Therefore, we now move to questions from party spokespersons, and first of all the Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Bethan Jenkins.

Diolch. Cabinet Secretary, yesterday we heard from your Government about how you’re going to tackle hate crimes. Unfortunately, the political climate is now such that hate crimes have been partly legitimised by the rhetoric coming from many politicians and elements of the media. Can you tell us today whether you believe that immigration to Wales has been a good thing in helping to develop and diversify our nation here in Wales?

I agree with all the contents of the Member’s question.

I didn’t have time to sit down, hardly. [Laughter.] I’m glad that you agree with me, Cabinet Secretary. The previous Westminster Government took a decision to deny public funds to many migrants, including those from A8 countries. This led to an Amnesty International report in 2008 noting it had led to women being unable to access refuges when fleeing violent relationships, a factor noted as significant in several murders and disappearances of women. The following year, a Shelter Cymru study on housing conditions of eastern European migrant workers found that because they had no recourse to public funds, there was significant homelessness, including pregnant women. We also know of cases where children were being threatened with being taken into care, and by 2010 around 1,000 children were in immigration detention centres. Do you regret New Labour’s approach of restricting support to the children of migrants, and how will you work to support this sector in the future?

The agreement was going really well at first. [Laughter.] Can I say that the principle of her question is something that does concern me, and no access to public funds for individuals is something that I am looking at? I’ve got a new advisory group looking at the issues around domestic violence circumstances, and part of the investigation I’m asking them to look at is around that—and the funding element for refuge and for legal aid as well.

Thank you for that reply. Despite these traumatising stories that I’ve exemplified here today, Cabinet Secretary, there was no impact on opinion polls about immigration, with a substantial minority believing that no controls even existed, despite what I have just said. So, this shows that appeasement of the far right isn’t working for its own terms. The people who are supposedly being reassured by tough action don’t realise that tough action is actually taking place. This week you will have seen that Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens united to issue a statement condemning the rhetoric coming from the Conservative Party last week, but your own party in Westminster has simply called for immigration to be reduced. Will you therefore today be different to your Westminster Labour colleagues and join with the Plaid Cymru and the SNP in condemning the negative rhetoric, and ensure that the Welsh Government takes a lead in tackling the myths about immigration?

I thank the Member for her final question. We are the Labour Party in Wales and we are the Government in Wales and we have a very definitive line on hate crime. I intend to take the lead to drive forward the Welsh Government’s tackling hate crime framework for action. What I do hope that the Member will join us together in is condemning the actions of individuals and political parties that seek to gain favour by the hate crimes that I believe they cause in communities, and cause great upheaval to many people. I think we don’t have to look too far away from us to where that actually happens quite locally.

Welsh Conservative spokesperson, Mark Isherwood.

Diolch. Yesterday, you told us that you were minded to phase out the Communities First programme, and will look afresh at how the Welsh Government can support resilient communities empowered with a strong voice in the decisions that affect their everyday lives. I shared with you a host of statutory and third sector organisation examples where they’re actually making things happen on the ground using co-production, which is not about austerity but is part of a global revolution with origins going back almost half a century. Given that these projects are already helping to deliver the building of resilient communities in Wales, can you provide us with your definition of what co-production means?

Well, I refer to my statement yesterday, which the Member has quoted from. I think we have to have a new offer for tackling issues to make communities resilient for the future. That’s what I outlined yesterday in my statement. The issue of introducing the 100,000 new job apprenticeships by this Welsh Labour Government is one that’s important to communities that he shares, and I share too. The issue of quality childcare, which is the best offer for working parents anywhere in the UK, is something that I hope he will join me in celebrating in serving the public that, again, we represent.

There are many options where we need to tackle the deep-seated roots of poverty and enablement for the communities of the future. This is something I set out in my statement, and I will update Members in the new year.

Co-production enables citizens and professionals to share power and work together in equal partnership, creating opportunities for people to access support when they need it and to contribute to social change, acknowledging that everyone is an expert in their own lives.

I also yesterday quoted Oxfam Cymru when they said the Welsh Government must secure lasting change, embedding the sustainable livelihoods approach in all policy and service delivery in Wales, which means helping people identify the strengths and assets they already have in order to tackle to root problem preventing them from reaching their potential.

Given, again, that this approach has been embraced by some Members of the Welsh Government and should be central to new programme development and delivery, can you provide us with your understanding of the meaning of the term ‘strength-based approach’?

I think there are many quality projects out in our communities, not led by Communities First but many of the organisations that the Member referred to today and yesterday, and I support those. What we have to do is join up those programmes with actions and interventions by Government and third sector bodies to make sure that we impact most on the people in need of support. So, I’m not dismissing the programmes that the Member raises—actually, I think we can build on those programmes, and working with ourselves they can have a better offer for our community.

Thank you. Well, I hope in going forward you will embrace the definition of the strength-based approach, which is about moving away from a system in which people have their needs assessed and addressed by social services departments and other agencies to a system that protects an individual’s independence, resilience, ability to make choices and well-being by supporting their strengths in a way that allows them to lead and be in control of their independent day-to-day life. I hope that these concepts will be central to driving forward the change that we all earnestly seek.

Again, finally, in a similar context, during the session with the Children, Young People and Education Committee before recess, you stated that Welsh Government would be refreshing its child poverty strategy during this Assembly. There are around 200,000 young children in Wales living in poverty—a higher rate than the UK, England and Scotland levels. What consideration will you give to the Children’s Society’s ‘Good Childhood Report 2016’, which shows that using a child-centred material deprivation index can explain more about variations in a child’s well-being than the traditional measure of household income? Will you consider using these approaches in your refreshed strategy?

I’m grateful to the Member for raising that very important issue. I think what we should look at are the correct indicators, and I will take note of that report when we do refresh the document. I think it’s important that we look at the detail behind that and how we are able to influence change in communities, particular around young people, going forward—they are our future generation.

UKIP spokesperson, Michelle Brown.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. The ministerial determination to close John Summers High School in 2017 was announced by Kirsty Williams in August 2016. It is a matter of record that John Summers High School has served more Traveller children than any other school within Flintshire and possibly across Wales. Can the Minister give assurances that the education needs of the Traveller community within Flintshire will be met? Will he give assurances that he will meet with the community to ensure that any measures taken meet with their needs?

I’m grateful for the question. This is a constituency issue for me also, Llywydd, but I will base my response as a Minister. I have had correspondence with Flintshire council and I’ve also had correspondence with residents of that area. I think it is important that the transition is a matter for the local authority and I have spoken to the Cabinet Secretary for Education on these very issues. It is important to that community that there is a resilient educational system fit for that community.

Over the last few years, many of the main police stations in our towns, certainly in north Wales, have been closed. Follow the signpost to the police and you’ll wind up at a phone on the wall. What representations have you made to the police and crime commissioners and police authorities to ensure that the police service is visible, accessible and effectively builds relationships with local communities?

I meet with the police commissioners on a regular basis and I’ve already had two meetings since becoming Minister responsible for communities. But the Member should be aware that policing is non-devolved to this institution.

It’s still a community issue though, whether we have that easy access to the police, and obviously Welsh Government does have an input to how much access the local community does have to the police, and that the police service be visible and easy to find.

I have, as I said, regular meetings with the police and crime commissioners. One of the Welsh Labour positive commitments was around introducing 500 police community support officers to our communities across Wales, which has been very welcome across all of our communities. The matter is a matter for the UK Government, and it is a non-devolved function, but I recognise the issue that, actually, the work that the police do in our communities is valued by many.