AM to stand down at 2011 election

Val Lloyd AM is a former nurse, teacher and Swansea councillor

The assembly member for Swansea East has announced she will not contest her seat in the 2011 Welsh Assembly election.

Labour's Val Lloyd told her constituency party of her decision to stand down after what will have been 10 years in the job.

She said she will continue to "give of my all" to her constituents for the next two years.

The first minister said she helped bring in the smoking ban in Wales.

Ms Lloyd, a former nurse, teacher and Swansea councillor, was elected in the first by-election of the assembly in 2001, which was brought about by the death of Labour's Val Feld.

Announcing her decision to stand down, she said it had been a "great honour to represent the people of Swansea East and to work alongside our Welsh Labour First Minister Rhodri Morgan".

"In 2011 I will have served for ten years and it has been a privilege to do so," she said.

I take pride in our investment in more nurses, doctors and police officers and am pleased with the progress made in Swansea over recent years Val Lloyd

"We have a great team of representatives in Welsh Labour and I will continue to support all of our good work in fighting the recession, developing the economy and investing in essential public services.

"I take pride in our investment in more nurses, doctors and police officers and am pleased with the progress made in Swansea over recent years."

She added: "I will give of my all to Swansea East until the election arrives in 2011".

'Hard work'

Mr Morgan said Ms Lloyd had been a "great member" of the Welsh Labour team in the assembly.

"Val has been unstinting in her work for Swansea East since coming to the assembly after the sad death of Val Feld in 2001," he said.

"We look back in particular to her contribution as chair of the committee whose work led to the ban on smoking in public places.

"She was the perfect choice for that role as she was then a committed smoker, although not now, and had experience as a nurse and a lecturer in nursing.

"I thank her for her hard work and wish her well in the future".

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: "Val Lloyd AM has made an important contribution in helping Welsh Labour to build a better Wales.

"She has been a tremendous constituency AM and we know that she will continue this good work until the next election."

Ms Lloyd currently chairs the All Party Group on Waterways and the All Party Group on Nursing.