Mark Isherwood: Seeing the signatory, I suspect there was something of a political motive there, coinciding with this debate. However, as I said, arrears have fallen for those on universal credit by a third after four months. However, it has always been recognised that although most people on low incomes manage their money and want to, some will need extra support, which is why the UK Government issued the...
Mark Isherwood: Yes.
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. I move our amended motion. As it states, the National Assembly for Wales acknowledges concern about the roll-out of universal credit. Two weeks ago, I wrote to the UK Secretary for Work and Pensions regarding universal credit helpline charges, imploring him to immediately explore and consider alternative options in a situation in which some people have been charged up to 55p a minute...
Mark Isherwood: I cannot find any reference in this report on key lessons learnt from Communities First to key issues such as programme bending, grant-recipient bodies, the damning Wales Audit Office reports and the rejected proposals to take Communities First forward from 2012. Like many, I gave my support to the programme when it was launched because we were told it was about genuine community empowerment...
Mark Isherwood: Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme, following its launch on 20 October 2017? (TAQ0056)
Mark Isherwood: Well, as your written statement said, regeneration investment has a crucial part to play in driving prosperity and building resilient communities, and there’s no disagreement there. It also says that you’re inviting bids from local authorities, along with partner organisations. How will you ensure that the programmes that are delivered through this do things with people rather than to or...
Mark Isherwood: Diolch. Well, in fact, this question was raised with me by the Red Cross and, after that, I wrote to you with a written question, and your reply recognised that local government is responsible for a range of preventative services, but similarly, then, responded with reference to local government funding in the round. What consideration have you therefore given to financial provision in the...
Mark Isherwood: 4. What financial provision has the Cabinet Secretary made for local authorities to meet their prevention duties? (OAQ51227)
Mark Isherwood: Why have you rejected the invitation for the Welsh Government to be present at the Secretary of State’s expert implementation panel for Wales, working to deliver a smooth and orderly exit from the EU in Wales? It’s going through functions in detail with the senior UK Ministers and officials directly involved in negotiations and you could be there, but Wales is missing out. The invitation...
Mark Isherwood: Why do you consistently rubbish and play down the technological eManifest solutions that HMRC have been working on now for 18 months and which apply between Canada, the US and countless borders across the world? If they can do it, then why do you think we can’t? Finally—[Assembly Members: ‘Hurrah.’] They don’t like it up ’em, do they? Finally, why have you rejected the invitation—
Mark Isherwood: Why have you rejected—[Interruption.]
Mark Isherwood: Notwithstanding the fact that the First Minister has the last word and has a habit of using it, I can’t resist using the statement by Churchill about Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain—that he, I quote: ‘looked at foreign affairs through the wrong end of a municipal drainpipe’. I can’t also avoid the Churchillian edicts, which went along the lines of, ‘Don’t argue about...
Mark Isherwood: Could I request two statements? First, I understand that the national autistic spectrum disorder—although I prefer the term ‘condition’; I hope the Welsh Government will start using that—co-ordinator is leaving her post. Could I therefore call for a statement? Because there’s uncertainty in the community over what the intention is in terms of a replacement, or how this might impact...
Mark Isherwood: Thanks for your answer. As you are probably aware, the majority of end-of-life care in Wales is provided by Wales’s 13 adult and two children’s hospices. You indicate a figure of roughly £6.4 million—that’s what I think you said—but they spend £32.5 million a year to deliver those services in people’s homes, and also day care and respite. So, they are having to raise over £2...
Mark Isherwood: 6. How is the Welsh Government supporting the palliative care sector in Wales? (OAQ51226)
Mark Isherwood: Diolch, Llywydd. As this motion states, we need to strengthen the performance of the north Wales economy and regret the historic underfunding of north Wales by the Labour Welsh Government. We also, though, regret Plaid Cymru’s role in this when in coalition with the Labour Welsh Government and in its historic budget deals with them. The Welsh Government has now launched four economic...
Mark Isherwood: Concern has been raised with me that human trafficking through Holyhead port is getting worse, but that not enough of the victims desperate to be found are being found, and that, despite this, it’s so far been impossible to get the six north Wales county representatives around the table. How, therefore, do you respond to the findings of the North Wales Police serious and organised crime...
Mark Isherwood: Thank you. Well, given that response and, of course, your responsibilities at the devolved level for crime and justice policy, including youth justice, how are you engaging or will you be engaging with the UK Secretary of State for Justice after the announcement at the beginning of this month of a £64 million investment in youth custody to boost staffing and education for young offenders and...
Mark Isherwood: Of course, it was a restoration of money that had been taken out of the budget since 2013, and that was welcomed, but we do need to know if it will be ring-fenced because it’s about working with people, for example, through the Big Lottery-funded People and Places programme, which must be funding projects to be people-led, strength-based and supporting people and communities to build on the...
Mark Isherwood: Well, I am disappointed, obviously, but I hope you’ll be pursuing that, given this isn’t normal block money, it’s recyclable loan finance—if it’s going to be funded on the same basis; of course, we don’t know yet. Moving on from housing to housing-related support, of course, at the end of last month, the Welsh Government announced that £10 million annually, for two years, was...
