8. What action will the Welsh Government take to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities in Wales over the next twelve months? OAQ(5)0680(FM)

A learning disability advisory group is established. It will advise on a reviewed strategic action plan. Learning disability is a priority for regional partnership boards as well, and, of course, in 2016 we extended the integrated care fund to include support for people with a learning disability.

Thank you for the reply, First Minister. A recent report by Estyn said that colleges should do more to prepare young people with learning disabilities for independent living. They found that only a few set realistic goals to help students develop their communication and work skills, and called for colleges to set individual learning plans and to design programmes that challenge pupils more. What action will the Welsh Government take in view of Estyn’s findings to help and support students with learning disabilities to achieve their full potential in life?

He will know that the response to Estyn’s recommendations was published last week. But I can say in 2015-16, for example, we invested over £140,000 on a project to support workforce capacity building in the FE sector, with a particular emphasis on increasing access for young people with complex learning disabilities. We are also investing an additional £250,000 during 2016—or have invested an additional £250,000 for 2016-17—for a project to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the independent living skills learning area on top of, of course, the response that we’ve already given.

The First Minister will know that the Welsh Government’s strategies depend very much on front-line delivery, very often from third sector organisations. So, within the Bridgend and Ogmore area, it’s organisations like Drive, like Cartrefi Cymru, like Mirus, and also Bridgend County Borough Council’s supported living service—all of these play a key role in enabling people with disabilities to live independently at home or close to home. So, what more can the Welsh Government do, not only at a strategic level, but working in partnership with those organisations and with local authorities, to deliver that support for independent living?

Well, the learning disability advisory group was set up in 2012. Its purpose is to inform learning disability policy within the context of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and to provide advice to the Welsh Ministers on learning disability issues. The group is made up of learning disabled people, third sector organisations working in the field, and health and social care representatives. Alongside that, a learning disability strategic action plan is being developed, following the review of learning disability that’s currently being undertaken.