Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 3 November 2021.
Can I declare an interest as a member of Monmouthshire County Council? It was remiss of me not to declare the same in my last input. Can I thank Vikki Howells for bringing this question? Deputy Minister, I welcome the commitment to pay social care workers, who have diligently worked above and beyond throughout the pandemic, the real living wage. Welsh Conservatives have been calling for this as an absolute minimum for a number of years now, and I'm really proud to say that, under Conservative leadership, Monmouthshire County Council started paying the real living wage in 2014 and has continued to do so ever since. According to recent estimates, ensuring the real living wage would cost about £19 million in the first year. Unfortunately, the Welsh Government's proven track record has shown that making policy commitments are generally followed by shifting them onto local authorities to cover the cost. So, Minister, will the Welsh Government be covering the cost, or will local authorities be expected to do so? Thank you.