James Evans MS has questioned the Welsh Government on how they plan to improve the lives of care-experienced children in Wales.
Video from Senedd.tv
Video from Senedd.tv
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00:00James Evans.
00:01James Evans AM.
00:02Diolch Llywydd.
00:03First Minister, thank you for your statement today.
00:05During my time on the Children, Young People and Education Committee, I was truly privileged
00:09to meet so many young people across Wales, especially those children who were care-experienced.
00:15And it's very good to hear people across the Chamber today mention our care-experienced
00:19children and the work the Government's doing in this area.
00:21In the report that we put forward, the committee mentioned up to nine recommendations.
00:25These recommendations come forward from, actually, the young people who took part in that inquiry,
00:30with areas where the Welsh Government could legislate to actually improve the lives of
00:34looked-after children across Wales.
00:36On top of what the Government is doing, can you outline anywhere where the Government
00:39could potentially legislate in the future to improve the lives of our young people right
00:43of way across Wales?
00:44And on top of that, First Minister, I also look forward to working with you and one of
00:48your Ministers, Jane Bryant, here on the development of our Mental Health Standards of Care Bill.
00:53Andrew R.T. Davies AM Thank you, Mr Commissioner.
00:54On future opportunities, we do take seriously reports that are provided by our scrutiny
01:02and policy committees.
01:04The Government doesn't always agree with them, but there are times where we see the development
01:08of ideas that can lead to improvement in policy and delivery, or potentially in legislation.
01:13I'm talking today about the lesser programme we have, as opposed to what might take place
01:17at the end of this term, and, of course, parties will have their own manifestos for the future.
01:22There isn't a closed mind to what the future can bring, but we have a set period of capacity
01:27within the rest of this term.
01:29That is both the Bills that we have set out in the Government's programme, and, of course,
01:33the Bills that I've committed to, and the Council General, in supporting the work of
01:36the Standards Committee, which actually may not be a significant length of legislation,
01:41but the impact of it will be really significant, so the consultation and getting that right,
01:45I think, is really important, and it's an area where we can see it's not the length
01:49of the Bill that is the issue.
01:50It's making sure we get things right in the legislation, and the guidance that we'll need
01:55to come after that as well.
01:57I do look forward to continuing the constructive conversation we have had on the legislation
02:01the Member wants to take forward.
02:04With the UK Government that has just been elected, with manifesto commitments to revise
02:08mental health legislation, which is welcome, I look forward to seeing if there is a practical
02:14area to make progress with the Member, with the area he's chosen, and I know he continues
02:17to have constructive conversations with Jane Bryant, which I am properly supportive of.