3. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Shaping Wales Future — Laying national milestones, revised national indicators and publishing a Future Trends report

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 14 December 2021.

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Photo of Sioned Williams Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru 3:22, 14 December 2021

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. The desire to forge a Wales that is economically, socially and environmentally just, the vision that the Minister has stated drives the framework underpinned by the milestones and the indicators announced today, is something that I'm sure Members of all parties can agree on. But the future, of course, is an uncertain thing, with the ongoing pandemic and the effects of climate change, for example, just two factors that are changing how we see that future and our ability to shape it.

If the aim of the national milestones is to lay a course for the progress of Wales, using the measures that will ensure the policies made by the Government are all heading towards that stronger, fairer, greener Wales, then we must see them not only guide policy but also be clearly evident in outcomes. The aim of the national milestones should be to show the people of Wales what progress needs to be made towards the well-being goals and what is being achieved, and also be a communication tool that allows that progress to be clearly evident in our everyday lives.

When so many of the Government's policies are delivered by local authorities, it is perhaps the local picture rather than the national one that often has most meaning. The national milestone for creating 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050, for example, reiterated today, is so often undermined by poor planning and a lack of ambition at the local level when it comes to Welsh education provision. The Minister has acknowledged the significant inequalities between the different areas of Wales, and there are also differences in delivery that contribute to this. Might local data sets within the indicators allow people to compare and contrast performance in their own areas and let them judge whether the national efforts to shape the Wales many of us want to see are actually resulting in change for their local communities? Could the Minister tell us how the local picture is, or could be, reflected in the indicators and the wider Shaping Wales' Future programme of work?

I welcome the commitment on the net-zero target, which is of course contained in the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, and would urge the work to accelerate that target that she mentioned to be given full priority, including the devolution of further powers that could enable us to reach it faster, because this is perhaps the most important target of our times. I also welcome the attempt to address the issue of the gender pay gap and inequality in employment. However, as one of the well-being goals is a more equal Wales and women's well-being stretches beyond economic inclusion, could the Minister please outline how women's safety and the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy will be included within the 'Future Trends' report, future policy, and this approach for shaping Wales's future?

The disability employment gap in Wales has been stuck at around 30 per cent for over a decade. Meanwhile, disabled employees tend to earn less than non-disabled people, and this has been stable for a number of years. I'm glad to hear the Minister reference this today in her statement and her answer to Joel James, because we know that disabled people face significantly higher living costs due to their impairment or condition, which makes this goal of eliminating the disability pay gap all the more pressing. Given that the disability pay gap was only added to the Welsh national well-being indicators in 2019, what does the Government plan to do to eliminate this pervasive issue in line with the national well-being goals?

In December 2020, the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that considerations for disabled people were not being integrated into transport strategy and policy in Wales. I'm therefore glad to hear that as a result of consultation feedback, new measures on travel have now been included. Currently, the transport system in Wales is not of a high enough standard for the needs of the people of Wales, nor for net-zero targets, which is why it is important that it is now being included as an indicator. However, any indicator regarding travel should also take into account accessibility and reliability for disabled people, as this will be key to ensuring economic and social inclusions. Can I therefore finally ask the Minister to assure us that this is the case? Diolch.