5. Statement by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip: An Update on Advancing Equality and Human Rights in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:40 pm on 11 June 2019.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 5:40, 11 June 2019

I'd like to thank Leanne Wood for raising a very important dimension. I think it's a dimension in terms of understanding and strengthening equality and human rights that we obviously now need to look at across Government, not just in terms of my portfolio. Interestingly, this did come up last week when Jeremy Miles and I went to the civic forum to talk to disabled people about the impact of Brexit. That was the focus, but many issues came forward in terms of the impact of policy on disabled people's lives. And, of course, I talked again about the social model of disability, which, actually—and some people were here then in 2002, when this National Assembly did adopt the social model of disability, and it's enshrined in the UN convention on the rights of disabled people. But we need to ensure that that's now imbued in all our policy making and that it enables, of course, Assembly Members, committees and disabled people to scrutinise us on the basis of delivering the social model of disability.

So, the issue that you're raising in terms of non-neurotypical people and neurodiversity has got to be clearly addressed. You've raised an important issue and I think also it's not just an issue that we may want explored in terms of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, but the Children, Young People and Education Committee as well, because it is something—there needs to be awareness raised of these issues. But, certainly, it is something that we need to look at.

I hope, also, that you would consider, Leanne Wood, that the scope that we have in Wales to strengthen equality and human rights is laid out in the statement today. It covers a lot of ground and we have a great deal to do to safeguard the rights, particularly of disabled people and those who are impacted by the non-neurotypical situations that they find themselves in as people, and what that means for their rights. And I hope that we can follow this discussion.