Jane Hutt: I thank Dawn Bowden not only for her question, but also for that excellent example, and would also like to celebrate that local success. Wales is a warm and welcoming country, and that’s exemplified by the Heddlu Bach initiative in Fochriw and the involvement of those schools. It’s a Mini Police scheme, and it’s something that we need to share across Wales, but it’s the young people...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to thank Bethan Sayed for bringing forward this short debate today. Being sworn in as an Assembly Member is one of the most important moments in our political careers. We can remember the times. I think there are nine of us who've actually been through this; three—four, five—in the Chamber today. Four of us who've been in...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm pleased to open this debate on the twentieth anniversary of this Assembly to tackle racism, to root out racist ideology and review our commitment to the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. I thank Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives for making this a joint motion to unite us today in the commitments...
Jane Hutt: Let us be in no doubt, everyday racism, structural racism and racially motivated crimes are still each and every day having a profound impact on the lives and life outcomes of people in Wales. It's unacceptable that many BAME people in this country have come to the conclusion that they just need to tolerate everyday racism. In 2017, the British social attitudes survey evidenced that a quarter...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you very much to all Members participating in this debate for your insights, your reflections and your commitment. And I think it is the commitment that has come across today, which shows we have really got to drive this agenda. We are seeking cross-party support for taking action on race issues. We have to demonstrate the Welsh...
Jane Hutt: You can certainly have my assurance on that; it is an opportunity. We have had a seminar on how we can incorporate rights, and, of course, it's building on the work that Jeremy Miles did last year, and I will certainly give you that commitment. Just finally, drawing to a conclusion, I think this is an opportunity. We've talked a lot about education and, in fact, taking on board all of the...
Jane Hutt: The Welsh Government is committed to making our communities safer. Last week, I spoke at the serious and organised crime strategy launch in Wales, and welcomed the contribution of the police, local government and third sector, working together with Welsh Government, to improve community safety.
Jane Hutt: I thank the Member for the question, because on 25 March, following the horrific events in New Zealand, I did write to all our faith communities—in fact, to all the imams across Wales—about protective security at places of worship. What was important was that I enabled those who were affected to liaise with me and officials to see how we could support them, and I drew attention to the...
Jane Hutt: The Welsh Government will continue its long-standing commitment to fund advice services to ensure there is free, impartial and quality assured advice available for those who need it. This recognises the vital role advice services play in improving the health and well-being of people across our communities.
Jane Hutt: I thank David Rees for that question because the value to advice providers of longer term grant funding is recognised, particularly in these uncertain and challenging times. And we are clearly maintaining our commitment to the funding of provision of advice services. In fact, funding of around £8.5 million a year, including £2.45 million for the financial levy, and also, in addition to...
Jane Hutt: I thank Mark Isherwood for that question because you have referred to my written statement on 24 April. This took forward the implementation plan from the information advice and action plan, which we published back in 2016, and there were 19 actions in that in order to make sure that we can make best use of advice services funding. And I think, as you say, in terms of better collaboration,...
Jane Hutt: A recently published Welsh Government report refers to analysis commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This shows there is a disproportionate negative impact of the tax and welfare reforms of the UK Government since 2010 on the incomes of several protected groups, including disabled people, certain ethnic groups, and women.
Jane Hutt: I certainly do agree with the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. And today we have seen this inquiry being announced—the Institute for Fiscal Studies inquiry being announced—into inequalities in the twenty-first century. He's already said in the first publication that the UK has a higher level of inequality than many other developed countries. That's shocking for us here in the UK, in...
Jane Hutt: Suzy Davies, that is a very important scheme. And we are working with the UK Government, and the department of employment particularly, looking at ways in which we can encourage increased awareness and take-up of that scheme by employers. It's very much a key point that I am discussing with the Minister for Economy and Transport. Because this is about employability, and particularly...
Jane Hutt: Clearly, we mitigate against the impacts of poverty and the UK Government's damaging welfare reform programme. I've recently announced, and it's very relevant to the IFS inquiry, that we're going to commence Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010—the socioeconomic duty—by the end of this calendar year, and once that's implemented, this duty will mean that public bodies must consider what they...
Jane Hutt: The independent Future Generations Commissioner for Wales role was established to provide advice to Government and public bodies on contributing to the well-being goals. We have taken, and will continue to take into account, the views of the commissioner in the decisions we take.
Jane Hutt: The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is helping us to drive a renewed focus on how the Welsh Government works to improve and engage with the diversity of the population of Wales, and it's important that we work closely with it in terms of implementation of the Act through supporting organisations and, indeed, in sharing best practice across Wales. Of course, the First...
Jane Hutt: The scourge of domestic abuse and violence is intolerable. That's why the Welsh Government introduced legislation and funds services for prevention, protection and support. We are working to making Wales the safest place for women in Europe.
Jane Hutt: This is an example of good practice that I know will be shared by the chief constables and the police and crime commissioners. In fact, I'm chairing the policing board on Thursday of this week, and I'm sure that this will be brought to our attention, because it does provide an opportunity for the police and services to work together in delivering on our national strategy on violence against...
Jane Hutt: I thank Jack Sargeant for that question, because the Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that we have all the services available that are needed for those seeking support because of domestic abuse and violence. Clearly, we are driving this as a result of our national strategy following the Act, and that has led to a more strategic and needs-led approach to commissioning and delivering...
