Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Dawn, and thank you for your question. Can I say, I’ve been lobbied by many Members, of all parties, and lots have fed in to the consultation documents? People like Dawn, Lynne Neagle, Hefin David, and many others around this Chamber have been very robust in their views of Communities First. Can I say also, I genuinely believe that the staff in many Communities First clusters...
Carl Sargeant: Well, the Member raised many questions there, but I think the premise of most of it was based around employability and employability pathways. I did make reference in my statement to the employability programme we are introducing: nearly £12 million-worth of investment at the very difficult end of interaction with some of our most difficult to gain market training and advantage. But, look,...
Carl Sargeant: I’ve had many conversations with the Finance Minister, and a sign of the times is that we are moving into a different space of tackling poverty. The Member is wrong—quite clearly wrong—to say that all of those programmes will end. He doesn’t know if they’ll end; I don’t know if they’ll end. What it does mean is that we’ve got to talk to communities about how we make them more...
Carl Sargeant: I thank Vikki Howells for her questions today and, again, another Member that’s been very forthright in her views on Communities First for her community. Vikki, what I would say is that we should be ambitious and we should be optimistic for the future. We are absolutely committed to tackling the issues around poverty. We will have the most generous childcare pledge anywhere in the UK...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her contribution, and I agree with the Member. Torfaen is one of the authorities that has been very good in demonstrating the way that they can engage with their community at a very local level. Caerphilly is another example of where there has been very good activity on the ground. I’m not saying that the Communities First programme has been broken; I’m saying we...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome the report following the post-legislative inquiry into the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015. I’d like to thank John Griffiths and the committee, and the wide range of stakeholders and survivors who gave evidence and played a critical role in forming the report. I’d also place on record a thank you to...
Carl Sargeant: Llywydd, it’s a pleasure to respond to this afternoon’s debate, having listened to the contributions from all across the Chamber. Today’s debate on LGBT History Month is not the first time we’ve had to discuss LGBT equality in the Senedd, but it is very significant that, for the first time in our history, the debate has been led by openly lesbian and gay Assembly Members: Hannah...
Carl Sargeant: Llywydd, I’m pleased to open this debate in celebration of International Women’s Day 2017. The first International Women’s Day took place over 100 years ago and since then it’s grown into a truly global event—a day when the achievements of girls and women are recognised irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, language, culture, wealth or politics. It’s an excellent example of how...
Carl Sargeant: The theme for International Women’s Day in Wales this year is ‘creating an equal future’ and we’re proud to support the Women’s Equality Network Wales in delivering four International Women’s Day events across Wales. Deputy Llywydd, the Welsh Government stands committed to enhancing the lives and opportunities of girls and women across Wales, creating an equal future for them. We...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Deputy Llywydd, for the opportunity to respond to this debate. International Women’s Day has become a major occasion in the equality calendar and it’s good to see that it achieves such widespread, positive media and that it sparks so much debate on this issue. Shining a spotlight on inequality and presenting the stark evidence that exists to show how women are still being...
Carl Sargeant: Every local authority in Wales provides a range of parenting support which encompasses universally available information and advice, parenting groups and targeted and intensive support. Local authorities have responsibility for deciding the precise nature of local service delivery depending on local circumstances and identified needs within their own areas.
Carl Sargeant: The Welsh Government is engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as part of the development and delivery of the childcare offer.
Carl Sargeant: We continue to support local authorities and third sector partners to deliver the homelessness provisions within Part 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, which ensures everyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, gets help to either prevent their homelessness or find suitable alternative accommodation.
Carl Sargeant: The Welsh Government is strongly committed both to supporting older people and to promoting equality between genders. This is reflected in the provisions of the wellbeing of future generations Act and the strategy for older people, which supports action to address issues facing both women and men in later life.
Carl Sargeant: I intend to introduce a Bill very shortly to end the right to buy. Our social housing is a valuable resource, but it is under considerable pressure. Protecting it from further reduction will ensure people in housing need, many of whom are vulnerable, can access a home they can afford.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question, and, Presiding Officer, if I may, wish you and women and girls across Wales a very happy International Women’s Day. Our national strategy sets out the actions we are taking to support victims of domestic violence through the delivery, development and implementation of the framework. Since the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question and the opportunity to briefly meet some of the people at the event at lunch time. Llywydd, no-one should blame victims who take the time and courage to come forward. We all know and admire the courage they show when they speak out, and what we can and should blame are the onlookers who know what’s going on and stay silent about these things. In regard...
Carl Sargeant: Indeed. NSPCC, BAWSO and the university and the youth ambassadors indeed are doing a fantastic job and I was delighted when the Welsh Government-funded programme was awarded the RCM award. It is a big congratulations from me and I’ve already tweeted to say congratulations to them, too.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. Yesterday, the Member is right, you tabled an amendment in regard to healthy relationships, and I did respond to you in that debate yesterday on the reason why we weren’t supporting it then—because we have a working group that the Cabinet Secretary for Education has set up; we want to learn from that. But you’re pushing at an open door here; it’s...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his question. I’m very concerned that fees charged by letting agents are placing a disproportionate burden on tenants. I hope to be able to announce shortly how we as a Government propose to respond to this matter.
