1. Will the First Minister make a statement on support for claimants of the Welsh independent living grant following its cessation? OAQ51831

Thank you. May I begin by thanking those volunteers who’ve worked so hard during the very inclement weather, and especially those who have helped to transport health service staff to their places of work, and those who have worked so hard to ensure that there is less pressure on the NHS, local government and, of course, the emergency services? 

We are providing full funding of £27 million to local authorities to enable them to meet the care and support needs of those who currently receive payments from the Welsh independent living grant.

People with disabilities who are in receipt of this grant tell me that their greatest concern is losing that element of independence that the grant provides them on a personal level. They appreciate the independence more than anything else. So, what assurance can you give that they will continue to enjoy the same independence when that grant is brought to an end by your Government?

We’ve been monitoring what the local authorities have been doing, and that monitoring will continue in the current situation, namely the transition period. From the beginning of that period in April of last year to the end of that period, we will be monitoring the actions of local government. We know, of course, that individuals have been assessed during that same period. I know that the Minister is aware of the need to monitor the experience of individuals as regards the process at present, and the Minister is considering the way forward in order to ensure that there is assurance for those in receipt of the grant.

Thanks for that partial clarification. The independent living fund, pre-devolution, was about giving individuals choice and control over how they spent their money, their fund, to live independently. Initially, the Welsh independent living grant worked that way, but, unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland that have developed their models in partnership with the third sector, you're requiring local authorities to meet with people receiving the grant to agree the support they need to do this. The Save the Welsh Independent Living Grant campaign says that independent living is a rights issue and closing the Welsh independent living grant is a betrayal of disabled people, their families, friends, staff and community because it takes their voice, choice, control and independence away from them. I know that the leader of the campaign met Huw Irranca-Davies in January, and the leader of that campaign subsequently said that this was probably the most important meeting of his life. That's how important this is. Will you, at this final point, please listen to this community and recognise that independence means giving them choice and control, and not having to agree how they should spend their money with well-meaning experts in county hall when they are the real experts in their own lives?

In terms of how we got to where we are, there was an advisory group, as the Member will know, which recommended providing future support through local authorities' social services. Now, the principle behind that was to ensure that all disabled people in Wales were supported to live in the same way, and to ensure that the finite funding—let's remember that transferred from the UK Government—is used directly for that purpose and not on the operating costs of separate arrangements for only some disabled people. We've made sure in Wales that every penny of that money has gone to recipients. That has not been the case elsewhere in the UK. 

First Minister, I've been contacted by a number of constituents who are also concerned about the future working of the grant. My constituents are not concerned as to where this funding comes from, whether it's Welsh Government or local authorities. All that concerns them is that they will be given the same level of support. So, what can the Welsh Government do to monitor this new system to ensure that local authorities continue to provide that level of support?

Well, that monitoring is continuing. We know that local authorities had reviewed, or were in the process of reviewing, the future support needs of just over 350 of the former ILF recipients in Wales. Out of these, just over 30 had already agreed and were receiving their future support either direct from the authority or by receiving direct payments in order to obtain their support themselves. Now, there is a need, of course, to continue with the monitoring arrangements, as I mentioned earlier on. We want to monitor recipients' experience of the process, and that is what the Minister is considering at the moment in terms of how that might be taken forward.

First Minister, many local authorities appear to be struggling to meet their obligations under the Social Services and Well-being Act (Wales) 2014. For example, many carers across the country have not received carer assessments. The end of the independent living grant places additional pressures on local authority social services. First Minister, can you guarantee that those in receipt of the independent living grant will receive support that is equal to or better than the support they currently receive once local authorities have to provide that support?

Well, the money has been transferred to local authorities. We want to make sure that the level of care remains at least as good as it has been in the past. And I remind the Member, of course, that the amount we spend on social services per head in Wales is significantly higher than in England.