6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve the lives of those living with motor neurone disease? OQ57374

Llywydd, I thank Peter Fox for the question. The Welsh Government continues to work with the neurological conditions implementation group to improve services for all those with neurological conditions, including motor neurone disease. We are also working closely with local authorities to determine what more can be done to improve the lives of people living with this cruel disease.

Thank you, First Minister. Members of the Senedd sent a very clear message last month during my debate, where they overwhelmingly voted to end the current unfair adaptation process where MND sufferers have become entrapped in inescapable homes because they're unable to access the necessary support in time. MND sufferers are clear that the current system needs replacing with a non-means-tested, fast-tracked one, and I welcome the fact that the health Minister and, indeed, the Welsh Government support this too. But now we need to see a tangible outcome for MND sufferers following that unanimous support, I believe. And, to that end, First Minister, will the Government agree to ask, indeed urge, local authorities to enact their discretionary powers to apply a fast-tracked process for housing adaptations for people living with MND in Wales, as every month that goes by without that fast-tracked process, people with MND will continue to suffer? Thank you, First Minister. 

Llywydd, I thank Peter Fox for that. His predecessor, as the Member of the Senedd for the Monmouthshire constituency, Nick Ramsay, was also a passionate advocate of the needs of people who suffer from motor neurone disease. On the specific issue of physical adaptations, three of the four programmes that the Welsh Government now supports are non-means-tested in nature. The large-scale adaptations for the disabled facilities grant are means-tested, but they are not always the form of adaptation that is most suited to people suffering from MND given the progressive nature of that disease and the unpredictable pattern that it follows for individuals.

But the Enable programme, where the Welsh Government recently increased the funding that we give to local authorities on the basis that it should be free for the small and medium adaptations that the Enable programme supports, should be free to the user, has been welcomed by almost all local authorities. Monmouthshire is one of those authorities that has changed its procedures to make sure that people won't be charged for those, nor are people charged for the physical adaptations grant and the rapid response adaptation programme. So, I hope that, by supporting those programmes with significant annual sums of money, it will allow local authorities to have a fast-track approach to people who are living with motor neurone disease in Wales. Our figures suggest that there are about 200 people with the condition in Wales at any one time. That means, for any local authority, you ought to be able to have a direct and personal approach to the needs of that individual. The numbers are small enough to have a personal plan for that individual and then to fast-track the adaptations that can make such a difference for them.