3. How does the Welsh Government ensure that local authorities fulfill their duties under the Equality Act 2010? OQ58518

I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. Local authorities have their own democratic mandate and responsibilities. Duties under the Equality Act are conferred directly on relevant public bodies. We can encourage and support local authorities to fulfil these duties, but the Equality and Human Rights Commission is the regulatory body responsible for ensuring compliance.

Key to the delivery of the Equality Act 2010 is the availability of Changing Places fully accessible toilets, designed so that everyone, regardless of their access needs or disability or reliance on the assistance of carers or specialist equipment, can use a toilet facility with dignity and hygienically. TCC, Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru—Together Creating Communities, a group of dedicated community leaders from organisations across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire, have joined together to take action on the issue of Changing Places toilets. They say that, despite assurances regarding their provision over successive Welsh Governments, going back two decades, including by some who are still Ministers in this Welsh Government, there are still only around 50 Changing Places toilets in the whole of Wales. They point out that, although the UK Government has launched a Changing Places toilets programme, with a dedicated £30 million fund for local authorities in England, all we've heard from the Welsh Government so far is that officials are undertaking analysis of the results of a consultation on Changing Places toilets and baby-changing facilities in publicly accessible buildings. So, when will the Welsh Government enable people in Wales who are not able to use standard accessible toilets to have their basic human needs and equality rights met, to enjoy a day out without the stress of worrying about accessing toilet facilities and thereby to increase their independence and overall health and well-being?

Llywydd, I'm aware of the group to which the Member refers, and it was good to join him at the annual general meeting of the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham recently. The sequence of events that the Member outlines is the correct one. The responsibilities in this area lie with local authorities, and the Welsh Government funds local authorities to discharge those responsibilities.

It seems like a long time ago now, Llywydd, when you and I were both members of the health committee here. We both sat on a one-day inquiry into the public health impact of public toilet facilities, and a very good, well-spent day it was, with a report that demonstrated just what an impact it has on people's ability to go about their daily lives if there aren't those public health facilities available. So, I don't disagree with the analysis that Mark Isherwood has set out, and, as he says, Welsh Government officials are tracking the money that has been made available to local authorities to see the extent to which they have been able to use that funding to advance the availability of facilities for children, as well as adults, so that those inhibitions on being able to take part in ordinary activities, which otherwise would be there, are eroded.

First Minister, the serious cost-of-living and economic crisis due to the incompetence of the UK Government will hurt vulnerable disabled people and women the most. Labour-controlled Flintshire County Council and Welsh Government, together with the business community, have established a pilot project to locally support disabled people to access training and employment to help tackle inequality and chronic skills shortages in Flintshire. Would you agree with me this is a unique example of an equality-driven pro-business council working hard to deal with equality at the same time as supporting the economy? Thank you.

Llywydd, I very much welcome the initiative that's been mounted in Flintshire. We know that inequality does not fall equally on all parts of society, and people with disabilities have long reported excessive impacts in terms of employment, their ability to access services and so on, and the work that's being carried out in Flintshire has that very specific focus on those people who have the most to gain from effective public service intervention.