Nick Smith MP – Monthly Report – March 2026

Events of the last few weeks have created a fast‑moving and volatile situation in the middle east.
People across the country will be deeply concerned by the scale of this crisis, especially those with loved ones in the areas affected.
The Prime Minister has said that he does not want to see a protracted regional conflict or a spiral into long-term regional instability, calling for a return to the negotiating table.
He has said that our priority remains protecting British nationals, British interests and our partners.
I have confidence in the Prime Minister to make decisions based on what he believes is in Britain’s best interests, and it is assuring to know that we have level-headed leadership to steer our country through this tricky time.
If anyone has any pressing concerns regarding family members abroad or other matters directly related to this, please get in touch with my office:
nick.smith.mp@parliament.uk
01495 313167

Spring Statement
The Chancellor’s spring statement was a reminder of all the ongoing hard work that is going into putting our country on a stable financial footing, putting more money in people’s pockets and changing Britain for the better.
We are cutting the cost of living, with £150 slashed off energy bills and inflation falling faster than forecast at the last budget. We are growing the economy, with the fastest growth of any other European country in the G7, and families set to be more than £1,000 a year better off in real-terms by the next election.
Outside of all the noise, it is Labour that has the right plan for Britain. There is still work to be done but we are on the right path to building a stronger, more secure economy to make working people better off.

AbertilleryTrain Station
I’m pleased that Transport for Wales has highlighted the Abertillery Train Spur project as “ready to move forward” in their most recent planning documents.
I’ve held meetings with TfW in recent weeks to discuss moving forward plans for a train station at Abertillery, including meeting TfW in Parliament with Cllr Ross Leadbeater and also visiting the site of the proposed station with TfW Chair Vernon Everitt, Cllr Tommy Smith and Cllr John Morgan.
This is a welcome step and encouraging progress.

Royal Mail
I am continuing to push for answers from Royal Mail regarding their ongoing poor performance delivering mail in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney.
Our posties do a great job but I’m still hearing about terrible examples of important, time-sensitive letters arriving late, including cancer patients missing hospital appointments.
I met with Royal Mail management to reiterate how unhappy I am about the unacceptable service still being experienced here. I was given information about plans to improve the service, but was not sufficiently encouraged by what I saw.
I am glad to see that Royal Mail executives will now be called to Parliament to answer questions about their service by Business and Trade Committee chair Liam Byrne. This will be an important opportunity for serious questions to be raised about the terrible failure that is taking place with our mail service.

Banking Hub
It was extremely disappointing to be told that Lloyd’s intends to close its Ebbw Vale branch. The closure of yet another high street bank is a sad loss, and I wrote to Lloyds management to express my concerns.
Fortunately Ebbw Vale will now be getting a Banking Hub, identical to the one opened in Abertillery last year. This is due to UK Government legislation that prevents banks from closing their last branch in town without there being an alternative in place.

The Banking Hub will be open in Ebbw Vale before Lloyds closes, so there will be no gaps in services for the local community.
This Banking Hub will bring together all the major banks under one roof, with all of the services you would expect, including a rota of face-to-face advisors on hand from each of the banks.
Cash Access UK and BGCBC are now working together on identifying a suitable permanent home for the Banking Hub in Ebbw Vale.

Beaufort Welfare
Before Christmas I visited Beaufort Hill Miner’s Welfare Hall to meet with the directors and discuss how I could help with a number of issues affecting the car park, including improving the layout and line‑markings to ensure disabled access, carrying out some resurfacing and addressing problems with a boundary wall.
I arranged for a site visit with officers from Blaenau Gwent Council. Thanks to council officers and local councillors, I’m really pleased to confirm that the work is now going to be carried out for the great team of local people who keep the Hall running, and everyone in the community who uses it.

Parkrun
I was very pleased to mark my 250th parkrun recently. I’ve been championing the benefits of parkrun for a long time, not just as a keen parkrunner myself, but also as Chair of the parkrun APPG in Parliament.
I don’t think there is a better way to look after your physical and mental wellbeing, not just through the exercise but the social element that comes with taking part or even volunteering.

A big thanks must go to all the brilliant volunteers who make these events possible week-in, week-out, and especially Lee Aherne, the driving force behind the Parc Bryn Bach parkrun and leader of the local NHS Couch to 5K programme, who has helped so many people improve their physical and mental health.
He was also pivotal in initiating and championing the successful campaign for Blaenau Gwent to honour marathon legend Steve Jones with a statue.
In recognition of all his hard work I invited Lee to 10 Downing Street last week as my guest to an early St David’s Day Reception.

Kit Room
It was a pleasure to officially open the new Aneurin Leisure Community Kit Room at Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre.
I attended the opening of the first kit room in Abertillery Leisure Centre in 2023. Since then, a second opened at Tredegar Leisure Centre and now the third in Ebbw Vale.
The Kit Rooms are full of gear donated by the local community – sports equipment, boots, t-shirts, shorts, tracksuits, trainers and more – to be used by the local community for free.

This is such a brilliant idea. Full credit to the team at Aneurin Leisure for coming up with such an innovative and functional way to bring down barriers to participation in sport while also reducing waste.
This scheme has proved a big success in Blaenau Gwent. I’d love to see this idea really take off and get taken up by other local authorities.

Social Media
The question of how social media, and access to digital devices are affecting children’s mental wellbeing and concentration is one that many parents will be asking. It is certainly something that has started coming up when I speak with teachers at our local school.
The Labour Government is determined to tackle this issue head on and is consulting on key questions including whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and if so, what age would be right.
Parents, children and teachers in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney are being asked to take part in this important consultation on how young people can thrive in an age of rapid technological change.
Take a look at how you can have your say here.

Aberbargoed Primary School
It was a pleasure to speak with Year 6 pupils at Aberbargoed Primary School during a visit. I had some great questions from a really bright, engaged and enthusiastic group and also took some time to speak with them about the future of social media access for children.

Cyber College Cymru Award
I met with the Cyber College Cymru leadership at Ebbw Vale College to talk through the work I am doing to help integrate the course with opportunities in defence, and was delighted to hear that learners from the course recently won the inaugural National AI Ethics Competition at Bletchley Park, the world famous site where Alan Turing and his fellow codebreakers helped change the course of World War II.
This competition win is a fantastic achievement, and a real testament to the quality of teaching on the course I am proud to have helped establish.

Rhymney Gym
I was pleased to have visited JM Gym last week with Dawn Bowden MS and Caerphilly Council Leader Jamie Pritchard.
I first met the gym’s owner Judith at a surgery in Rhymney with Cllr Carl Cuss to discuss concerns about the potential loss of the gym, so it’s fantastic to see it now up and running in its new home at the former Meals on Wheels building in Rhymney.
Well done to Cllr Carl Cuss, Cllr David Harse and Cllr Mansel Powell for securing investment and helping see through a Community Asset Transfer to ensure the gym remains open.

Blackwood Engineering
I popped along to visit Blackwood Engineering’s Aberbeeg site to check in with the business and also say thank you for the generous financial contribution that was made to the Everyone Deserves a Christmas Campaign.

Lakeside View Café
It was great to meet up with Sue Grandon at Lakeside View Cafe, Parc Cwm Darren along with Dawn Bowden MS and Cllr Rob Chapman. I was pleased to congratulate Sue on her successful tender to continue running the café.
It was wonderful to hear about her exciting future plans for the facility — it certainly gets a big thumbs up from me. And I can confirm the vegetable soup was excellent.

Helping Hands
I popped in to Helping Hands Charity on Rhymney High Street today with Dawn Bowden MS and Cllr Carl Cuss. We spoke with Derwyn Evans, who gave us a great overview of the impressive work led by the volunteers who run the shops day in, day out. Their dedication ensures the vital support they provide to cancer patients can continue, and it truly reflects the strong community spirit in Rhymney.
It was also fantastic to learn they have been awarded funding from the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund.

Flying Start
It was great to join the Blaenau Gwent Flying Start team in Cefn Golau and Sirhowy recently to hear about all of the fantastic courses, programmes, opportunities and activities being offered to parents across the borough.
It was encouraging to hear from Ceri Bird and her team about all of the successes and the real difference being made for local families.

Surgeries
Thank you to Cllr Sue Edmunds for joining me at a very busy surgery in Ebbw Vale South recently.
My next surgery is in Bargoed this afternoon (Friday) with Cllr Chris Bissex-Foster, Cllr Dawn Ingram-Jones and Cllr D.Tudor Davies, and then in Brynmawr on Friday, March 20.
Please get in touch to make an appointment. Venues are confirmed upon booking.

Pensions
I put questions to Treasury Secretary Torsten Bell MP on his assessment of the positive impact pensioners will see when they get a 4.8% increase to their pensions from next month.
I also asked for an update on Safe Hands Funeral Plans. This is the company that collapsed in 2022, leaving 46,000 customers more than £70m out of pocket, including constituents here in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney.
The Serious Fraud Office has recently charged two individuals in relation to the case. I will take up the offer of meeting with the Economic Secretary to discuss this further.

I am organising Pension Credit Support events for both parts of Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney at:
Abertillery Met, Mitre St, Abertillery, NP13 1AL – Friday, March 20 (11am – 1pm)
Cartref Community Hall, Cardiff Rd, Bargoed, CF81 8NN – Thursday, April 2 (11am – 1pm)

This is for constituents to receive face-to-face help with claiming Pension Credit.
I want to make sure that everyone eligible for financial support is claiming what they’re entitled to. Advice and support will be available from Citizens Advice, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council / Caerphilly Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
Please come along for any support you may need with; checking your eligibility for Pension Credit; help with applying for Pension Credit; finding out more about the benefits of Pension Credit.