, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Well, we're very much guided by the well-being goals set out in the well-being of future generations Act, and, of course, this is the way that, as I said, we track how we are measuring change, including ways in which the impact of a more preventative approach…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Budget 2025-26
Thank you very much, Chair, and I'm very pleased to be here with the committee for the scrutiny of the draft budget. You will know that, obviously, I've produced written evidence on the draft budget scrutiny. In fact, that question about how we are reaching…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you for that question. In terms of access to gender services for children and young people, I'd like to update on work that's been carried out. A puberty-suppressing hormone study is being developed by NHS England and the National Institute for Health…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Hannah Blythyn, and can I take the opportunity to thank you for your pioneering work on developing the LGBTQ+ action plan? But also, I'm very aware of the global leaders—you are a global leader, Hannah—and the global leaders conference you…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Hannah Blythyn. Updates on programme for government commitments are published annually and the most recent report was published on 9 July 2024.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Well, I won't repeat the answers I gave to the previous question, Dirprwy Lywydd, because they did address many of those points. Particularly, I referenced the 7 per cent increase to Third Sector Support Wales, which is going to make a huge difference to the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you, Sam Rowlands. We continually receive information about the health of the sector through our third sector infrastructure, such as the third sector partnership council and Third Sector Support Wales. I've provided funding to develop a data tracker…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you very much for that question, Mark Isherwood. We, of course, are aware of the impact of the increases in employer national insurance contributions. Some of those, as you know, will be fully or partially offset by the increased employer allowance, and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you, Mark Isherwood. The third sector in Wales provides crucial services to communities and people most in need of support. Our third sector support infrastructure helps the sector play this role. I've committed to a three-year funding agreement for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you very much, Janet Finch-Saunders. I do pay tribute to Julie Morgan's initiative, when she was Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, because she launched the 'Connected Communities'. It's absolutely a Welsh Government-led strategy for…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Well, thank you very much for drawing attention to the great work of the Lisvane Men's Shed. Also, I'm sure that many of us have got men's sheds in our constituencies and know of the great work that they're doing. The fact that you also referred to how…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Julie Morgan. The third sector plays a key role in tackling loneliness and isolation, supported through a range of Welsh Government programmes, including the £1.5 million loneliness and isolation fund, the £10 million sustainable social…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
I undertake to bring a statement back to highlight what is happening and how we are responding to it. Diolch yn fawr.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you very much. We are maximising the levers that we have available in Wales by investing more than £30 million this year in the new Warm Homes Nest scheme. We are continuing to invest in our fuel voucher, warm hubs and discretionary assistance schemes…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr. Thank you for that important question. Just to say that the Welsh Government is finalising a business case for reinvesting returned funds from our Superfast Cymru roll-out to improve digital connectivity at premises that don’t have access at…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr. Well, digital inclusion is critical, isn’t it, to social justice, equalities. And barriers, as you say, Janet, to digital inclusion are very indicative often of barriers in life, which lead to social and financial exclusion. And digital…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Janet Finch-Saunders. The Digital Communities Wales programme provides pan-Wales digital skills support throughout Wales. Responsibility for improving broadband connectivity in Wales rests with the UK Government. However, additional Welsh…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Well, thank you for that question. The discretionary assistance fund is crucial for our ambition and our aim to tackle child poverty and to tackle poverty for all generations, because the discretionary assistance fund is a demand-led crisis fund available to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr. I apologise I didn't answer your first question about engagement with the UK Government; I will do so now. I think the most important route to engagement that I've had in recent weeks and months is to be part of a four-nations child poverty…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
The devolution of welfare, social security, our Welsh benefits system, you will know—. And I very much have appreciated the meetings that we've had—in the co-operation agreement and since, in recent months and weeks—to enable us to update you, and colleagues…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you for your very important questions.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you again for your questions. You will know that we are particularly concerned about tackling fuel poverty and finding ways to not only raise these issues that you’ve earlier described in terms of the unfairness of standing charges and the need for a…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Well, thank you very much for that question, because, again, I’m entirely in support of the views that you take, particularly relating to the price cap. I’ve met with Ofgem following that rise. And I think it is important in terms of looking at ways in which…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
And congratulations on your new role, and I look forward very much to working with you. You have raised a really important point in terms of the impact of cold weather on older people. And we have to look at our responsibilities as a Welsh Government, and…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you very much and a happy new year to you too, Altaf Hussain.
