Jane Hutt: Well, I find this an extraordinary question, I have to say, Natasha—an extraordinary question—when we have our national health service, which we are proud of, born in Wales, free at the point of access, and delivering day in, day out care and treatment to thousands of people across Wales, including your constituents. Yes, I'm concerned with people who are falling into debt, and falling...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr. We can't underestimate, can we, the financial challenges being faced by so many households across Wales. In fact, today's figures are estimating in the millions—2.5 million again into fuel poverty. What we're doing is targeting financial support to households to help maximise income and avoid falling into debt. But, I mean, clearly, there are issues that also lie very much...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much. Happy St David's Day to you all this afternoon.
Jane Hutt: During the first half of this financial year, 16,553 people accessed our single advice fund services in South Wales East and were helped to have debts totalling £1.1 million written off and to claim additional income of £8.1 million.
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, Mike Hedges, and, yes, can I say how proud we are of Swansea as a city of sanctuary? We have other cities of sanctuary across Wales, including Cardiff, of course, but also, Holywell, I think, is a town of sanctuary. We've got town, community and county councils as well. But also, when I came to Swansea to congratulate the university and Gower College, who are also colleges and...
Jane Hutt: I think it is very important to recognise that 'Cymraeg 2050' is a strong commitment that our language belongs to us all, and we've been very clear that the Welsh Government is fully committed to the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy. It has those aims to reach a million Welsh speakers, but also, equally crucial, doubling daily use of the language. I think my role—I thank you for recognising the...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Heledd Fychan, for your very important questions.
Jane Hutt: I just want to start by commenting on the bank holiday question. Of course, it’s not a devolved matter, but we’ve asked the UK Government on more than one occasion, as colleagues will know, to designate the day as a bank holiday, or give us the power to do so. Unfortunately, so far these requests have been rejected. But it’s important that we recognise what is going to be happening on...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood, and, indeed, this statement is about a community of communities, which we believe Wales is, surely, in every respect, and particularly I think in relation to our commitment to listening, learning and working with our communities in order to achieve the goals and policies that actually meet the needs of our people. That's why, indeed, I started the...
Jane Hutt: I started my statement this afternoon by wishing Members a happy St David's Day. Cymraeg and Dydd Gŵyl Dewi belong to us all, and I really do mean that. It belongs to each and every one of us and each and every community across Wales. Let us all celebrate St David's Day, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, in all of our own unique ways, and let us continue to make Wales a community of communities. Thank you,...
Jane Hutt: Llywydd, the work that has been already achieved in this area fills me with pride, and I know that many exciting projects are also in the pipeline, but we mustn’t be complacent, as I know we will still have much work to do. We recently saw how sport can also play a role in achieving our aims. The Football Association for Wales has successfully ignited the nation’s pride and reignited the...
Jane Hutt: I would also like to highlight the work of Mudiad Meithrin, who recently launched its AwDUra scheme. This project empowers and enables black, Asian and minority ethnic people to write children's literature in Welsh to address the under-representation of ethnic minority communities in Welsh literature. We are also currently working with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Cardiff and Vale...
Jane Hutt: All our current strategies and action plans in the area of equality and social justice consider the Welsh language within the design and delivery of policy, in the same way that 'Cymraeg 2050' should complement our social justice ambitions. In recent years, the Welsh Government has undertaken substantial action to progress equality, and some of our most notable work includes: launching the...
Jane Hutt: A more equal Wales; a Wales of cohesive communities; and a Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language.
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Dirprwy Llywydd. Let me wish everyone a happy St David's Day.
Jane Hutt: For many years, the Welsh Government has proudly celebrated Dydd Gŵyl Dewi on the international stage by taking Wales to the world and amplifying everything that's magnificent about our country. This year, we continue that tradition, and in addition to celebrating St David's Day internationally, we recognise the importance of celebrating and marking the day here in Wales too. As a result of...
