Jane Hutt: Eligible disabled students in Wales can access up to £31,831 of the non-repayable disabled students allowance grant to support them to access higher education. This amount is increasing to £32,546 for the academic year 2022/23.
Jane Hutt: .... I am very proud that we have the most generous childcare offer scheme in the UK, and it was extended last week by the Deputy Minister for Social Services, to reach out to parents who are in education and training. Also, I am delighted, and I'm sure that this went forward this morning—. I understand that, as a result of our co-operation agreement, there was the delivering of a phased...
Jane Hutt: Thank you, Vikki Howells. I'm really pleased that you have drawn attention to the latest announcement on 14 March by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language as regards the pupil development grant access grant, because this was part of our £330 million announcement. It will be raised, and I can share this now across the Chamber again, by £100 per learner—the Minister has made a...
Jane Hutt: Diolch yn fawr. That's also a very important question, because the delivery of free school breakfasts was a proud day when we announced that so many years back now, and it was a free school breakfast scheme that was to be available in every school in Wales. I am aware of some schools that had already got their own schemes. Obviously, that has to be organised between local authorities and...
Jane Hutt: ...to that allocated for the Afghan resettlement scheme—£10,500 per beneficiary person. For individual sponsors, we've heard, obviously, of the £350 per month, thank you, and also a tariff for education costs as well, varying depending on the age group, and primary/secondary as well. So, there's quite a lot of detail coming through. We are working, as I said, with our colleagues in the...
Jane Hutt: ...in our programme for government. We've got our strategic action plan on period dignity as a result of consultation, and I do chair a round-table with external stakeholders, including those from the education, school and colleges sector. And indeed, we have provided an additional £110,000 to local authorities this year, but that's over and above the £3.3 million to local authorities and...
Jane Hutt: ..., the lead police and crime commissioner this year, but with the support of all the PCCs. And also to deliver that strategy, it's vitally important that we have our relationships and sexuality education, which is a key route to ending violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Jane Hutt: ...as her daughters and granddaughters said on the day. But also, that is a place to visit; a bit like the Aneurin Bevan statue in Queen Street, now the Betty Campbell statue is a place for children, schools and young people to visit. In fact, the school who sang at the opening, from just along the way here in Butetown, just state that they're so proud of the fact that they were there and...
Jane Hutt: .... That's going to be critically important to your family, and I'm sure it has been to every family in this Chamber, that the childcare offer, which is now expanding to focus on those parents in education and training, will just mean a greater number of families and women will be able to benefit from improved employment prospects, keeping in their jobs and careers to move forward. But I'm...
Jane Hutt: ...which we will address the changing landscape for women in Wales, and our programme for government prioritises implementation of key aspects of this plan. We will fund childcare for more parents in education and training and on the edge of work, and the childcare offer gives parents, in particular women, more choice and greater ability to have both a family and a career. This is...
Jane Hutt: ...further, with the introduction of fast-track public spaces protection orders. This provision would mean local authorities would be able to expedite public spaces protection orders in relation to schools or sites within their area used as vaccination and testing centres if they've been subject to protests or demonstrations. But, Llywydd, let me be clear, some of the incidents that have been...
Jane Hutt: ...doing work. It should not be, going back to the points that were made earlier on, about just being able to get them in the foodbank if you're in that situation. They have got to be available in our schools, and we've got to think of school holidays as well. We can think of this in terms of the school day, actually, and access to this—it's an important part of the consultation. I think...
Jane Hutt: .... We did discuss the fact that, again, reusable products like Mooncups, cloth pads, period pants and reusable tampon applicators could—. They wanted to discuss it, but this has to be a whole-school thing. This is also a whole-school awareness. I'm sure Jeremy will also recognise himself, and others too, that when you go to schools and new schools, I'm always saying, 'Where is the toilet...
Jane Hutt: Diolch, Sioned Williams, clearly a campaigner all your life from that time as a very powerful school student. You had that protest in your school and made a difference, showing the courage of your convictions and also bringing people together so that they could feel empowered by your statement. And, of course, we know that that has been reflected by many campaigners that have been mentioned...
Jane Hutt: ...'re starting that today. And it is a conversation that we all need to have, and, in fact, the provision of those grants back in 2018 enabled local authorities to start having the conversations and schools as well. But I want to just start on your point about relationships and sexuality education, because, of course, you were here when we were discussing this. I'd like to thank Suzy Davies,...
Jane Hutt: The closure of schools and community settings during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges in ensuring period products reached those in need and, according to research by Plan International, over 1 million girls in the UK struggled to afford or access period products during the pandemic. In Wales, we worked with local authorities to ensure that, even in lockdown, individuals...
Jane Hutt: ...to assist those most in need. We are also allocating over £400,000 to expanding the reach of the grant in 2022-23, and this is in addition to the £3.3 million we already provide every year to schools, colleges and community groups across Wales. And it's also why we're working to ensure that there are free products in women's refuges across Wales. We've been committed to addressing period...
Jane Hutt: ...to this very important debate this afternoon? I'll start by thanking the Chairs of the committees—the Chairs of the Health and Social Care Committee and the Children, Young People, and Education Committee—for the thorough way that they have examined the evidence and have considered my views and perspective, and also consulted widely and thoroughly to come to the views that they have,...
Jane Hutt: ...on the framework for determining age in this Bill. I am grateful to the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, the Health and Social Care Committee, and the Children, Young People and Education Committee, for considering the legislative consent memorandum and for their recent reports. I note that the majority of the committee's members agreed with the position I'm putting forward...
Jane Hutt: ...Member for that important question as well. Of course, local authorities do have a statutory responsibility for the preparation of an accessibility strategy, and that is, in fact, for the entire educational estate. I appreciate that you're also referring to playgrounds in the community as well, which are the responsibility of local authorities. But that is where the statutory...
