4. Will the First Minister make a statement on support for care leavers? OAQ52156

Supporting care leavers into independent adulthood and successful futures is a key commitment in 'Prosperity for All'. Through the ministerial advisory group and investment in key initiatives, a strong collaborative approach will improve outcomes for those involved, and we're beginning to see the beneficial effects of what has already been announced.

Thank you, First Minister. I'm very proud that, despite the challenges of austerity, Torfaen council became the first local authority in Wales to exempt care leavers from paying council tax until 21, or 25 in some circumstances. As you'll be aware, that decision was followed by six other local authorities. This exemption will provide care leavers with a vital opportunity to transition and adapt to independent living, and this peace of mind should be available to all care leavers in Wales, not just in the seven local authorities who have introduced the policy. First Minister, what can you do to assist the remaining local authorities in Wales to provide this exemption to care leavers to ensure that care leavers in Wales can access the support wherever they live?

'Learn from the good example of others' is what I would say. We've already asked local authorities to use their powers to exempt care leavers from paying council tax. I would not think it's a massive financial hit on the budgets of local authorities. I very much welcome what Torfaen has done, and the other local authorities. I would very much urge the others to follow suit.

It's a really good question that's been asked here today. Because of the seven local authorities that have already introduced this—the actual cost across Wales would be £2 million. Sixty local authorities in England have implemented this, and in October it was announced for all care leavers in Scotland. So, First Minister, what commitment will you make to provide funding to local authorities here in Wales to provide a 100 per cent council tax exemption for young care leavers?

Some local authorities have done it already. Because they've done it already, I can't see why others cannot follow suit. I believe, actually, that it's now eight, rather than seven, across Wales that have exempted care leavers from paying council tax until at least the age of 21. Two local authorities have exempted all care leavers up to the age of 25, and three have exempted up to the age of 25 in certain cases. Now, I understand that a further 10 local authorities have plans to move ahead with this, subject to the necessary approvals. We haven't had information back from four local authorities, but we will continue to press. If one local authority can do it, the others can do it, and so I would very much urge the other local authorities to follow the good example of those who have already committed to this policy.

First Minister, the best support we can give to care leavers is ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for an independent adult life, the skills most of us are taught by our parents. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that corporate parents equip those in care with the skills needed in later life and will you learn from the Roots Foundation in my region who focus on helping those in care to transition to independent living?

I think our carers, and our foster carers particularly, do an incredible job. I've met people who have fostered many, many children and they've fostered children who have come to them in the most difficult of circumstances, sometimes more than once. I've seen foster carers who foster children at a very young age who then, of course, see them go for adoption when they're 18 months or two years old. It's very, very emotionally difficult for people, and I really take my hat off to them.

She asked what we have done as a Government. Well, we have established the £1 million St David's Day fund. That supports care leavers to access opportunities in education, training and employment. There's £625,000 for the local authorities to develop apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities within the local authority, acting as good corporate parents, and £1 million has been provided to local authorities so that personal adviser support can be provided for all care leavers up to the age of 25. Those are just some examples of what we have done as a Government in order to provide the sorts of funds that are required to give our care leavers a better start in life.