I thank you for those questions. I’m very familiar with the Track the Act campaign from Carers Wales, and I actually really welcome the input and the constructive challenge that they are providing us, and the positive engagement of the third and voluntary sector in the whole co-productive approach that we have through the social services and well-being Act, working in partnership with us and with local authorities to improve particularly outcomes for carers, and also those who are cared for.

I think it is early days yet, and I do acknowledge there is variation in data collection across Wales, but also I recognise that there is also some excellent practice developing. As part of the developing performance management framework for the new Act, a lot of effort is going in to ensuring that there’s a consistent approach to the use of data on a national basis as we move forward. ADSS Cymru has dedicated a specific work stream to secure a national consistency in the implementation of the performance management framework, because I do recognise the importance of having comparable data right across Wales.

With regard specifically to the report that Carers Wales provided—and I do acknowledge it has been useful—the data was generated through a freedom of information request in relation to the first six months of implementation, so we have moved on a further six months from that. But local authorities and, indeed, Carers Wales themselves recognise the variability and inconsistency of reporting against this particular freedom of information request, and that is disappointing. So, in order to get some stronger and more comparative data in future, I’m pleased to update you that local authorities and Carers Wales have agreed to work together in partnership to better shape the request in order to secure more consistent and robust information, as we move forward in the coming months. I would expect improvement in both recording and reporting and, certainly, this work will help inform the implementation of the Act.

So, in terms of my response to the report, I do think it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions from it because of the quality of the data, and it’s worth noting as well that the chief exec of Carers Wales has stated that carers and wider individuals concerned don’t always necessarily recognise that they’ve participated in an assessment as well, so we’ve certainly got some work to do there. And carers are more likely to respond positively if they’ve had or participated in a ‘what matters’ conversation, which is our way of taking forward the social services and well-being Act.

So, to summarise on that, the data do not demonstrate that carers are being denied their right to assessment, but what they do demonstrate is that engagement through the information and advice service isn’t being recorded effectively and consistently across Wales. So, further work is definitely needed in order to embed that consistency. I’ve set out proposals to evaluate the short, medium and long-term impact of the Act as well. Mark Drakeford, the previous Minister, actually set out the process for the evaluation and monitoring of the Act in a statement on 31 March back in 2016, and it will be explicitly linked to the work that’s already been established on the national outcomes framework, which I referred to in my statement as well, which has 50 different outcomes that we will be measuring against. So, the intention is that we will have some really robust data to demonstrate not only where we are now but actually to demonstrate improvement over time in a way that’s consistent right across Wales as well.

I just reiterate the commitment to the national approach to respite. Work is ongoing with that with partners in the voluntary sector particularly, also looking at models that are in place elsewhere. Of course, I am completely open to views and ideas and input from Members in the Chamber on this issue as well.