in St David's to discuss the opportunities at Oriel Y Parc. The discussions were insightful, and I am committed to ensuring that any developments align with the community's interests and preserve the cultural heritage of the area.

In Parliament
I continue to represent our county on a national level on both the Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. On both committees I am working on issues that matter to us in Pembrokeshire, whether that is cross-border healthcare, reforming the water sector or the future of farming.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee
The committee has launched an inquiry into the The Future of Farming and took evidence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) Farming following the National Audit Office’s report on the Farming and Countryside Programme. The change in the subsidy payment following Brexit is the one of the biggest changes to agricultural policy in half a century. The committee is concerned about DEFRA’s iterative approach to the program which makes it difficult for farmers to plan their business to remain viable and to continue to produce the food we need and to achieve the programme’s environmental objectives.
We have also launched an inquiry into Reforming the Water Sector and have commenced a series of evidence sessions from water bosses across the country. We began the sessions with Southern Water, but Welsh Water will give evidence to the committee in February. Given the levels of pollution in the Cleddau river, it is so important that we hold Welsh Water to account and work with them to ensure that we upgrade our ageing infrastructure and stop these sewage spills that are degrading our natural environment.
Welsh Affairs Committee Sessions
On the Welsh Affairs Committee, we heard from the Secretary of State for Wales, discussing various issues pertaining to our region and her plans to increase investment into Wales. It was heartening to hear her acceptance that Wales has not been in receipt of its fair share of funding for rail. We also held a one-day evidence session on cross-border healthcare in both England and Wales. The evidence provided was quite startingly particular in respect of the discrepancies in IT technology and the difficulties in accessing specialist medical treatment on the other side of the border.
Commission for Carbon Competitiveness
I am continuing my work as Chair of the Commission, making sure that there is a level playing field for British Industry and Manufacturing in respect of carbon pricing and trade. If UK manufacturers are forced to bear high carbon costs that international competitors are not, then we risk seeing economic activity moving overseas. The Commission has been in contact with Treasury on the issue of the Carbon Border Adjustment mechanism as we try to balance economic growth with our commitments to reducing carbon emissions.
As we move forward into 2025, I remain dedicated to representing and advocating for the interests of Mid and South Pembrokeshire, both in Parliament and within our community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any concerns or require assistance.
Best wishes,
Henry