Luke Fletcher: 1. What priorities does the Minister take into account when allocating funding to the social justice portfolio? OQ57577
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Could I echo what Jane Dodds has said in thanking Members for their engagement on the issue of greyhound welfare, including the Minister as well on her engagement? It truly has been cross-party. Following on from Jane's question, if plans go ahead at the Valley track in Ystrad Mynach, the intensification of racing will lead to more greyhounds being injured or fatally injured. Whilst I welcome...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As I'm sure many Members will raise, this statement is, indeed, timely; it almost feels like a daily news story these days that bank branches are shutting up shop in our towns and villages across Wales. Between 2015 and 2019, Wales lost over two fifths of its bank branches—that's 239 branches altogether. In my region of South Wales West, for example, in my home...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that response, First Minister.
Luke Fletcher: In the first instance, I think it's important to reiterate actually what the First Minister has said in recognising that actually keeping EMA in place in Wales is providing much needed support for learners, and I welcome the commitment to protect EMA in the programme for government. But I was wondering whether or not the Government will be reviewing EMA, specifically the amount that's paid to...
Luke Fletcher: 8. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of the education maintenance allowance? OQ57390
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Yet again, we have another debate tabled around poverty, a long-standing issue for this Senedd, and there are known and undeniable links between poverty and food insecurity. Given that almost a quarter of people in Wales are in poverty, it is no surprise that food insecurity is a prominent issue facing many households in Wales. There are, of course, positive actions on...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that response, First Minister.
Luke Fletcher: Recently, I met with the future generations commissioner to discuss both a universal basic income and a four-day working week, and I was interested to hear that her office had been contacted by several businesses in Wales seeking support to pilot a four-day working week. I understand that the Welsh Government is seeking to learn from pilots elsewhere in the world, but given that there are a...
