Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Touching on the workers' fines for the moment, if you look at the memorandum of understanding for these regulations and the statement published by the Government on the seventeenth and today it's clear that the Government believes that the relationship between worker and employer is balanced. Thinking that responsibility is shared between employer and worker, with all...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you to the Minister for bringing forward this budget.
Luke Fletcher: Firstly, as Members are aware, I'm extremely proud of what the co-operation agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government seeks to achieve, especially when it comes to free school meals. Extending free school meals to all primary school pupils is the first step to achieving universal free school meals, and that will go a long way to ensuring that kids from all backgrounds are...
Luke Fletcher: It won't come as a surprise to the Minister that I have deep concerns relating to the fines on workers in regulation No. 23, and I’m not alone, of course—as Rhun ap Iorwerth highlighted, the TUC and other Members have raised concerns. As I set out when the Senedd was recalled, the Government’s memorandum of understanding shows quite clearly that the Government believes that the...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I share the Minister's concerns over the UK Government making spending decisions in devolved areas, in particular the fact that the spend seems to happen in particular seats held by a particular party. It's another example to add to the mounting evidence that the UK Government's rampant unionism threatens the autonomy of the Senedd. Moving to the statement, we know...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd. We know that people and workers in Wales are currently living through a cost-of-living crisis, which is only set to get worse. The UK inflation rate is currently at 5.4 per cent—the highest rate in 30 years—with increases expected to continue, peaking at 6 per cent in spring 2022. These high inflation rates are considerably higher than current wage growth, which has been...
Luke Fletcher: Of course. There are, of course, many things that can be done to address, specifically, workers' well-being and pay during this cost-of-living crisis, all of which requires swift and decisive actions from Government, not just in Cardiff, but also in Westminster. Of course, the Minister will be aware of my and a number of cross-party colleagues' support for universal basic income, and I'm sure...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you to all Members who have contributed to this afternoon's debate and to the Minister for responding.
Luke Fletcher: As we close this debate, I think it's worth noting and reiterating a point Jayne Bryant made, that the daily struggles due to the cost of living are not something new, this is something that has been in the works for a decade or more. But, what we are seeing now is an amplification of those struggles, a struggle that should never exist in the first place. That amplification will lead to...
Luke Fletcher: I thank the Minister and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Luke Fletcher: We have seen the inconsistent and poor use of joint ministerial committees, which were supposed to enhance co-operation between the UK and devolved Governments, but were mostly, in my cynical opinion, just a box-ticking exercise. I am concerned that many of the forums established through the withdrawal agreement and the trade and co-operation agreement will see Wales's role either...
Luke Fletcher: 1. What priorities does the Minister take into account when allocating funding to the social justice portfolio? OQ57577
Luke Fletcher: Thank you, Minister, and of course, as a member of Plaid Cymru, it's a subject of pride to see a number of policies that Plaid Cymru and others have been campaigning for to tackle poverty being implemented in the Government in the wake of the co-operation agreement.
Luke Fletcher: Further to the First Minister's answer to me on the topic of tackling poverty and the role the education maintenance allowance can play, on 14 December, I noted that he estimated that the total cost of increasing EMA payments to £45, as well as increasing the threshold to make it easier for people to access, would cost roughly £10 million. Of course, I recognise the constraints on Welsh...
Luke Fletcher: I have a few points to make. Firstly, the co-operation agreement and what it sets out to achieve is something that I am actually quite proud of, especially when it comes to free school meals. And it has to be said, to say that the budget doesn't deliver at all for people in Wales is quite out of touch. Is it perfect? No. But, take it from somebody who was on free school meals, that policy...
Luke Fletcher: No matter your economic theories or beliefs, I think it's difficult to argue that Wales doesn't have an extractive economy. There are historic and contemporary trends of economic extraction and exploitation of Welsh resources by outside interests. The coal industry is a perfect historical example of that resource extraction. Wales powered the world, the first £1 million cheque signed around...
Luke Fletcher: I have two statements I wish to call for. Firstly, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting everyone hard, and on a recent visit to the Anthony's family farm in Aberkenfig I learnt just how much the crisis is hitting farmers. They detailed how inflation has taken the price of fertiliser, for example, from £8,000 to £18,000 a year, with similar trends across many of the utilities and equipment...
Luke Fletcher: In a recent labour market update, the unemployment figures for Swansea West were roughly three times the national average, at 10.3 per cent. One in 10 people in our second largest city are currently without employment. This situation becomes even more stark when you factor in that youth unemployment is typically higher than regular unemployment. The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds in...
Luke Fletcher: Will the Minister provide an update on funding for mental health services in South Wales West?
Luke Fletcher: Thank you to Sarah Murphy for bringing forward this question.
