Carl Sargeant: Well, I can’t think of a word that the Member uttered there that I agree with him on. The fact of the matter is that this hasn’t been a hidden crime—slavery has been around for hundreds of years, and it was the British empire that started a lot of this off in the first place, and we should be the ones now stopping the whole issue of this. That’s why we have appointed an anti-slavery...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for your question. All seven early implementer local authorities are open for applications and already children in Wales in these pilot areas are receiving free childcare. Applications are already being processed for additionality to these pilot schemes.
Carl Sargeant: Of course, and we’ve taken the steady approach, but we have hundreds of young children in our childcare settings across Wales today and we should be really encouraged by the fact that we’ve had very few problems identified currently. I dare say we will encounter problems, but not on the scale that the English model started off with. I do understand that the problems in England were...
Carl Sargeant: Part of the pilot scheme process is about learning about how this money will flow. Out of the six models, seven local authorities want a joint pilot scheme. There are all different models of delivery: some are purely school settings and some are school and private settings. So, we are understanding what works best for parents, and, ultimately, that’s what we’re seeking to clarify: what is...
Carl Sargeant: Well, I pay tribute to all the childcare workers across Wales. They do a fantastic job, and I should declare an interest as my wife is one. I would say that they are the best in terms of delivery of services. Can I say the Member is right to raise the issue again? We recognise that rolling this programme out on a measured basis gives us the opportunity for the sector to be developed as well,...
Carl Sargeant: Our focus on prevention is having a positive impact in both Ynys Môn and the rest of Wales. In total, we have prevented 10,300 households from becoming homeless. We are continuing to support services in Ynys Môn to support those who are homeless, rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness.
Carl Sargeant: Well, I agree with the Member’s concerns about how the Supporting People budget helps many homeless people not just in his own constituency, but right across Wales. But there is no guarantee as this point in the budget stages that I can protect Supporting People or other elements of funding in my budget. It’s a very difficult financial settlement we find ourselves in, and I will have to...
Carl Sargeant: Yes, and the Member is right on what he raises around the data collection. What I’ve asked the team to do is look at, specifically, all areas to have some sort of consistency about interpretation and measurement and how that looks. It may be that it is about interpretation of what that looks like to individual reporting. I fear that we have to have more consistency around data and therefore...
Carl Sargeant: I’ve asked all authorities to prepare a cold weather plan for homelessness and rough sleeping to ensure that there are facilities available for trigger points within the winter period. I would also ask the Member to also consider her party’s position on where we are now: about to introduce the ending of the right to buy, which protects social housing stock in Wales. Therefore, it would be...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. Through Help to Buy Wales, the House Builders Engagement Programme and the Wales property development fund, we work closely with the sector to make Wales an attractive place for private developers to build. I will be making an announcement tomorrow about additional support for home builders and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Carl Sargeant: Lesley Griffiths and I meet the Home Builders Federation on a regular basis. We’ve got a meeting very shortly. The Member will have to wait for the details of the scheme, but I hope, when she reads the announcement, she will be encouraged by the content.
Carl Sargeant: I think what would be really useful to the Welsh Government is to have a lift of the borrowing cap on local authorities, which would allow local authorities and others to invest with SMEs to build more properties for our communities, but it’s just a Treasury rule that needs addressing.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. The use of PSP orders is a matter for local authorities, who must consult with their local police force and community representatives.
Carl Sargeant: I think the Member is right to raise the issue. Public spaces protection orders were established under sections 59 to 65 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. They are a matter for local authorities and the police. I would also encourage support from the Member in regard to the devolution of policing. Therefore, we would be able to manage all of these issues from the...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for a very important question. We recognise the vital role foster carers in Wales play in looking after children in care. As part of our Improving Outcomes for Children programme, we are working with partners to deliver a fostering in Wales network.
Carl Sargeant: I’ve got a working group looking at this. As well as the fostering in Wales framework, our work around promoting stable placements includes a review of special guardianship orders, investment in a new model of adoption support through the National Adoption Service, and a task and finish group on children’s residential care. I think this is one of the areas that I don’t think should be...
Carl Sargeant: I would urge the Member to write to me specifically with those cases. I will take them up personally to ensure that we look at them with detailed analysis. Look, these young people who find themselves in a fostering placement or childcare setting are extremely vulnerable, and we should be doing more than what we do currently to make sure that these young people are safe and have resilience...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his question. This year, I have provided £410,000 to help local authorities build capacity and expertise to support the arrival of unaccompanied asylum children in Wales.
Carl Sargeant: I think the Member is right to raise that, and I will ask my team who deal with this particular part of the department to give me reassurances about the finances and how they are distributed and used, particularly regarding the young gentleman that you raise with me. If the Member wishes to write to me with more detail, I’ll give that some more measured thought around my response to that.
Carl Sargeant: I think faith communities play an important role in terms of making sure that we continue to keep a welcome in Wales, and I’m certainly happy to endorse the Member’s comments and thank them personally for the work that they’re doing in our communities.
