Jane Hutt: During the first half of this financial year, 16,553 people accessed our single advice fund services in South Wales East and were helped to have debts totalling £1.1 million written off and to claim additional income of £8.1 million.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr. We can't underestimate, can we, the financial challenges being faced by so many households across Wales. In fact, today's figures are estimating in the millions—2.5 million again into fuel poverty. What we're doing is targeting financial support to households to help maximise income and avoid falling into debt. But, I mean, clearly, there are issues that also lie very much...
Jane Hutt: Well, I find this an extraordinary question, I have to say, Natasha—an extraordinary question—when we have our national health service, which we are proud of, born in Wales, free at the point of access, and delivering day in, day out care and treatment to thousands of people across Wales, including your constituents. Yes, I'm concerned with people who are falling into debt, and falling...
Jane Hutt: Thank you for your question. 'Llwybr Newydd' and our response to the roads review set out a vision for a transport system that is good for society, the environment and the economy. Our national transport delivery plan is aligned with the programme for government, promoting prosperity and tackling poverty.
Jane Hutt: Thank you for that question. I would like to refer to the comments that were made by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change when he gave his statement last week. He did say, and we recognise, that as people drive more, fewer people use public transport, resulting in fewer services being viable, leaving people with even fewer alternatives. And this, in terms of tackling poverty and inequality,...
Jane Hutt: Clearly, this is an issue where across Government, working with my colleague the Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, we are leading on this all-important issue with our Warm Homes programme, which, of course, is now moving into an iteration for its next development, which will be about a demand-led approach. And, of course, that will help to address these issues. I'm glad that you've...
Jane Hutt: Well, I'm sure all of those you've engaged with in north Wales, including local authorities, will have contributed to the latest consultation on the Welsh housing quality standard. The Welsh housing quality standard has been very important in terms of the standards in social housing, which you will recognise across Wales have been second to none. But it has had to be revised and reviewed in...
Jane Hutt: Indeed, Mark Isherwood, I think you would have appreciated the discussion and scrutiny that I had on Monday at the Equality and Social Justice Committee about these very issues and the assurance I gave that there would be no gap between the Warm Homes schemes in terms of the existing scheme and the one that will move forward, which will be procured by the end of the year. And, of course, it...
Jane Hutt: We are reviewing the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments submitted by local authorities, and we'll be working with them and our Gypsy and Traveller communities to support plans to address the current shortfall and help overcome any barriers, which may be impeding progress.
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Jenny Rathbone, for your question and for your leadership on this issue, which is crucial, as chair of the cross-party group and also Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee. Can I also thank the Llywydd for hosting this inspiring event this afternoon as well, where we heard from refugees, the Welsh Refugee Council speakers and Ukrainian guests and friends? And...
Jane Hutt: Well, I am shocked by that question, I have to say. Yes, you weren't here in 2014, and I appreciate that Gareth Davies. We had legislation passed by this Assembly, passed by your Members, requiring every local authority in Wales to prepare a Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessment. That's what they need to do, and where there are shortcomings and where they are not available, I will be...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Rhys ab Owen. Crime and justice matters are reserved to the UK Government, but we are committed to working with the police and other partner organisations to promote community safety across Cardiff and Wales as a whole. This includes our commitment to funding police community support officers to keep our streets safe.
Jane Hutt: Well, I am proud of the achievements and indeed the manifesto commitments of this Welsh Labour party, which led to us committing funding to maintain our 500 police community support officers and increasing their number by 100. I know that the work that we've done and the work that we're doing indeed, even though policing isn't devolved yet, with our neighbourhood policing teams, with our...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Joel James, for raising this. Incel ideologies are having a corrosive impact on our young people and our male population, where the ideologies that have led to the horrors that you've described, Joel James, need to be addressed. I think this is where Rhys ab Owen's question is important, because it is, 'How are we going to develop these relationships?', which I believe...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Jenny, for that follow-on question, because we have been engaged with UK Government counterparts as that Bill has progressed through Parliament. It's now back on track, I understand. The UK Government is progressing the Online Safety Bill again, and particularly—and the point you make is so key—regarding the enhanced protections it proposes for our children. But I...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr. Misogyny and sexual misconduct have no place in the police service. It's essential for North Wales Police to continue their urgent work to identify those officers who do not live up to the values the public rightly expect, and to take decisive action.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr. That is such an important question for us this afternoon. Although policing isn't devolved—it's the responsibility of the UK Government—we are engaging, as you say, Mabon, in every way we can, to work with the police, to influence the policies and delivery and, indeed, to fund large sections of the delivery of community safety in Wales in particular, and in our schools. It...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Janet Finch-Saunders. Thank you for raising these points following on from that question from Mabon this afternoon. I think it is really important that North Wales Police have taken the lead. At the board that I co-chaired with police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn, Amanda Blakeman, who is new to the role, was absolutely clear that she was going to be rigorous...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Heledd. The Welsh Government’s current £420 million package of support includes the Warm Homes programme, which improves the energy efficiency of lower income households. Eligible low-income households are also benefiting from our £200 Welsh Government fuel support scheme and our Fuel Bank Foundation vouchers for those experiencing fuel crisis.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. I think it is important to recognise that we are facing—. For people in fuel poverty, from 1 April, they're facing incredibly difficult and uncertain times, but these are people who are already in fuel poverty. I do want to just address some of the issues about my meeting my Ofgem, but I do also just want to say, in terms of what we're doing, as you request, I...
