Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:29 pm on 15 November 2016.
Well, Mark Isherwood does raise an important point, representing his constituents in north Wales, particularly regarding the North Wales Women’s Centre and its expertise. I, myself have met people when I had ministerial responsibility, to ensure that their voices, their experience and the needs of women who they represent and support are heard and influence not only Welsh Government policy, but local and regional policy as well, particularly those most vulnerable. You raise important issues, where they can assist us in terms of not only responding, but also devising appropriate policy. I’m grateful that you’ve raised that on behalf of women in north Wales.
But, on your second point, I do find it extraordinary—. I mean, so often, Mark Isherwood, you start to talk and often raise pertinent questions about something—the independent living fund, which your Conservative Government got rid of—for some of the most vulnerable disabled people in Wales. We’ve rescued it over the years. We rescued it by allocating precious resources, to make sure that we could continue with the independent living fund. And also, that has been welcomed by those groups that actually represent disabled people in Wales, and working in partnership with local government as well, and making sure that we’ve got allocations for social services in our draft budget for next year. Year on year, as a Welsh Labour Government, we’re seeking to protect disabled people in very much the ways in which we can respond to some of the points that were made earlier on this afternoon, about how disabled people are affected by welfare reform cuts and changes by your UK Tory Government.
So, yes, a written statement has been delivered. Of course, clarifications and updates on that will be forthcoming.