, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
I suppose, when we looked at how we delivered the food poverty funding this year, we did see the need to look at emergency and then longer term, more sustainable food partnerships and initiatives. I just don't think we can deny, especially in terms of…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Thank you very much, Altaf. This is something where we have to learn from the people who are delivering at the front line in terms of tackling food poverty, and, last year, you know I had—and it was called for—a number of summits about the cost-of-living…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
It goes back to what Paul says about the fact the Welsh benefits system has got to be person centred, and I absolutely agree with you. We have, actually, got posters and leaflets for the 'Here to help' scheme and the winter fuel support scheme. Getting them…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Well, it has been a learning curve, hasn't it, for local authorities. I was just getting the updated figures on the winter fuel support scheme, and I can say, as of this morning, I think the percentage of the total now of the winter fuel scheme is 76 per cent…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Well, clearly we need to make this work. That’s where there’s always this question about do we need a statutory base, and in fact you’ve put forward a motion for debate on this. I shall bring Paul in, because I’m sure that he’ll want to make a point about…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Thank you very much. This is crucial, a charter for the design and delivery of what is a Welsh benefits system. So, we've developed with partners a draft charter. It's got a set of principles to underpin the delivery of a coherent and compassionate Welsh…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Good.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Absolutely, and this is what I was referring to now, that we have been reviewing the situation, the way it's being managed, and we've had representations about it, not just from the Bevan Foundation, Wales TUC, other social partners involved in our response…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Thank you very much. You will be very aware from the Chamber of the fact that I have consistently, and indeed with a lot of calls of support from across the Chamber, supported the discretionary assistance fund, and I pressed hard in budget negotiations to…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
I think, obviously, committee members want to know that we are reaching them in the first place, which is crucial, I think, to the message—the message of the availability of the Fuel Bank Foundation—so that's a very strong message to us. But I think the fact…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Yes. Well, that goes back to the importance of our income maximisation 'Here to help' and 'Claim what's yours' promotion to get help with the cost of living, which really we've been doing since September. You can have it on websites, we know. We've had media…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Diolch yn fawr. There are two voucher schemes that are really important at the moment. There's the UK Government voucher scheme for people on PPMs, and in fact I was just asking for an update. These are, if I could just mention it, the energy bill support…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Well, yes, I think the Enforcement Conduct Board is very important to this, and, in fact, you launched them in the Pierhead building, I recall, last year, and I followed this up with the chair, Catherine Brown, if you recall. I met with her only a couple of…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
I think that the fact that there should be no gap has to be—. That's clear.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Well, 'before the end of the year' may be the end of March, but I'm afraid I can't confirm that today.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Will you write?
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
But I will—
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
It's not in my area. But, clearly, my understanding is that it's the end of the—. I don't think it is the end of the financial year, but, apologies, I can't give you that.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
I'm not sure if we are and I don't think, Paul, you'd be able to answer this, because it's not in my—
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Well, this is about going out to procure the new demand-led scheme. The Minister for Climate Change expects to procure this new demand-led scheme before the end of the year. So, there will not be a gap, but I think, in terms of procuring it before the end of…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Diolch yn fawr. I've met with the energy companies in Wales on several occasions. The last time I met with them was in January. I met with them in order to ask them what they were doing to support their customers, many of whom are vulnerable. I've also…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Debt and the cost of living: Evidence session with the Minister for Social Justice
Diolch yn fawr. As you say, the Warm Homes programme is vital. Indeed, the new iteration of the Warm Homes programme builds on the previous programme and it has already helped tens of thousands of households to reduce bills and energy consumption. The new…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian refugees
The international community has demonstrated remarkable solidarity in military, financial and humanitarian aid provided to Ukraine. The UK and Welsh Governments have worked hard to ensure that support is given to Ukraine to the best of our ability, despite…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian refugees
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I start—and I'm sure the Welsh Conservatives and indeed the whole Chamber would want me to start—by thanking Mick Antoniw, the Counsel General, for his contribution to this debate today? I thank him for his courage and…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Ukraine Humanitarian Response
Diolch yn fawr, Alun Davies. I'll just briefly respond, Dirprwy Lywydd, to say how important it is that we can be held to account for our language, for our tone, for our delivery of that humanitarian response. It was very good that we were out on the steps…
