3. Will the First Minister outline action taken by the Welsh Government to support families? OAQ53110

As set out in 'Taking Wales Forward' and our national strategy 'Prosperity for All', support for children and families across Wales is a priority. It's exemplified, of course, through programmes such as Flying Start and Families First, alongside our childcare offer and the 'Parenting. Give it time.' campaign.

Thank you, First Minister. Your administration has been characterised by a commitment to improve the life chances of children across Wales, and that's something that I'd like to place on record my thanks and appreciation for. The announcement last month of £15 million to expand services to support families and help reduce the need for children to enter care is part of that commitment. I've been doing some work with the WAVE Trust on their work to eliminate child maltreatment. WAVE's answer is built around primary prevention, offering support to parents and expectant parents before damage occurs. I know that officials have met with representatives of the WAVE Trust, so how is their work built into Welsh Government messages on positive parenting?

Can I thank the Member for raising the issue of the WAVE Trust? I do support the work of organisations like the WAVE Trust. Of course, they are committed to eradicating child maltreatment. Like many other third sector organisations operating across Wales, the trust's approach complements a number of programmes that we currently run and are developing, for example Flying Start and Families First. They, of course, help parents to adopt positive parenting styles and to provide effective early intervention and prevention services to allow families and their children to thrive and reach their potential. But, of course, inevitably in Government, it's hugely important to work with people on the ground, to have that expertise, and not try to replicate or replace what they do, but to complement the work that they are already delivering in order, of course, to get the best outcomes.

First Minister, can I wish you every success for the time that you'll be able to spend with your family as well, post your service as First Minister? I'm very pleased to hear you recognising the work of third sector organisations in supporting families. One very successful organisation that is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year is Care for the Family, which is based in Taff's Well. It's been doing some excellent work in terms of positive parenting, and indeed supporting parents not just across Wales, but across the rest of the UK and indeed the wider world. Will you join me in congratulating Care for the Family on their thirtieth anniversary? What specific support are you putting in place to increase the capacity of organisations like Care for the Family and others like them to make their services more widely available here in Wales?

Can I thank the Member for his comments? Of course, it is right to say that when politicians are off to spend more time with their families it's a euphemism for being sacked. [Laughter.] So, hopefully that's not the case yet today.

Of course, if we look at the Families First programme, we've invested over £290 million in that programme since it was introduced. That is designed to provide a coherent level of support for families and, indeed, for children. Of course, we look to work with any organisation that supports the Welsh Government's view of positive parenting, because we know that that can deliver the best outcomes for children and parents.

May I also wish you well for the future?

Isn’t it true to say that the poorest families in Wales have been let down by your Government and by your leadership? There are many examples, and the latest are the childcare proposals—a deficient Bill that discriminates against families and  parents who are already struggling, because those families not in work will not qualify for free childcare under your proposals. That is unfair and unjust, and Plaid Cymru will be voting against that Bill tomorrow.

Is it a lack of support for the poorest families in our society that is one of the issues that you are most disappointed about in looking back at your tenure as First Minister?

May I say, with regard to the childcare Bill, the aim is to ensure that it is easier for people to gain employment or to access employment? We know, of course, that one of the problems that people face is the fact that childcare is so expensive. So, the aim of the legislation is to ensure that that is dealt with—that childcare is available for free. Of course, the aim of the programme is to ensure that people can enter into the world of work, so if they want to do that they can have that opportunity, and that is why the Bill itself has been crafted in the way that it has, in order to get rid of financial obstacles or barriers that stand between people and access to employment, and also, of course, by doing that, reduce poverty across Wales.