Respect, solidarity and fair play are the values which matter to the people of Wales, and these are now the foundations which underpin the government’s work to reduce poverty, tackle inequality and build fairer, safer and united communities.
That was the message from Deputy First Minister and Minister for Social Justice and Equality, Sioned Williams, in her first Oral Statement to the Senedd to outline her priorities.
Work on a transformational childcare offer has already begun. The Deputy First Minister today announced the establishment of the Expansion of Childcare Expert Steering Group, which will inform the rollout of the scheme and is one of the 100 days commitments.
This Expert Group will be key to delivering the transformational change, and the group’s central mission will be to firmly establish the phased delivery of the childcare offer, with workforce planning, improving access and streamlining application as clear priorities.
The offer, which will be the most generous in the UK, will help families with the cost of living, boost families’ incomes and give all children the best start in life.
Work is underway with local authorities to accelerate the rollout of funded childcare, including driving the delivery of 12.5 hours for all two-year olds while planning and testing for the next phases of expansion which will ultimately be 20 hours of funded childcare per week for all children aged 9 months to 4 years.
Progress has already been made on the Cynnal pilot, the Welsh Child Payment. As part of the 100 day plan an expert group is being set up and will be co-chaired by the Deputy First Minister and Steffan Evans, chief executive of the Bevan Foundation.
Working with partners we will develop an ambitious new plan to tackle child poverty, setting clear targets, benchmarks and milestones – addressing a key gap for which the last government was criticized, including by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
Work will take place across government to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Marking Pride Month the Deputy First Minister also celebrated the courage and contribution of LGBTQ+ people and the commitment to dignity respect and inclusion across Wales.
These actions will be underpinned by a strong commitment to promoting integration and cohesion
The Deputy First Minister said: ““This new government has been left with a legacy of stubbornly high levels of child poverty – I am determined to change that.
“We are committed to reducing poverty and improving life chances for children and families with an ambitious new child poverty strategy which reflects what the sector has been asking for – clear targets, benchmarks and milestones.
“Our childcare offer is the most ambitious in the whole of the UK and I’m pleased that work to deliver it in line with our First 100 Days Plan is progressing well, including an establishing an Expert Group that will drive the work forward.
“Our priorities set a clear and deliverable course of action that will lead to tangible results across Wales. They are tightly and clearly focused on the pressures people living in Wales face, the support they need, and the kind of nation we want to build together across all parts of Wales.”
