7. 7. Statement: The Legislative Programme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:53 pm on 28 June 2016.

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Photo of Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle Labour 4:53, 28 June 2016

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thanks for your statement, First Minister, and I welcome the measures that you’ve announced today. I particularly welcome your prompt move to repeal aspects of the trade union legislation, which, rather than any attempt to satisfy the trade unions, is our attempt, across this Assembly, to give effect to our belief that we should be protecting the rights of public sector workers in Wales.

I also wanted to give a particular welcome to your confirmation that you’ll be bringing forward an additional learning needs Bill. I know, from my own casework, how vital it is that we get the legislative framework on that right. I do believe that the Welsh Government has a unique opportunity here, given the unprecedented cross-party support that there is for this legislation, to actually make a difference to children and young people’s lives. The children and young people’s committee scrutinised the draft Bill and responded to the legislation, and one of the key concerns we had was that the draft Bill didn’t do enough to actually tie in the health service. We all know from our own casework that that is absolutely fundamental—the connection between health and education. I just wanted to ask what assurances you could give that that would be addressed in the forthcoming legislation.