Huw Irranca-Davies: Okay. Well, let me turn to the aspect of devolution of welfare or administrative control. We do not support this for reasons of principle and hard-headed practicality. On principle, we believe that we should all be entitled to an equal claim from a welfare state to provide support when needed and to tackle poverty in Swansea and in Swindon, in Bangor but also in Bognor. In practical terms...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I agree that poverty is a scandal whatever level it is at, but I'll turn to some of the practical policies that actually change that as opposed to big words in strategies and what is actually going on. It's without any sense of complacency because we actually need to do more. So, let me first of all say where we can agree. It is our clear moral duty to do all in our power to tackle poverty...
Huw Irranca-Davies: But what we also have, Siân, is a cross-Government programme of raising prosperity for all. You also raised the issue, by the way—. I'm not sure if I have time to—
Huw Irranca-Davies: I will in a moment. Siân, you also raised the issue of the school uniforms grant. Well, the Cabinet Secretary for Education has already made clear her intention to introduce an improved scheme from September 2018—a scheme that will be more flexible, more relevant for the needs of disadvantaged learners. My officials have already been involved in discussions regarding the development of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I will take the intervention.
Huw Irranca-Davies: We're playing around with different datasets here, but those statistics are certain and they're independent and they're proven. However, where we can agree is that it is too high—it is stubbornly high—and we need to use all of the levers in our control to actually bring child poverty down. If I can turn to some of the remarks from Llyr, he, like many others, highlighted the pernicious...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. My apologies for being a bit premature earlier. Can I begin by genuinely welcoming the focus on child poverty within this debate? It's right that we focus on this, because we know that child poverty, unresolved, can diminish the early life of a child and further diminish their life chances as they journey to and through adulthood. Let me just turn, right...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'm happy to intervene. You won't be surprised that I don't know how many times the word 'poverty' is used in that plan, but, actually, the child poverty strategy is still in place and we'll be reporting in 2019, as my predecessor in this role said. Also, the attack on poverty and the raise in prosperity is not only articulated within that plan, but also with the employment plan that we'll be...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you—
Huw Irranca-Davies: Apologies. I move formally. Sorry.
Huw Irranca-Davies: I was ready to go. I was too keen—my apologies.
Huw Irranca-Davies: Formally.
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'm more than happy to write to Suzy with the details of the outcomes of that, but also the wider strategies that we are taking forward for employability. But, of course, there is also a wide range of other measures of support that we can put in place for young adult carers as well, and I know that she will join me—and I'm happy to write to her on that specific issue—in welcoming the...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I think you rightly identify an issue that follows on from the approach that we've taken of co-production, which is supported by all Members here, that, in terms of assessing the needs of carers, it should be something on which we work in collaboration with the individual who is looking to see the right care package—the right package of support and advice for them—but they also, of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Yes, indeed. Thank you for the question, Suzy. It's not the case, actually, that the strategy refresh and review has been derailed. It is under way, but we're not waiting for that either. We're getting on with a range of matters in respect of carers, and not waiting for the carers ministerial advisory group, either, to do it as well. I refer back to the statement that I made previously here,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Jenny. A couple of things in response: first of all, in terms of getting this offer to the people who most need it because, curiously, even though it's focused on working parents, there's almost a universality to it as well, in that we're saying that all working parents should, but we know that there are some working parents who would benefit from this more, and how do we get the...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thanks. Llyr, my apologies. You asked why there's been no formal consultation. This is slightly unusual from a lot of Bills that come forward, in that we're out there in the field doing the stuff at the moment. So, one: it's a technical Bill, so we didn't feel, on balance, that a consultation on the draft was necessary. Instead, we've discussed the Bill, the approach taken with it, with key...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Mark, thank you very much. Probably one of my failings is due to my upbringing: I'm overly polite about what I describe as minor glitches or teething problems, but we are confident—and we have been in discussions with HMRC, both in terms of their tax offer, but also in terms of the childcare offer—that these problems are being ironed out, and will indeed be totally ironed out by the time...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Julie, thank you, and 'yes' to the last question in terms of self-employment when it comes to the detailed design of this, and, of course, the England programme as well. The self-employment aspect has been taken on board. In terms of flexibility within the system, I'm pleased to tell you, Julie, that one of the advantages of using the HMRC system, both for English and Welsh language...
Huw Irranca-Davies: We'll get there. We will get there.
