Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her important contribution today and demonstrating her approach to the way she respects the armed forces and veterans, and remembers the people who have lost their lives in service, and also the families in that way, too. A couple of points I’ll respond to: on the FIFA principle, I know the Member is an avid Welsh fan. I’ve seen her with my own eyes in a Welsh top,...
Carl Sargeant: A very quick contribution, but a great press line for the Member. I also will pass on my congratulations again to D.J. Rees Decorating Services. They’ve done a tremendous job, actually. This isn’t easy, and they should be congratulated. I hope that you do visit them and pass my best regards on to them, too.
Carl Sargeant: I’m grateful for the comments of the Member, and, of course, I think we can come together on many of these issues, like the commemoration, as we have in front of us today. In regard to some of the detail of his question, he’s right in saying that I will be launching the housing pathway on 10 November, and more details will follow. We’re finalising the development of a pathway...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his question. I am sympathetic to the circumstances of this case, but immigration is not a devolved issue and it’s not the Welsh Government’s practice to make representation on individual cases. I know that Assembly Members have made representation to the Home Office, and others may wish to join them in this.
Carl Sargeant: I understand that many elected Members have made representations, to which the Home Secretary is answerable, and they’ve made a strong case. Indeed, the Cardiff MPs have done so, and they made a strong case representing Mr Naderi’s case and I hope the Home Secretary will take notice of the views expressed here and amongst the wider Welsh public. However, immigration policy is not devolved...
Carl Sargeant: We’re very grateful for the comments by Jenny, and I know Julie Morgan and Lynne Neagle have also made representation to me. I am sympathetic to the case, but I am not the decision maker here, and I am sure the Member is aware of that. The process here is a clear one, whereby representation needs to be made to the Home Secretary, which I know that Members have done in this Chamber. It is...
Carl Sargeant: As I responded to the others, I refer the Member to my previous response to the Members. It is a matter for individuals to make representation as the elected Members representing those bodies. I would advise the Member to write directly to the Ministry in order to make her representation known.
Carl Sargeant: I think I’ve made my response very clear. I am sympathetic to the circumstances of this case, and the Members have brought it to my attention during this debate and earlier. However, this isn’t the responsibility of Welsh Government—it’s a matter for the Home Office, and therefore Members must make their representation to the Home Office for them to make the appropriate decision....
Carl Sargeant: Of course, again, I recognise the absolute commitment by Members in this Chamber to the support of Bashir. The issue is, of course, a technical one that the Home Office has to make these decisions. If it was my decision, it may be a very different discussion we’d have. I can give you assurances that I’m sure the Home Office will be made fully aware of this discussion and urgent question...
Carl Sargeant: Formally.
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Members will recall that, in yesterday’s oral statement, I set out the Welsh Government’s commitment to honouring those who gave their lives in past conflicts so that we can enjoy the freedom we must have today. We must not forget them. I also set out the Welsh Government’s continued support for our ex-service personnel and serving members and their...
Carl Sargeant: Well, let me just fill the detail out in terms of the process here. The Member is right to suggest that we will be supporting their amended motion subject to that, but, when we asked the armed forces—. This isn’t my decision, as Mark Isherwood alluded to when he said it wasn’t his decision; it was somebody else asking for this. Let me just explain about why we’ve got the evidence to...
Carl Sargeant: I formally move.
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on the Children’s Commissioner for Wales’s annual report 2015-16. This report underlines the importance of the commissioner’s role in championing the rights of children and young people in Wales. It reflects her first full year in post and sets out many achievements. It also demonstrates her clear independence of...
Carl Sargeant: The report is an important contribution to continuing dialogue between the commissioner, Welsh Government and the Assembly, all those working with children, parents and, of course, children themselves. Llywydd, we will publish a considered Welsh Government response to the report at the end of the month, and I expect that we will welcome and accept some of the recommendations, like those on...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Presiding Officer, and I thank Members for their comments on the report today. This report outlines the excellent work of the commissioner and her office, and raises important practical issues affecting children and young people. I listened very carefully to the contributions of Members here this afternoon. I continue to work closely with the commissioner to ensure that all...
Carl Sargeant: I’m just conscious of the time, if I may. The issue of making sure that we look at young people through their lifestyle and how they grow up: Jenny, you’ll be familiar, I hope, with the 1000 days project that we are running in some of the programmes where we look at pre birth up to the age of two—a very successful programme, again, looking at the opportunities and how the brain forms in...
Carl Sargeant: The Welsh Government continues to mitigate the worst impacts of the UK Government’s welfare reforms, including the benefit cap. We have programmes that help people to access sustainable work and affordable housing. In addition, we provide advisory support and continue to maintain full entitlements for the council tax reduction scheme.
Carl Sargeant: Our position and commitment regarding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child remain unchanged. The Welsh Government will continue to lead the way in promoting the rights of children and young people. How we do this is clearly set out in our children’s rights scheme.
Carl Sargeant: For the three-year period ending 2014/15, 29 per cent of children in Wales were in relative income poverty, down 2 percentage points. Despite this reduction, it still means approximately 200,000 children are living in poverty. This is unacceptable and all departments are working to reduce poverty.
