, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Well, the total budget—. Yes, it is the Minister for Climate Change, and I'm always very pleased that it's so cross-cutting, and being responsible for tackling fuel poverty in its wider policy aspects. How we can tackle energy efficiency and fuel poverty…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Perhaps I could just quickly also say that, when I came in last May, with this portfolio, I met with the children's commissioner, the Bevan Foundation, to ask them, 'Well, what are the key priorities for tackling child poverty?' looking towards getting this…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
I was pleased to be able to make a statement just before Christmas about the child poverty strategy. This is really important, and Maureen leads on this with colleagues. So, I've announced, and you will know the kind of timetable for this in terms of my child…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
That is really important, and it goes back to the points that I've made in the whole draft budget setting, we've had meetings with all Ministers to look at what impact their draft budgets can have on tackling poverty. This is an ongoing engagement anyway in…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Yes. I was really glad that you asked that question—I think, perhaps, it was you Jenny, Chair—during my cost-of-living statement last week and, in fact, at our Cabinet committee last Monday, when I reported back that only 11 out of 22 authorities were…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Because basically anybody—even if you’ve got someone in public services, housing, health—they should be able to check out if people have got their benefit entitlements. So, I do think we’ve got the right budget level. But, let's face it, just looking at…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
The fund, as you say, Sioned, is crucial, it’s preventative. It’s also about entitlements. I always feel that 'Claim what's yours' is the best way to describe the campaign that we’ve got. We’ve looked at it further and are saying, 'This is here to help you…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Diolch, Sioned. Well, the discretionary assistance fund has proven itself; it's been absolutely crucial as a lifeline to people. And, again, I think I gave quite a bit of information last Tuesday, in terms of the cost-of-living statement I made. But I think…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Well, I think the response to the cost-of-living crisis—we've taken a very strategic approach to this. When the First Minister made that statement back in September, setting up a cost-of-living Cabinet committee, which has been meeting regularly—weekly, in…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
No, it's breaking. Let me get—. Have I lost it? It's gone back. Diolch. Sorry.
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Yes. It's non-recurrent funding. I won't repeat it, but it's £116.9 million in revenue terms. Obviously, if you're looking at the draft budget in terms of what it was anticipated in the indicative budget to the time of the spending review—that's for…
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Draft budget 2023-24: ministerial evidence session
Thank you very much, Chair, and I know you will have seen my written evidence, which deals with all the budget lines. But, can I just say from the outset that the social justice MEG has not received a budget reduction? The budget has increased from the…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Cost of Living
Thank you very much, Jenny Rathbone, and thank you for raising the issue of food poverty. We've provided £2.4 million to support community food organisations to meet that increase in demand for emergency food as a result of the cost of living. But also…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Cost of Living
Diolch yn fawr, Jack Sargeant, and thank you for consistently raising this issue in terms of the injustice of the pre-payment meter arrangements. Members will want to be reminded, I’m sure, that approximately 200,000 households in Wales rely on pre-payment…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Cost of Living
When I went to visit the warm hub in Caerphilly at the former miners’ hospital—the Caerphilly Miners’ Centre—I met with some women who themselves were helping to work to develop a centre for children and families in the Lansbury estate. They themselves said…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Cost of Living
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams, and thank you very much particularly for drawing attention to those who are particularly affected by the cost-of-living crisis. I made it clear in my opening remarks, in terms of the statement, the recent evidence, that…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Cost of Living
Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood. As I said in my statement, it is very clear that we are taking responsibility, and thank you for acknowledging that, and, indeed, for chairing the cross-party group on fuel poverty, which I attended pretty much every…
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Cost of Living
Dirprwy Lywydd, as we enter the new year, we recognise that the cost-of-living pressures continue to be relentless. Too many people are desperately worried about staying warm and having enough food to eat, and for many people, the challenges are more stark…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Banking Services in Cymraeg
Nadolig Llawen, Jack Sargeant—you will get your bank back in Buckley. Diolch.
, Plenary
Short Debate: Banking Services in Cymraeg
—a very merry Christmas to you all.
, Plenary
Short Debate: Banking Services in Cymraeg
There are positive stories coming from the banking sector. For example, the Welsh Language Commissioner has collaborated with Santander to launch new cash point machines that remember consumers' language preference, and also Welsh Government has business…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Banking Services in Cymraeg
I'm absolutely focused on ensuring equality of access for all the people of Wales in whatever geographical, cultural and personal situation they find themselves. I do thank Jack Sargeant for bringing forward the debate, and welcome the focus of this debate on…
, Plenary
Short Debate: Banking Services in Cymraeg
Thank you, Llywydd. Financial and digital equality, choice and inclusion is a priority and is vitally important to me.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Child Poverty
I wonder, Mark Isherwood, if you would join me in calling on the UK Government to abolish the appalling benefit cap and the two-child limit on child benefit. That is actually what's driving children into poverty, Mark Isherwood. Yes, we will do all we can to…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Child Poverty
We will continue to support households. What are you doing, Mark Isherwood?
