Jane Hutt: I thank Darren Millar for raising your support and the fact that your group is going to consider this definition. I did say in response to the question that we are working on this with colleagues in the Scottish Government, because I think this is something where we are taking responsibility. But we, very fortunately, have got a faith communities forum here in Wales, and it's good that today,...
Jane Hutt: I thank Leanne Wood for bringing this question to enable us to be very clear about our position. The Welsh Government is unequivocally opposed to Islamophobia and all forms of religious hate crime. It is back to our positions of power that we must take responsibility. It's sad in a way, in terms of the situation that emerged in terms of the UK Government, because in fact it was an all-party...
Jane Hutt: At the faith communities forum this morning, the First Minister highlighted the Welsh Government's consideration of the definition of Islamophobia. We're in discussions with Scottish Government, with a view to adopting the definition. Those of us in positions of power need to stand up for people being stigmatised or abused.
Jane Hutt: Thank you to Jenny Rathbone for those crucial points and questions. I'm glad that you've drawn attention to Jean Corston's seminal report on this issue, on the vulnerabilities of women in the criminal justice system 12 years ago. Yourself and Julie Morgan and Julie James, and others across the Chamber—Leanne Wood and others—have raised these issues in terms of how we can take this...
Jane Hutt: I thank Alun Davies very much for his questions and for his continued commitment to moving forward. I've paid tribute to the work that you undertook. I remember always Alun Davies has demonstrated his commitment to this policy area, and it is his commitment to this policy area that has helped bring us to this point where I can announce not only blueprints for young people, youth justice and...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Leanne Wood, also clearly speaking with your experience, coming to this Assembly with that experience and speaking up on these justice issues, and also recognising that the points that you have made today are very valid in terms of how we take forward the implementation of these blueprints. I also, in terms of the probation service and the fact that there was widespread...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood. Thank you for those questions. And can I acknowledge your experience and interest in this field? In fact, I know, Mark, you've been involved in former committee inquiries in this Assembly and take a close interest, of course, in your region in terms of these services. I think your comment on the Wales Governance Centre findings are key to addressing these...
Jane Hutt: We are working jointly with the Ministry of Justice to deliver improvements in a number of areas, for instance through our shared plan for prison health and well-being and the mental health crisis concordat, and the justice blueprints themselves. Over recent months, I have held a number of meetings with Edward Argar, Under-Secretary of State for Justice, former Minister for Prisons, Rory...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. People who enter the criminal justice system in Wales are often some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society. Too frequently, people are caught up in the criminal justice system because they have been failed earlier in their lives, suffering multiple adverse childhood experiences. Sometimes, these experiences continue well into their adult lives. The...
Jane Hutt: Well, yes, and I think that's something, again, where we have invested in apprenticeships, which have been the right pathway for many young people, and sometimes those apprenticeships also can lead to further and higher education beyond the time of that apprenticeship, and making those apprenticeships open and accessible as well as being funded is crucially important. We've got to make sure...
Jane Hutt: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I'd like to also thank Lynne for bringing forward this debate today. I do recognise the case that Lynne has made very powerfully this afternoon with regard to the compulsory education age. I think it's important, of course, to emphasise the Government's commitment, as you already have recognised, Lynne, to genuine lifelong learning and the...
Jane Hutt: I thank Alun Davies for that question. In fact, I also thank Andrew R.T. Davies for the question, because I think it was important that I could come here and answer the question, because it should be a matter of public debate. This is about scrutiny, after all, of our legislation, legislation that we passed, and I completely agree with Alun Davies and with his experience in terms of...
Jane Hutt: I thank Jack Sargeant for flying the flag today with a concrete example of how this legislation is being used by Coleg Cambria and how—. These are early days, and we need these examples of case studies of how the public sector is embracing this. I said I'd met with the third sector today. They are embracing it; they see that, particularly in terms of the five ways of working, involvement...
Jane Hutt: I welcome the fact that Suzy Davies has commented on the advice that was given by the future generations commissioner—advice and guidance in terms of her powers, and the opportunities particularly to engage with those affected by those decisions about those particular school closures. I think we have to recognise that whatever the situation is, this legislation was never set up to bypass...
Jane Hutt: I'm very grateful to Mick Antoniw, the former Counsel General and esteemed lawyer, and I'm glad it was you as the Member who responded and put the record straight in terms of the impact of this legal judgment. As I said, it's an interpretation of the law and interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts. And, again, I don't wish to return to this, but Members can read that judgment...
Jane Hutt: I'm very grateful for the Member's comments on this, and I do fully remember his engagement and his party's engagement in these discussions. You're quite right, this is about the cultural change and the leadership that is required to ensure that we do deliver on our sustainable development principle. In fact, if you look in the Act, it says quite clearly: 'any reference to a public body doing...
Jane Hutt: This Assembly passed this pioneering, world-breaking well-being of future generations Act, and also it has already had a powerful impact in terms of examples in the way that the well-being of future generations Act is driving a renewed focus on how we can improve and engage with the diverse population of Wales. I'll give you some examples, really important examples. For example, in terms of...
Jane Hutt: —but I think that the well-being of future generations Act is already standing up to the test, and I would very much like to actually organise a meeting with, not only the Member, but all Members, to update on the impact of the future generations commissioner's work and the well-being of future generations Act.
Jane Hutt: The well-being of future generations Act is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, now and into the future. Of course, the interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts, but the Act does provide for enhanced scrutiny, not just of the Welsh Government through the powers of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales—an independent...
Jane Hutt: The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act contains binding legal obligations and is driving a positive change in how public bodies make and implement decisions that affect the people of Wales and our environment now and in the future.
