, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice: Culture and Social Justice—Reaffirmation of our values
Thank you very much and I absolutely recognise the importance you too put on working with us around eradicating child poverty. When I came into the portfolio, having been in this portfolio 10 years ago, it's incredibly disappointing to see child poverty at…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice: Culture and Social Justice—Reaffirmation of our values
Thank you. Well, I did say at the start of my statement that I've got a very diverse portfolio, so it is very hard to kind of narrow it down to your priorities, but if I can encompass it in three from that statement—and I made this very clear to my Cabinet…
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice: Culture and Social Justice—Reaffirmation of our values
Diolch, Llywydd. I am pleased to make this statement on my priorities for the culture and social justice portfolio. This is a diverse portfolio that reaches across many aspects of Government, and which has the potential to make profound and lasting change to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. Well, the Member will be aware that I'm two months in post, and this is certainly something that we're looking at in the round around all issues of poverty.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch. Our discretionary assistance fund and support for the Fuel Bank Foundation provides a lifeline to households in immediate need. Our Warm Homes Nest scheme and optimised retrofit programme are transforming the homes of low-income households for the…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
I wasn't aware of that group, either. I think I wrote it all down correctly, but I will certainly have a look at that. Following my meeting with the four new—well, two new, two re-elected—PCCs, I'll certainly—. This is an area that I'm very keen to look at in…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch. I am aware of the report that the Member refers to of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and the recommendations within that report to tackle stalking. You'll be very well aware that we work very closely with our police colleagues. The issues, I think, raised…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Our 'Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence: strategy 2022 to 2026' prioritises tackling all forms of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Our commitment to tackling stalking and harassment is being delivered through our VAWDASV blueprint…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, I mentioned the need to build up the capacity here in Wales. We were the first country in the UK to recognise British Sign Language alongside English, Welsh and other languages in its curriculum, and we now need to make sure that we support the increase…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. I think you raise a very important point, Mike Hedges. Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers must provide reasonable adjustments, and that includes BSL interpreters, who are essential to ensure access to services. But we do, however…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
The Welsh Government has set up a working group to focus on access to services as part of the disability rights taskforce. This work is integral to driving forward access to all services in Wales, including for those with hearing loss.
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, you will have heard me say in an answer to Laura Anne Jones that I can't give any commitment about next year's budget because we've got no certainty on future funding at the moment. We are expecting another multi-year funding settlement. But, of course…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. Well, Rhianon Passmore, I think, on day three in the job, was knocking on my door around the WNO, and they know, in this Senedd—and certainly this was something we discussed yesterday—they have cross-party support, and I think that is really…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Welsh Government funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales. I met with the chair and chief executive of ACW last month to discuss the current position of the arts sectors in Wales, including the music sector. Under the arm's-length…
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Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
I think it's very important that people don't opt out of services that they need, and this is something I will certainly be happy to discuss with my colleague.
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Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
This morning, I co-chaired my first disability rights taskforce, and it was a very interesting meeting, to hear from the working group's streams that had been set up by my predecessor, Jane Hutt. This was the tenth meeting of the disability rights taskforce…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Our assessment of the effects of rising costs in Wales, including for disabled people, has been informed by the voices of people affected and through consideration by our Cabinet sub-committee. Using the levers we have, during 2022-25, we have provided…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
I'm sure the Member won't be surprised that I do not agree with her, and that's why we need a UK Labour Government as soon as possible.
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Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Thank you. I certainly do agree that the case is made for devolution. We've had a variety of commissions. We've had the Thomas commission. We've had the Brown commission, and, most recently, we had, obviously, the commission that was chaired by Laura…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch. Welsh Government has been working with a range of academics and practitioners with experience in probation to advise on the future of probation services in Wales. The Wales Centre for Public Policy was commissioned to take forward specific research to…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch. I think it was really important that we launched the consultation. As I say, we're doing that this week, and I really pay tribute to the work that Siân Gwenllian has done with us, and Plaid Cymru, as part of the co-operation agreement. And as you say…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
No, I'm not a lone voice at all. I had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language around the export value of the WNO. He absolutely fully appreciates that. I've had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary for Education…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Of course I recognise the concerns. You will have heard my answers to Laura Anne Jones about looking to see what I can do to support the sector. And I do think it's absolutely the right time to launch the consultation, and we will be doing that this week…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Well, the Member will appreciate that I can't offer any long-term surety, because we don't know what our budget will be. We assume we're going to get another multi-year settlement, but we don't know. So, unfortunately, I can't offer the assurance. What I can…
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
So, I don't think you need to take my word for it. The WNO—one of the people who I met with yesterday, their finance director, Stephanie, was at great pains to tell me of all the work that they're doing to support that service, because they absolutely…
