I feel a little guilty that I haven't blogged for a while, but seriously, I haven't had a spare minute. I've been working hard on my child poverty brief this week following Brian Gibbons' announcement, and checking out what the UK Government has been saying today with regards investing in childcare. I have a meeting with Brian Gibbons this week to discuss child poverty, so to those of you who are interested in the subject, you are welcome to leave some questions in the comment section that I may raise with him. Valleys Mam may wish to do so as I know that she has a keen interest in this area.
Apart from that, I've been sitting on the Equal Opportunities committee at the National Assembly this week where we have been scrutinising the Government's Equal Opportunities policies, and the role of the new equal opportunities body in Wales, the EHRC. I also sat on the petitions committee where we heard evidence from Sustrans with regards to calling for an LCO to create combined use pathways in Wales for walkers and cyclists, as well as a petition on increasing the rights of young carers, and we met with people from my old school, Rhydfelen, who are fighting to retain the name following their move to Gartholwg campus.
I also spoke at the NUS Wales lobby at the Assembly on Friday, whose members are calling to increase the threshold on student loan repayments from £15,00 to £20,000. We don't currently have the power to do this in Wales, but I've asked Assembly lawyers to look in to what can be done, and whether I could consider putting an LCO in on a ballot in the future.
Oh, but I did take time out to see the Manics at the CIA this week, who were immense! I could go and see that band every night of the week, without fail.
It's my birthday tomorrow for anyone who is interested, and I'm off to meet the family for a meal at the Nant Ddu which is near Merthyr. It's a lovely place to go, but it is always booked up early, so we did organise this months ago! I'm looking forward to it, and to the start of the Christmas season!....................
7 comments:
I remember this elder stateswoman when she was just a young AM!
Penblwydd hapus Bethan.
Penblwydd hapus iawn Bethan! Iawn ta, i'r Funky Gibbon...
1. It is well known that isolated communities have lower take-up of all benefits, thus impacting on dependent children. What is being done to encourage full take-up of benefits in rural areas, and is there a target date for reaching full take-up amongst families with dependent children in Wales?
2. Children of school age miss out on free school meals during holidays, shifting costs too parents - which may lead to under-nourished children, or other family necessities forgone in order to afford a meal. Has WAG considered a free meal scheme delivered via holiday and youth clubs?
More later.
Had my lunch, now more questions:
3. What are the prospects for the 2010 target of halving child poverty in Wales?
4. Will WAG set a new target, separately from Westminster, if the current targets are to be missed?
5. Will WAG press for further devolution of powers allowing the development of a comprehensive child poverty strategy for Wales?
6. Will WAG press for devolution of national minimum wage controls and an uprating to a living wage, having benefits for child poverty and wider deprivation?
Diolch Rhydian. I will take these questions to the Minister. He will be in for a gruelling meeting!
Diolch am y neges Alwyn ap Huw!
One more I'd like to know:
7. The discretionary part of the Social Fund - notably, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans - are known to be failing to reach families who need them, especially so in Wales. What will WAG do to ensure that the Social Fund is properly funded, and that applications to JobCentre Plus are not turned down due to lack of available funds.
Can you tell us how the meeting goes? Good luck.
I will say how the meeting goes. I'm also meeting with Joseph Rowntree tomorrow to discuss this issue.
Great - JRF are one of the few sources with such economic and sociological expertise that everybody can trust anything they say on child poverty.
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