1. What support can the Welsh Government offer to ensure that deaf people received the relevant adaptations to their homes? OAQ(5)0130(CC)[W]

I thank the Member for Ynys Môn for his question. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting people to live independently and safely in their own homes. The commitment is supported by funding for equipment and adaptations where appropriate.

At a recent meeting with Action on Hearing Loss, I heard a story about a deaf woman who had a sign on her front door saying, ‘I’m sorry but as I can’t hear the bell I am keeping the door open, so do come in’. Now, clearly that’s not acceptable. What she needed, of course, was assistance in getting the necessary technology to inform her when someone was at the door, to keep her safe. The charity notes that the expenditure on equipment to support people who have lost their hearing has more than halved over the four years up to 2014-15 and there is a huge difference in what’s spent from one area to another. As this is within your portfolio, do you agree that we need a strategy to try to ensure, in future, that funding is provided to those people who need it, to help people such as this woman who are at risk because of a lack on investment in the necessary equipment?

I think it’s irrelevant where the funding stream comes from, whether that be through social services or through the disabled facilities grant or otherwise in this portfolio. I think what’s really important is that we focus on the individual and their needs, and it’s something that, if the Member would wish to write to me on this specifically, I’d be happy to take up on his behalf.

Can I declare an interest, as my sister is profoundly deaf? Can I just follow on from the point that Rhun ap Iorwerth made? For someone who is deaf, light fulfils the same role as sound does for those of us who can hear. What is being done to ensure that deaf people have a flashing light fire alarm—as a sound fire alarm will have no use to them whatsoever—and, leading on from what Rhun ap Iorwerth said, flashing light doorbells so that they can press the doorbell and it flashes in the house? Because, again, sound makes no difference, and I agree with Rhun ap Iorwerth entirely, we can’t have people leaving their front door open because they can’t hear people knocking it.

These are very simple technological opportunities that we can roll out across Wales. A new health and social services integrated framework for action for people who are deaf or are living with hearing loss was published in February, building on our continued investment in assistive equipment and technology. My colleague Rebecca Evans, the Minister for social services, has responded for the integrated care fund. It is something that I’ve taken note of in terms of the comments made by Members today.

I’ll just declare that close family members have received local authority funded adaptations to their homes, and it’s enabled independent living and it’s actually reduced costs on statutory services. In the context of the budget cuts to equipment for deaf people made by some local authorities, and some even indicating they’re moving away from funding equipment despite the fact it does actually save funding for statutory services, what guidance does or will the Welsh Government issue to local authorities on what adaptations or equipment they should be providing as a minimum?

There is already guidance issued to authorities. I will have a conversation with my ministerial colleague on this very specific issue. This Government is very keen that we move into an early intervention and prevention opportunity, which saves issues, as the Member alludes to, such as long-term health impacts and moving people into adapted properties that actually wouldn’t be necessary if we were to do some small interventions early on. It could save lots of money for the services in the long term. I will have a conversation with my colleague.

Question 2 [OAQ(5)0138(CC)] is withdrawn.