, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you for that point. When I've met with the UK Government Minister, I've asked for a targeted plan from the UK Government to tackle fuel poverty. Now, the most important thing in terms of your question about people living in cold, damp homes is that…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
I think I actually answered the question on the Warm Homes programme last week when we had that motion, which was debated and supported by the whole Chamber. We're extending the Nest scheme until April 2024, and the Warm Homes programme will then kick in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you, Mike Hedges, for raising those two key calls we have on the UK Government. In fact, we debated this across this Chamber last week, didn't we, and the whole Senedd was backing the need for the UK Government to introduce a social tariff to protect…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you for that question, Mike Hedges. Despite high energy costs continuing to cause hardship this winter, the Welsh Government is supporting struggling fuel-poor households across Wales, through initiatives such as our Warm Homes Nest scheme, our…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you very much, Huw Irranca-Davies. It was a truly inspirational afternoon we spent in Maesteg with the guests who are settling in to your community, also working in your community, as well as living and being educated in your community. Can I pay…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you very much, Hefin David, for that question. And can I say how rewarding it was to come to Caerphilly in the summer and meet with Ukrainian guests and those who have hosted those families and, indeed, officials from the authority who are working very…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you very much. That is an important question. Just to give you the numbers of people arriving through the scheme who are currently eligible: there remain 1,300 who have been issued visas and are yet to travel. Of these people, approximately 500 have…
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip
Thank you for your question. Over 3,250 people have arrived in the UK through the Welsh Government’s Homes for Ukraine supersponsor route since it opened in March 2022. People have been successfully supported on their arrival through temporary initial…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Increasing the use of public transport: Why young people should travel for free
I can absolutely assure you that is not the case at all. As I said, we're very keen to progress these options much more, the offers to young people. Actually, I was going to go on to the point about the Minister and the Deputy Minister working on this. What I…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Increasing the use of public transport: Why young people should travel for free
Within the current deregulated bus operating model, the only way we're able to offer discounted or free travel is to negotiate reimbursement arrangements with operators, which has proved to be a costly affair. And, as has been seen with the free travel offer…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Increasing the use of public transport: Why young people should travel for free
It's really important, this debate today, because, as you've outlined very clearly, increasing the use of public transport has many benefits, and, as set out in 'Llwybr Newydd', our transport strategy, we want to create an environment where public transport…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Increasing the use of public transport: Why young people should travel for free
Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to Heledd Fychan.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
I won't be taking any more interventions. I do say that many of the levers that can make the biggest difference to poverty levels and energy costs do lie elsewhere. They lie with the UK Government, they lie with the energy companies, they lie with the…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
I absolutely agree. I'm very shortly meeting with energy suppliers, and I'll be making those very points. But I do want to—we're coming to the end of my time, I hope you'll give me a bit of leeway—
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
—our control. Mabon.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
No, I'm saying—. I hadn't finished what I was saying. Nest takes us forward to dovetail with the new Warm Homes scheme that is being procured and will come into being, a smooth transition to the new service. I said March 2024; obviously, that's April 2024. No…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
I am giving you that assurance that Nest will continue until March 2024, and—
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
Sioned.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Fuel poverty
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I do welcome this opportunity to debate fuel poverty in Wales, and thank Plaid Cymru for tabling the motion. The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating impact on household budgets across Wales, and vulnerable and low-income…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: International Day of Disabled People
Diolch yn fawr, and I've appeared before and worked with the cross-party group, and I wish them well for the AGM that you chair later on this week. You've mentioned key issues facing disabled people, and, as you know, I chair a disability equality forum that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: International Day of Disabled People
Thank you very much, Laura Anne Jones. I'm very interested to hear about the work and the initiative of the farm in Newport. I actually have an Amelia Trust care farm in my constituency, which probably does very similar pioneering work. And it is important…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: International Day of Disabled People
Diolch, Ken Skates. Can I just thank Ken Skates, in his former role as Minister for Economy and Transport, for taking forward that very ambitious programme to appoint our disabled people's champions? And I recall at the time, we made a very clear call for…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: International Day of Disabled People
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. And thank you again for the engagement, particularly in the work of the disability rights taskforce, as I said, addressing nine work streams across the whole of Welsh Government, in terms of responsibility. But it is important…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: International Day of Disabled People
Diolch yn fawr, Altaf Hussain, and thank you for your recognition of the importance of international day of disabled people and for recognising the barriers faced by disabled people. I think it's pleasing that the whole of this Senedd does uphold and endorse…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: International Day of Disabled People
Diolch, Llywydd. Sunday was the United Nations' international day of disabled people, and here at the Senedd, we marked this day—diolch, Llywydd—by illuminating our building in purple, which is the colour adopted by the UK disabled people’s rights movement…
