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    Keep updated with the latest news, media coverage, news from the National Assembly for Wales, the Assembly Government and in Cardiff West. More

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Supplementary Question on End-of-Life Care and Marie Curie’s Daffodil Appeal

  27/02/2013   Joyce Watson: Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi pobl â chyfrifoldebau gofalu. [What is the Welsh Government doing to support people with caring responsibilities.]    Gwenda Thomas (Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services): We have been working with the local health boards to finalise their carers information and consultation strategies under the Carers Strategies (Wales) Measure 2010. In April, we will publish our refreshed carers strategy for Wales, and we have also included new rights for carers in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill.     Joyce Watson: Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. I look forward to the refreshed carers strategy and the social services Bill, which will be a decisive step forward for carers’ rights in Wales. I do not need to tell you that one in eight people in Wales now have caring responsibilities, and that that figure is closer to a fifth among older people. So, with increased pressure on families and the Westminster Government limiting disability allowance, it is crucial that carers get the support that they need. What is the Welsh Government doing to identify and to offer support for hidden carers, namely Read more [...]

Health and Social Care Committee’s Inquiry into Residential Care for Older People in Wales

  20/02/2013   Mark Drakeford: Yr ymchwiliad hwn yw’r darn mwyaf helaeth o waith y mae’r pwyllgor wedi ymgymryd ag ef hyd yma yn ystod y pedwerydd Cynulliad. Wrth wneud hynny, ein man cychwyn oedd ceisio gweld y system o safbwynt y defnyddiwr. Gwnaethom ganolbwyntio ar y penderfyniad hanfodol cyntaf i fynd i ofal preswyl, gan edrych ar y dewisiadau sydd ar gael i bobl hŷn, a’r cyngor y gallant hwy a’u teuluoedd ei gael. Wedyn, bu inni ystyried gallu’r sector i gwrdd â’r gofyn; ansawdd gwasanaethau gofal preswyl a phrofiadau defnyddwyr gwasanaethau a’u teuluoedd wrth ddefnyddio’r gwasanaethau hyn.   [This inquiry has been the most extensive piece of work undertaken by the committee to date during the fourth Assembly. In doing so, our starting point was to try to see the system from the point of view of the user. We focused on the first crucial decision to enter residential care, looking at the choices available to older people, and the advice that they and their families can draw upon. Thereafter, we considered the capacity of the sector to meet demand; the quality of residential care services and the experiences of service users and their families in using these services.]      Caiff Read more [...]

Question to the First Minister: Housing Benefit Cuts

  05/02/2013   Mark Drakeford: Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i wneud o’r camau a gymerir gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru i liniaru ar effaith toriadau mewn budd-daliadau tai hanfodol.   [What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the actions being taken by local authorities in Wales to mitigate the impact of cuts in essential housing benefits.]     Carwyn Jones: We have contacted all local authorities to ascertain what has been undertaken to assess the impacts of welfare reform. Of the 16 that have responded so far, five have undertaken bespoke impact assessments. Clearly, there needs to be a more proactive response from other local authorities in Wales in order to ensure that the most vulnerable people that they have are placed in the best position possible.     Mark Drakeford: The iniquities of the coalition's policy in relation to housing benefit cuts have been well rehearsed in this Chamber. Will you join me in commending the efforts of Cardiff and other Labour councillors elsewhere in Wales to deploy every flexibility that they are able to assemble so that, for example, foster parents are not forced to give up their vital work for the lack of a bedroom, Read more [...]

Contribution to the Debate on the Arts and Creative Industries in Wales

  Dydd Mercher, 23 Ionawr 2013/ Wednesday, 16 January 2013       Mark Drakeford: Diolch am y cyfle i wneud cyfraniad byr i’r ddadl hon. Mae pwysigrwydd y diwydiannau creadigol i Gymru yn amlwg iawn, a chytunaf â llawer o’r hyn sydd wedi’i ddweud eisoes y prynhawn yma, yn enwedig yr hyn a ddywedodd Alun Ffred Jones wrth agor y ddadl. Hoffwn ganolbwyntio ar y maes anodd presennol sydd wedi’i nodi yn y cynnig o ran datblygu system breindaliadau hawliau perfformio i Gymru. Yn yr un modd ag Aelodau eraill, rwyf wedi bod mewn sawl cyfarfod yn y Senedd lle mae’r BBC ac Eos wedi cael y cyfle i esbonio’r anghydfod presennol rhyngddynt o’u safbwyntiau gwahanol eu hunain. I rywun fel fi, sydd y tu allan i'r diwydiant yn gwrando ar y safbwyntiau hyn, mae’n dod yn amlwg yn fuan bod hanes cymhleth y tu ôl i’r sefyllfa heddiw. Mae anawsterau heddiw yn deillio o’r penderfyniad a wnaed gan y Gymdeithas Hawliau Perfformio yn 2006. Wrth edrych yn ôl, mae’n ymddangos nad oedd y rhai a wnaeth y penderfyniadau hynny, ar y gorau, yn ymwybodol o oblygiadau’r penderfyniad neu, ar y gwaethaf, yn gwbl ddi-hid ohonynt.   [Thank you for the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this debate. The importance Read more [...]