Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 24 September 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:21, 24 September 2019

Llywydd, I'm disappointed that the Member doesn't think that having a better understanding of poverty and how it impacts the lives of children in Wales today is something that is worth a Government pursuing. I remember sitting with him in discussions when Plaid Cymru were proposing an observatory in the child poverty field so that we would have just that better understanding available to us. I don't think that's an ambition that is not worth having, because if we have a better understanding, and particularly if we have a better understanding through the eyes of children themselves, then we will be able to do what is something that I know is shared between our parties. We want to make the greatest difference that we can in the lives of children in Wales, and we particularly want to make that difference in the lives of those children where money is the barrier to those children having the sorts of lives and experiences we want them to have.

Now, I read the children's commissioner's report and met her to discuss it, because I thought it was an excellent report. I have had to say a few times on the floor of the Assembly—questioning those who advocate to me that what the Welsh Government needs is a new child poverty strategy, and saying that I prefer the advice of the children's commissioner, which is that what we need is a refreshed delivery plan, looking at the practical things that we can do. My colleague Rebecca Evans and other have met with the children's commissioner since to look at those practical actions. That's why we want a lead to be involved in all of this. Because in that way, we use the levers that we have in our hands to make the biggest difference.