, Plenary
Short Debate: The Heads of the Valleys road: Investing in our future economy
Thank you very much, Alun Davies, and I will take that back to the Cabinet Secretaries. It is very much cross-Government, the response, which is very encouraging, but also engagement with the local Members and constituency Members. I will ensure that they…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The Heads of the Valleys road: Investing in our future economy
I'm very pleased to respond today confirming, of course, that the A465 road scheme will be completed this summer. The A465, often referred to as the Heads of the Valleys road, is that vital link that you identify that connects towns and com…
, Plenary
Short Debate: The Heads of the Valleys road: Investing in our future economy
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I'd like to start by thanking Alun Davies for bringing forward this short debate and recognise that the Member tirelessly campaigns for improvements to his Blaenau Gwent constituency. I want to pay tribute to the work that he's done…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Yes, I believe it has, because the gender budgeting guidance document was used across the Government by officials, and I'm sure our officials were steeped in it, definitely. But this must be across the whole Welsh Government. But can I make—? I undertake to…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you very much. We did have pilots. As a result of that, we've got an introduction to gender budgeting guidance document; that's actually an internal document for Welsh Government staff, but I would imagine that we could share that with you, Chair…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you. Well, you will see that a strategic integrated impact assessment has been published with this draft budget, but the review is taking place. It's the first since this was introduced in 2015-16, and Welsh Treasury is leading on the review and the…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Yes.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you very much, Mick. Well, it is a standard uplift of 3 per cent that the commissioners have received in this budget. There's also an additional £50,000 on a one-off basis for the children's commissioner for a specific priority. It's up to them…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Well, it was the toughest decision last year not to be able to uplift the funding for PCSOs. We provided £15 million last year over and above what forces in England have access to. It is reserved, as you say, policing is reserved, and we had a very…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Well, health and education responsibilities, of course, for prisons are devolved and my Cabinet colleagues will be responsible for those areas of work, policy and funding, but this is going to be a pilot. It was agreed way back by a former justice Minister…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
I'm totally in support of the residential women's centre; I've been working on this for a number of years. We now have a woman's justice board, which was set up by the Lord Chancellor, who has indicated the support for residential women's centres, and…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you. The One Wales scheme of course will benefit from the £732,000 as part of that budget line. Could I just, Mick and committee members, say that, since April, just under 2,000 women—and this relates to youth justice as well—and young adults have been…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you very much, Mick. The newly named, you’ll see, criminal justice delivery budget—£982,800 will be provided to support that work related to women’s and youth justice. And that will include some of the ongoing work that we’ve done, which you’re very…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Well, there’ll be a range of activity and proposals coming from across the regions, very much in line—. We have our work streams. I meet with the regional co-ordinators, but very much in line with our VAWDASV blueprint and strategy.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Well, that is the whole purpose of the VAWDASV blueprint. And I think it goes back to prevention, the long-term preventative route. We’ve proposed an additional £150,000 to develop our preventative work, because it is about how we produce that change in…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you very much, Altaf, and I'm glad that Welsh Women's Aid did actually welcome the Welsh Government's increased draft budget and its commitment to tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence services, with an overall increase of…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Obviously, there is an issue about breaching rules, powers et cetera. I haven't raised this yet with the UK Government, and I don't know what's happening in England, for example. But I think, at the moment, because this is the whole picture of no recourse to…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Absolutely, and I hope that our training that we're funding will help, just to encourage—. And to look at any issues, obviously working with the local authorities, to make sure that this happens—. And if there's a modest need for funding, then we will look at…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
—entitled to free school meals. But I agree that we need to make sure that that's happening.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Well, no, I didn't say that. I said all primary school children in Wales should be—
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
And that’s something I’m working with the education Secretary on as well; free school meals comes under her remit. So, yes, I think it is important, and I mention in my written statement that the Welsh Refugee Council are delivering migrant rights and…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Diolch yn fawr. Well, we’ve worked very hard to try and support those with no recourse to public funds, with our local authorities, liaising with the UK Government. And as far as free school meals are concerned, for example, I would expect every child in a…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Diolch yn fawr. We are working at pace on the work for the welcome ticket. It’s phase 2, what we’re calling it. It’s to provide a smartcard to eligible applicants, which will provide six months' free bus travel on participating bus services in Wales. So, at…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Exactly.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
—the capital grant, that we've made available. But also local authorities themselves can contribute to this, and they often do in terms of actual site provision. But we need to identify those transit sites.
