Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his questions this afternoon. It would be fair to say that, while the reviewers took quite a significant amount of time to make sure that we cover all ground, and the CPR is the final element of that reporting structure, it would also be fair to say that my team, and the Government previously, was already working on opportunities to improve the system. The social care...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Presiding Officer. The publication last week of the child practice review into the death in 2011 of Dylan Seabridge once again brought to our attention the circumstances in which a young boy’s life was cut needlessly short. Dylan was just eight years old and died of an avoidable and treatable vitamin deficiency. He died invisible to the services and professionals who could...
Carl Sargeant: Of course, and I think the Member’s right to raise that issue too. Look, we are talking about some very special people here. The programme we run is When I’m Ready, and making sure that is ready for the individual, not when it’s good for service providers. It’s about real people here—that’s what we’ve got to get underneath. Regardless of the age profile, I think we just need to...
Carl Sargeant: I’m very glad the Member intervened. You know, we’re a victim of our own success. We chase targets far too often without looking at people. And the rights and wrongs of that, with opposition parties and politicians, is that there’s a great chance to chastise people to say, ‘You haven’t made the 5 GCSEs’, when, actually, we’re forgetting about the individual, and particularly...
Carl Sargeant: Indeed, I will.
Carl Sargeant: Of course, David, yes.
Carl Sargeant: Indeed. The Member raises a very valid point, and I have no doubt—. I would be very happy to come back in 12 months, or before if I think there are some issues. I am absolutely committed to making sure that we can do something about this. I’m grateful for the Member’s suggestion. As the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, my priority is to improve the well-being and...
Carl Sargeant: Can I say I’m very pleased to take part in this really important debate that’s been brought by cross-party Members? Can I start my contribution by quoting from the children’s commissioner’s report on the review of children’s rights in residential care, which was launched today, a quote about not lacking anything? Phoebe, aged 13, has been in care since she was six months old, had...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question—a very pointed question. I did mention this earlier on regarding the census programme. I’ve spoken with the Royal British Legion about this, as well, and also the UK Government. There are some issues specifically about identifying ex-service personnel and their whereabouts and where they live. I would just air caution. I completely agree with the...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his comments. First of all, on the funding issue, as I indicated earlier, there is £585,000 to the NHS veterans programme. I listened to the Member very carefully about the increase he’s suggesting and that others have suggested. I will look at that with other colleagues across the Cabinet to see whether there is a better way of delivering services or the complexity...
Carl Sargeant: But I welcome the Member’s contribution. It was really good to see him and many other Members in the north Wales event in Ann Jones’s constituency. More interestingly, Ann Jones in a busby was much more entertaining during the day, but I’m sure there are some photographs to support that, too, Presiding Officer.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his comments. I will make some initial comments, if I may. First of all, on CAIS, I’m very familiar with that organisation which I have visited, along with many other Members, in north Wales. They do an excellent job with the limited amount of funds that they have, but they do it well. In terms of the broader issues the Member raises with Veterans’ NHS Wales, can I...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her thoughtful contribution again. I think it’s a priority of any Government that preventing conflict at all costs is something that we should consider, and I fully support the Member’s views on that. Of course, the armed forces are something that we have and that we should be very proud of, and we should support them through active service and post-service. I’m...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for his very positive comments in his contribution. Indeed, I share the Member’s comments regarding the marking of the centenary of the battle of Jutland and Mametz Wood. Events such as these not only recognise and mark our debt of gratitude to veterans of conflict in our nation’s history, but also remind us of the importance of supporting and honouring our present...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. This is a particularly appropriate time to mark the contribution of our armed forces to the defence of our country and way of life. This year is the centenary of two of the most significant battles of the first world war. The battle of Jutland was a turning point in the war at sea and won at a cost of 8,500 lives. In France, the battle of the Somme was...
Carl Sargeant: Well, as I said earlier, this wasn’t on the basis of introducing new charges; it was a breakdown of the charge that they were already receiving. So, your constituents could be very clear on what they were paying for or not. The process of them being now charged for grass cutting—. They were being charged for grass cutting before, but they probably didn’t know about it. It was bundled in...
Carl Sargeant: That’s a very important question about listening and learning from individuals and their experiences, and as a Minister, I’m very keen to enhance that opportunity. Listening to the views of people with disabilities is important, and I welcome the points you raise through Mia Thorne today. We are also keen to work closely with other organisations to make representations as and when they...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. The Welsh Government has not instructed social landlords to introduce new or additional service charges for their tenants. We have asked social landlords to separate rents and service charges where a renting pool system was applied. This is to increase openness and transparency for their tenants.
Carl Sargeant: I agree with the Member. I am determined to work with him so that we can provide the reassurances he seeks.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. We provide guidance to local authorities on assessing housing need and to enable access to accessible homes and on the design of new social housing.
