4. Statement by the Leader of the House and Chief Whip: Refugee Week — Wales, a Nation of Sanctuary

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:09 pm on 19 June 2018.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 4:09, 19 June 2018

Can I welcome the statement, during Welsh Refugee Week, on the Welsh Government consultation, 'Nation of Sanctuary—Refugee and Asylum Seeker Plan'? The fact that this plan has been co-produced with the Welsh Refugee Council and other partners is an indication of the forward-looking inclusive approach taken by the Welsh Government, drawing, in large part, from the recommendations of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee report.

This year, we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the NHS, and I'm pleased you've drawn attention to early action I took as health and social services Minister to support the Welsh refugee doctors programme—the refugee doctors wanted to contribute their skills to the NHS. As a result of a pioneering training, language and support scheme, their skills were soon put to use, resulting in over 85 refugee doctors registered with the General Medical Council, practising over the past 16 years. What a contribution. Leader of the house, will you join me in congratulating these doctors, working across the NHS in the UK, as a result of this initiative, due, in no small part, to Aled Edwards of Cytûn who came to me and said, 'We can do this, Jane', and we did?

But also, can we, across the Chamber, thank all those in our constituencies who supported the Syrian refugee scheme, with my town of Barry providing a welcome and support to families over the past three years—families who are now settling and contributing to this community with their skills and talents? I'd particularly like to thank the voluntary Rainbow group, a black and minority ethnic group, who provide friendship and personal and social support to BAME women in the Vale of Glamorgan. But I am concerned to understand whether the Welsh Government is getting due respect and co-operation in terms of the integration of these families into our communities from the Home Office, who are obviously leading that scheme. I'd be grateful for your response to that. Also, leader of the house, you'll be aware of community initiatives across Wales, such as Croeso Llantwit, which is following Croeso Narberth, welcoming a Syrian refugee family to Llantwit Major. Finally, as patron of Bawso, I do want to acknowledge the work that's carried out by this specialist charity, supporting women escaping violence, including refugee women.