7. Will the First Minister make a statement on action the Welsh Government is taking to reduce inequality in Wales? OAQ51350

Yes. Equality is central to the work of the Welsh Government and our vision for Wales, as set out in 'Prosperity for All'. Our strategic equality plan 2017-20 sets out the steps we will take to achieve our equality objectives, and those objectives focus on tackling the most entrenched inequalities in Wales.

One of the entrenched inequalities in Wales is the disparity between the quality of the health service and the timing of the health service in north Wales versus other parts of the country. Why is it, First Minister, that my own constituents are twice as likely as constituents in Cwm Taf health board, for example, to be in an emergency department for four hours or more, and why is it that, in north Wales, one in 11 patients waits for 36 weeks or more from referral to treatment, versus just one in 83 down here in Cardiff and the Vale? This inequality is clearly unacceptable. I'm sure you would agree that that is unacceptable. What action are you taking to put this situation right, given that this health board is in special measures?   

Well, of course, there will be differences between health boards. For example, Betsi Cadwaladr has historically been the best performing health board when it comes to cancer treatment in Wales. But there are disparities. Of course, as the Cabinet Secretary for health and well-being is aware, we look to iron out those disparities and take action where that is needed. Where there is a need, for example, to recruit, we look to recruit and work with health boards in order to recruit the right level of medical staff they need in order to provide the service that we think is appropriate and right for the people who live in all parts of Wales. 

First Minister, the Welsh index of multiple deprivation suggests that households containing children have a higher rate of income deprivation than the overall population, with 24 per cent of such households in deprivation, compared with 16 per cent overall. Members in this Senedd are very well aware that universal credit, the single monthly payment that replaces the six current working-age benefits, is being rolled out across Wales. Despite the outstanding and proactive work being undertaken in Wales to support, advise and assist those impacted by welfare reform, it is inevitable that universal credit will impact negatively on the lives of the most vulnerable people across our nation, through the operation of a process that seems designed to purposely push people into poverty and debt. What representations can the Welsh Government make to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to call on the UK Tory Government to rethink a highly regressive and destructive policy?

The roll-out of universal credit is a mess. People are left without money—people who need money on a weekly basis. People are left in a situation where they cannot afford to buy things. People are left in a situation of uncertainty, and we know that the UK Government's response to all this is, 'Who cares?' pretty much. Well, we care on this side of the Chamber. We urge the UK Government to make sure that people who need that money get that money and they stop the cuts they are making to the benefit system, and the cuts they are making to the spending that we as a society have historically made on those who are most vulnerable. We will always stand for those who are most vulnerable.