Thousands of pensioners stand to benefit from today's Queen's Speech, with a fair flat-rate pension for all.

The Queen announced a reform of the pensions system, ending the confusion state pension provision by introducing a single, flat-rate pension. This is in addition to the triple lock, championed by the Liberal Democrats, which has ensured record rise in the state pension of £12.50 a week since 2010. The triple lock will continue to safeguard an increase in the state pension in line with earnings, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is higher.

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP, Mark Williams, has spoken in a debate in the House of Commons this week on Upland Sheep Farmers, following the recent poor weather conditions which have had a huge impact on the livelihood of hill farmers.

During the debate, MPs discussed the unique conditions being faced by hill farmers this year and the effects of these conditions. The Minister discussed some of the measures being taken to assist farmers, Mark Williams specially raising the issue of EU regulations on burial rights in these exceptional circumstances.

Responding to today's Budget announcement, Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats commented:

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats have today accomplished our number one manifesto pledge by raising the tax threshold all the way to £10,000. We are ensuring that 130,000 of the lowest paid workers in Wales will be lifted completely out of the income tax system while over a million people will receive a £700 tax cut. This is an historic achievement and one that will greatly help hard working families in Wales.

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP, Mark Williams, has supported calls for the introduction of more robust and reliable food labeling measures in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, which has seen the Food Standards Agency investigating and ceasing operation at a number of meat processing plants over the last week.

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has celebrated the 30^th anniversary of S4C, speaking in a debate on the issue in the House of Commons this week.

Mark Williams welcomed the historic agreement between S4C and the BBC which has been reached to secure funding for S4C until 2017 and safeguard S4C's editorial, managerial and operational independence following a spirited campaign which Mark was involved with, amongst other MPs, in 2011.

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams outlined the case for the devolution of financial powers to the National Assembly, at today's Welsh Grand Committee in the House of Commons.

Speaking in Westminster at the Committee of Welsh MPs who were debating the recommendations of Part One of the Silk Report, Mark Williams spoke about his and the Welsh Lib Dem party's support for the partial devolution of income tax to the Assembly, as well as the devolution of some smaller yield taxes such as stamp duty, business rates, air passenger duty, landfill tax and aggregates duty. He also spoke in support of allowing the Assembly to borrow, given that currently all Local Authorities, and even small Town Councils have this power, yet the National Assembly does not.

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has asked the Secretary of State for Wales in today's question session about the level of support being provided by Visit Britain to advertising Wales as a tourist destination.

This comes following reports earlier in the week that the budget being spent by the Welsh Assembly on advertising Wales as a tourist destination has fallen to £1.5 million last year, from £2.6 million the previous year. With this decrease in funding from the Assembly, Mark asked the Secretary of State what can be done to encourage Visit Britain, a UK wide body to assist in promoting Wales as a tourist destination, boosting the tourism industry.

Responding to today's Autumn Statement, Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats commented:

"Thanks to the Liberal Democrats influence in Government, over a million people in Wales will be benefiting from today's tax announcement. The Tories may have their own priorities, but the Liberal Democrats are ensuring that those on lower and middle incomes are keeping as much of the money they earn as possible

In today's question session to the Secretary of State for Wales in the House of Commons, Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams asked the Secretary of State about a speedy implementation of the Silk Commission recommendations.

Mark Williams welcomed the Silk Report, expressing how keen he is to see work get underway on implementing its recommendations as soon as possible. He asked the Minister particularly about progress on the devolution of variable income tax to the Assembly, given that this is key to Assembly being able to act in a fiscally responsible way.

Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has raised the plight of small rural farmers in the Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill second reading debate, yesterday evening in the House of Commons.

During the debate, Mark Williams reminded the Minister that much of Wales' farming happens on small rural family farms, which do not have direct supply contracts with retailers. Therefore it is important that the Adjudicator is accessible to people throughout the supply chain, and crucially, is accessible all the way down the supply chain.