Part of 2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 2:05 pm on 21 June 2017.
Cabinet Secretary, we couldn’t disagree with that analysis, but unfortunately the complexities of enabling everybody to be work ready and then to sustain work is very complicated. The winding down of the Communities First programme has raised many concerns that the place-based strategies for strengthening the resilience of deprived communities to both articulate their needs and be involved in solving their problems may be completely undermined.
The Government seems to be relying on the competencies of public services boards in line with the future generations Act, and the lead delivery bodies for the Communities First programmes, to pick up those programmes that have worked well. It seems that we are taking a very substantial risk in terms of complementing the employment focus strategies that I know you’ve just spoken about a moment ago. So, I wonder if you can say how the Government is determined to ensure that those place-based strategies that have really contributed to the community are going to be retained.