Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 16 July 2019.
Well, I'm glad you also recognise, Delyth, the impact of austerity. Of course, that impact has a huge impact in terms of the ability of local authorities to not only maintain crucial services like our leisure services, but also in terms of opportunities to develop services with support from the Welsh Government. I think you raise important issues in relation to equality and human rights because we have a strategic equality plan that's looking towards outcomes. It is about the equality outcomes that we need to deliver. But also we do have public sector equality duties that all local authorities also have to consider and abide by, and, in fact, we are looking to strengthen the outcome of those duties on local authorities because they have to ensure that they are meeting the needs of our most vulnerable, but particularly those with protected characteristics. So, this is an issue where, of course, we have to work collaboratively with our local authorities, recognising the pressures that they're under, but ensuring that the voices of people, particularly those who are the most vulnerable, are heard.