Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Jack Sargeant. Thank you for raising this topical question and for consistently raising these issues over the past months and indeed years in terms of the plight of people in fuel poverty, forced now, more recently, onto prepayment meters without permission—shocking behaviour by suppliers. I just want to say that I will meet with you. I want to meet with you to hear...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Mark Isherwood. I think from what you're saying you are also sympathetic to this call that the UK Government should not increase the guarantee to £3,000. Yesterday, Grant Shapps, the UK Government's energy security Secretary, said that he was sympathetic to calls for cancelling the rise. Of course, sympathy isn't enough. He and the Chancellor must now act to protect the most...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much. I was very pleased that this was subject to scrutiny and inquiry on Monday by the Equality and Social Justice Committee. Can I again just confirm that there will be no gap in terms of the transition from one to another in terms of the Warm Homes programme? And can I also thank you for your support for the calls that we've been making, and I know that you have supported...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Jenny Rathbone. On that question, I’ve met with energy suppliers on a number of occasions, as you know. I’ve raised this issue about ways in which they need to reach out to ensure those vouchers do reach those on PPMs. I mean, everybody else got their £400, and those who are most vulnerable were not getting their £400. I got assurances that they were going to be...
Jane Hutt: Our third sector support Wales grant provides core funding to the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and county voluntary councils across Wales to provide a third sector support infrastructure. Organisations can access a range of support. This includes help with managing volunteers, improving governance and finding appropriate sources of funding.
Jane Hutt: I met with the Ofgem board on 8 February and expressed grave concerns surrounding the large volume of court warrants issued from magistrates’ courts, also seeking assurance Ofgem have sufficient powers to protect households. I am due to meet Ofgem again next month.
Jane Hutt: I am proud of the approach we have taken to providing sanctuary to so many people in Wales. Supporting move-on to longer term accommodation is a critical part of our humanitarian response. We have a package of measures in place to enable move-on and to support housing supply.
Jane Hutt: Commissioners are accounting officers responsible for managing their allocated funds. The commissioner’s statutory estimates and annual reports are scrutinised by Ministers and the Senedd and are subject to internal and external audit to ensure public funds are managed appropriately. Our memorandum of understanding underpins our regular engagement with the commissioner.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Peredur Owen Griffiths, and diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, for your comments as well. This is a devastating tragedy, and my thoughts remain with the families and the friends of the young people involved in the crash on the A48. This will be an extraordinarily difficult time for all affected by this terrible incident. I understand that both Gwent and South Wales Police forces have...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much for that question. It is a situation where, with such an extremely tragic case, we just look on this and hope that we can do everything to support the families and friends of those who are affected. Can we just say, also, that we send our wishes, I know, across this Chamber, to those who were seriously injured in the crash? We hope that they make a full recovery. Can I say...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Andrew R.T. Davies. Clearly, in my response, I said that all of the circumstances around this terrible tragedy will be looked at by the Independent Office for Police Complaints. We know that South Wales Police is continuing to investigate this fatal road traffic collision on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff. Clearly, therefore, all of the circumstances around this will be...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Jayne Bryant, and really acknowledging what this means to you and your community, the people who you represent in Maesglas and across south Wales, but particularly for those families so tragically affected. And that was acknowledged and it was expressed in that vigil, wasn't it? This is something that is going to be with us in Wales, in the communities, and, indeed, in...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you for bringing forward the debate this afternoon. We stand with all our international communities who must watch and see their people, and as you say, it's people—family and friends—go through suffering. We show solidarity as individuals, as communities, and as friends with those who still suffer persecution every single day. The Welsh...
Jane Hutt: So, once again, thank you very much, Llyr Gruffydd.
Jane Hutt: Thank you for tabling this motion today.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome today's debate on prepayment meters. It's a national scandal the way consumers, often the poorest in our communities, have been treated. Jack Sargeant has been at the forefront of the campaign to expose this scandal, and the Welsh Government not only welcomes, but supports this motion today. I thank all the Members who've spoken today and contributed....
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Jenny Rathbone. Clearly, there has been a change in the budget last week in terms of the premium. I’m clarifying what exactly that means, because it’s no good going back to the voucher situation, which you raised so rightly earlier on. Unless that premium is levelled and it is actually reflected in the cost, then that will not be good enough, and I will raise that on...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much for your question. We are doing everything within our powers to prevent poverty and mitigate its impact on the citizens of Ynys Môn and the whole of Wales. This financial year, we have provided support worth £1.6 billion, through programmes that help families experiencing hardship and that protect disadvantaged households.
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Rhun ap Iorwerth. Of course, this is crucial. In these times of challenging costs of living, projections for those who'll be plunged into poverty aren't forgiving, and people are facing incredibly difficult decisions. As you say, in terms of the funding allocation from the UK Government—the powers and levers, of course, so much lie with the UK Government—it's insufficient,...
Jane Hutt: I thank the Member for that important question, following that announcement last week. Clearly, we have a strong economic mission to transform the Welsh economy, and that will create a stronger but fairer, as well as greener, future. But just to recognise, as you do, the announcement last week was enabling us to proceed to the next stage of the process, and it builds on significant...
