4. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Gypsy and Traveller community? OQ55880

We've worked to support Gypsy and Traveller communities during the pandemic to address issues related to employment, education, digital exclusion, healthcare, utilities provision and communication.

The most recent report on the impact of COVID on the Romany and Traveller community this month, called 'Moving for Change', highlights the suffering of this community, because they are mainly low-income families that rely heavily on work in construction—both on building sites as well as on people's homes, doing roofing repairs, tarmac laying, and landscape gardening, et cetera. Of course, they're not the only self-employed community who've suffered financially—taxi drivers, musicians and theatre workers face similar destitution, frankly, as only those in employment have been eligible for the job retention scheme. Additionally, low literacy levels and poor internet connectivity on Traveller sites makes it very challenging for the Gypsy and Traveller community to understand what they might be eligible for in the way of self-employed support from the Welsh Government's economic resilience fund. What has the Welsh Government done to reach out to this most disadvantaged of communities?

I thank Jenny Rathbone for that question. And I do welcome the Romani Cultural and Arts Company report, 'The impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic upon Romani and Traveller communities in Wales 2020', and many insights and recommendations from that report that we are now considering, alongside other evidence, to inform work—very relevant as well to our race equality action plan.

So, we are looking now—we funded the Romani Cultural and Arts Company to undertake additional community engagement to support the plan's development and to make sure that we're engaging with the views of the community. But I think the Welsh Government's continuing to fund the Travelling Ahead project to provide a range of services to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Wales is crucial. And they have helped those in self-employment to access UK Government schemes, including the coronavirus self-employment income support scheme, and also those facing extreme financial hardship, which of course you recognise, in that community. The advisers have assisted in completing applications to the discretionary assistance fund, described earlier, of course, by the First Minister. And we've ensured that those who have got the expertise and access to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are engaging with them.

But I'm also very pleased that we have funded, through the voluntary services emergency fund, a helpline to provide an accessible first port of call for information—the BAME COVID-19 helpline—on a range of issues, including employment and welfare, education, housing, personal safety and health issues. And, of course, that also—we will be reaching out to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to make sure that also local authorities are taking their responsibilities seriously in terms of access to learning and, indeed, improvements to ensure that broadband is available. 

Question 5 [OQ55873] has been withdrawn. So, thank you, Deputy Minister.