Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:53 pm on 2 October 2018.
In the continuing difficult financial landscape, Cabinet Secretary, can I welcome your statement, which I think is certainly as good as we could expect in the current circumstances? There's certainly lots to absorb and comment on, but I want to just briefly focus on three areas, if I may. And forgive me if I am repeating some of the points that have already been covered, but I guess that there will be reiterations, so bear with me.
Firstly, Cabinet Secretary, as others have said, you've acknowledged the impacts that austerity have on the social fabric of our communities across Wales and that they cannot be underestimated. In constituencies like mine, I see it every single day and something has to change. So, after these long-wasted years of austerity, and given that the UK Government now seems to have found the magic money tree to fund the fiasco that is Brexit, do you see any signs that the Chancellor will acknowledge the need for a change in direction in order to meet the calls for more investment to help our public services? Because, as a Welsh Government, much of what you deliver must come via these budgets, and it's based on our 2016 manifesto, so it's important that we continue to deliver on those promises.
My second point relates to the Supporting People programme, which has not just been supported by Plaid Cymru but by many Members on these benches, including me, many of us who have taken a keen interest in and campaigned for the financial support that we offer to many vulnerable groups through this programme. So, I'm very pleased with your announcement of £13.4 million to the early intervention, prevention and support grant and the establishment of the two grants, separating housing out from the others. Can I join others in asking whether you can now confirm that this will result in ring-fenced support to those often in the most desperate need of housing and housing support, so that Welsh Government priorities for the most vulnerable will be delivered in the way that your Government intended it to?
And finally, it's very clear that if we are to continue transforming our health and care services, then we must invest in preventative, community and primary care services, and we cannot allow artificial and organisational barriers to impede the funding and delivery of services that we need. So, I'm pleased that your announcement is looking at health and social care in the round, because we should be looking at more innovative ways of funding both health and social care services to ensure that current and future demand can be met. So, can you also assure me that the budget process will continue to drive the integration and innovation between health and social care, ensuring that those vital care services can continue to be delivered in our communities?