We now move on to item 7, which is the legislative consent motion on the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill, and I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration to move the motion. Rebecca Evans.

Motion NDM6651 Rebecca Evans

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 29.6, agrees that provisions in the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill relating to the Single Financial Guidance Body in so far as they fall within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales, should be considered by the UK Parliament.

Motion moved.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to present a legislative consent motion in relation to the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. I'd like to thank the Children, Young People and Education Committee and the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee for their scrutiny of these issues in the original memorandum and supplementary memorandum, and I acknowledge their conclusions.

The UK Government introduced the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill on 22 June 2017. The relevant provisions within Part 1 of the Bill established a single financial guidance body, or SFGB. This brings together three separate publicly funded services: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. In future, it will be simpler for people to access free and impartial guidance on pensions, money and debt from one source.

The Bill also provides that funding for debt advice will be transferred to the devolved administrations, allowing locally commissioned services to help individuals manage debt. This is to be welcomed as it will enable the Welsh Government to develop a strategic and integrated approach to the commissioning of debt advice services in Wales alongside other areas for social welfare advice services, including housing, welfare benefits, employment and discrimination. This approach is also aligned with the aims of the Welsh Government's 'Financial Inclusion Delivery Plan' and the information and advice action plan published in December 2016 that encouraged the development of a funding model for social welfare advice that merges together problem-solving interventions with activities that aim to help people become more resilient in preventing similar problems reoccurring.

The Bill also provides for money guidance to be provided by the SFGB on a UK-wide basis with a duty upon the SFGB to work closely with the devolved administrations in relation to the delivery of money and pensions guidance. When developing and co-ordinating a national strategy covering financial capability, debt and financial education, the SFGB are also required to work with the devolved administrations. It is vital that this happens, so my officials will continue to work to formalise arrangements, so money guidance and financial capability services work alongside debt advice services to fully meet the requirements of Welsh citizens.

Linked to this, the UK Government departments acknowledge that education is devolved, and that aspects of the SFGB's functions relating to the support and co-ordination of financial education will, in practice, be the responsibility of the Welsh Government. However, the activities of the SFGB can complement the Welsh Government's work in this important area, in a similar way to how the Money Advice Service currently supports financial capability. I fully agree with the scrutiny committees on the vital importance of financial education for children and young people. I'm pleased they recognise the positive steps being taken by the Welsh Government to include financial education in the new curriculum.

A significant amendment to the Bill that has been raised by a number of Members in Plenary recently is the commitment to further explore debt respite—the breathing space scheme. This is to be welcomed as it aims to offer statutory protection to people with problem debt from incurring additional interest charges or facing enforcement action. This is still some way off, but we will continue to work closely with the UK Government and the SFGB, when it's established, in addition to advice providers and other stakeholders to influence the development of any scheme and determine whether it meets the requirements of Wales.

I believe that these provisions fall within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales. However, it is appropriate to deal with these provisions in this UK Bill and I consider it sensible for the remit of a UK-wide body to be contained in a single piece of UK legislation. I therefore move the motion and request that the Assembly agrees to the legislative consent motion.

Thank you. There are no speakers for the debate, so the question is that the motion be agreed. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36, the motion is agreed.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.