8. Will the Welsh Government provide an update on its work to support childcare and play services? OQ56961

We long recognise the importance of childcare and play services across Wales. I'd like to thank them in particular for the part they've played in supporting children and families throughout the pandemic, and, most recently, over the Summer of Fun programme.

Thank you, First Minister. I was very pleased to see the written statement from the Deputy Minister setting out how Welsh Government was making additional funding available to childcare and play services to weather the impacts of COVID-19. I welcome the comments around play sufficiency assessments and supporting Play Wales in their work on the ministerial review of play. How will improving opportunities for inclusive play, so that all children and young people can access good-quality play opportunities with their peers, fit into this work?

I thank the Member for that. I know she has a long-standing interest in all of this, having led a debate on these matters on the floor of the Senedd towards the end of the last Senedd term. The £5.1 million that my colleague Julie Morgan announced recently is designed to do exactly the things that Vikki Howells has mentioned: to reinforce play provision in different parts of Wales, to make sure that that play provision is inclusive and available to all children. Very importantly, as part of that funding, local authorities are required to show how they have consulted with children and young people themselves in carrying out those assessments and then making decisions as to how that money can be put to best use.

I thank the First Minister.