Jane Hutt: Well, I'm very pleased to have regular meetings with the older people's commissioner. In fact, I met with the older people's commissioner only a few weeks ago, and the topics that she wanted to raise with me were ways in which we could improve older people's rights in Wales, and we discussed a range of ways in which we can do that. She was very pleased that we said that we were going to not...
Jane Hutt: This is a question that—. Indeed, the First Minister responded to these questions yesterday, and, of course, all these issues will be dealt with by the independent inquiry.
Jane Hutt: Thank you for that very helpful question. The Welsh Government funds crucial advice and advocacy services for people seeking sanctuary. In fact, just recently, a Welsh Refugee Council-led consortium has been awarded funding for the sanctuary seekers support service, and this is a successor service to the asylum rights programme, which we funded over the last three years. But we've also got...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Joel, for your question. Through our team Wales approach, services are in place to support refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan. And our nation of sanctuary plan sets out the actions we are taking to integrate all people seeking sanctuary in Wales.
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much for your important question.
Jane Hutt: In fact, Digital Communities Wales is supporting Citizens Online's community renewal funded project—you're probably aware of it, Mabon—Gwynedd Ddigidol, which does focus on supporting people with employment-related basic digital skills. Also, recognising that telecommunications is not devolved to Wales—we commented on this yesterday—but we continue to deliver improvements in digital...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Natasha Asghar. That's a very important question as well. Interestingly, we do know through our national survey for Wales that rural and urban aren't necessarily the underlying cause for digital exclusion—93 per cent of people in both rural and urban areas use the internet. But, as you say, in terms of digital inclusion and access to health, it's important to also acknowledge...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Carolyn Thomas, for your important question as North Wales regional Member. The Welsh Government website www.gov.wales/broadband-in-Wales does contain useful information to help guide people through the process of improving digital connectivity, including the range of options available. It's crucial now that we maximise our understanding and awareness of that, as you say,...
Jane Hutt: Our digital inclusion and health programme, Digital Communities Wales, supports organisations across all communities and sectors to help people maximise the opportunities digital can offer. And over 91,000 people have received support for basic digital skills, motivation and confidence, which can help them gain employment, access services and support well-being.
Jane Hutt: The Welsh Government has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism in full and without qualification. Through our action plan for an anti-racist Wales, the Welsh Government will take concerted action to tackle antisemitism. The plan will be published next month.
Jane Hutt: The Welsh Government has led the way in promoting children's rights of all children regardless of any protected characteristics. We are committed to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and, as such, aim to ensure disabled children have equality of opportunity.
Jane Hutt: We need to make that absolutely clear, as you say, Huw Irranca-Davies. And we have made this clear in this Chamber. I have to say that we had a moment of consensus earlier on, in response to the opening speech, when Darren Millar said that he did welcome the fact that we were looking at how we could incorporate UN conventions into Welsh law. And I recall responding to your debate—we've had...
Jane Hutt: Llywydd, if adopted, the Nationality and Borders Act 'would seriously undermine the protection of the human rights of trafficked persons, including children, increase risks of exploitation faced by all migrants and asylum seekers, and lead to serious human rights violations.' 'The bill fails to acknowledge the Government's obligation to ensure protection for migrant and asylum seeking...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan, and I thank you for raising that important issue as well. The horrors—it's night after night we've seen it, the horrors of the crimes, the war crimes and the rape of women. This is something that is crucially important, that we're able to support, but also get the evidence. This is something that the Counsel General is taking up as well in terms of ensuring...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Huw Irranca-Davies. And I think that's another important reason why I need to come with my statements here, as regularly as the Llywydd and the Senedd allow me to, because we need to have that feedback. I need to have that feedback, as I've had today. All the words that have been used, 'shambolic', 'disgraceful'—it's not just a deeply moral and ethical point, it's...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Sioned. This is one of the points about meeting together, which we have done regularly over the last few weeks, myself and the Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, and Neil Gray, MSP, the Minister in the Scottish Government, because both myself and the Scottish Government Minister are in common cause here in saying, which we actually said right from the word go, that,...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Mark. I think it's important that the weekly figures that are given on a Thursday—in fact, I quoted 27 April—are figures that are shared on a four-nation basis. So, as I said in my statement, I can again confirm that 2,300 visas have been issued to people via the Homes for Ukraine scheme, those people who have got matched arrangements, family sponsorship, and have a...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you for the opportunity, once again, to provide an update to Members on our ongoing work to support people from Ukraine who continue to flee this most cruel war in the hope of finding sanctuary. With each day that passes, we hear more and more harrowing stories including, at the weekend, when a small number of civilians were evacuated from the...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. This is a small but important piece of legislation, and it's been really helpful to have this debate in moving this LCM—an opportunity to discuss the importance of BSL. Thank you to Jenny Rathbone on behalf of the Equality and Social Justice Committee, and also to Huw Irranca-Davies from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee—we note your comments as...
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion and I'm happy to propose this motion and explain why I believe the Senedd should agree it. For many people in Wales, British Sign Language is the language they use in everyday life, but we know that for many they have been disabled because public services do not or fail to communicate with them through British Sign Language. For the deaf community, language...
