1. What is the Welsh Government doing to help improve employment opportunities for disabled people? OQ57834

Thank you for the question. We continue to take a range of measures to help improve economic opportunities for disabled people. That includes the establishment, in 2020, of a Welsh Government network of disabled people's employment champions to engage with employers to encourage the further employment of disabled people. 

I thank you for your answer and I very much welcome the Welsh Government's employer incentive scheme for disabled apprentices. It's well documented that the employment rate of disabled people is much lower when compared to non-disabled people. Figures up until March 2020 showed that the employment rate for disabled people was 50 per cent, compared to 81 per cent for non-disabled people. It's absolutely crucial that, as a Government, everything is done that can be done to bridge that gap and tackle the inequality. Minister, I'm keen to know how you're advertising this scheme and where potential employers can find out about it. Also, is the Welsh Government encouraging employers to link up with organisations, like Leonard Cheshire Disability, which have a long and successful track record of helping disabled people find work?

Thank you for the question. You're right to point out the significant difference in economic outcomes for disabled people and people who don't have a disability. That's part of the reason why we shifted so much of our employability and skills plans to try to make sure that we helped people furthest from the labour market, including significant numbers of disabled people.

As to the service we broadly provide, we make sure that's advertised through a network of disabled people's organisations and employability providers, and the first port of call for anybody looking for help and support is the Business Wales service. It's a one-stop-shop. There is no wrong door—if you go to Business Wales, they will help you to find where that support is available. And Leonard Cheshire, which you mentioned specifically, are a member of our disabled people's employment working group. They help us with advice and guidance on emerging issues and priorities, and it's really important to listen to and to work with an organisation like Leonard Cheshire, which can not only tell us about their work, but the lived experience of people and whether we're really making the difference we want to.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Carmarthenshire People First—a fantastic independent charity that's taking a leading role in supporting adults with learning disabilities by providing independent advocacy, training and support to individuals who need it. The charity is led by a fabulous team of dedicated and passionate staff, spearheaded by Sarah Mackintosh, the charity's manager. Time and time again, Sarah and her team have gone above and beyond the call of duty to offer support to those who need it, especially during the darkest times of the pandemic. Whether it's organising walks along the River Towy, bingo nights in their headquarters, or delivering winter well-being packages, they do brilliant things and I'm pleased to champion them in the Senedd today. But given this brilliant work that Carmarthenshire People First do, can the Minister outline what financial support is available to this charity and others to ensure they can continue to support individuals with learning disabilities with employment opportunities? Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.

Thank you for the question and for highlighting the work that People First do, not just in Carmarthen, but in other parts of the country. I have done work in my constituency role with Cardiff People First and, again, it's an organisation that actually has disabled people making their own choices and fronting a lot that the organisations do. So, I've had a very positive experience in seeing the difference they can make with and for disabled people.

Part of the challenge goes back to my response to Joyce Watson and about how, from a Business Wales point of view, to help people if they're looking for that experience, and there's a range of different areas where people can look for individual support. The challenge always is the resource we have directly available and the resource that other organisations have available too, whether local authorities or others. If People First are looking at a particular issue within Carmarthenshire, then I'd be more than pleased to receive correspondence and make sure that the right organisation, or the right part of Government, responds to you.