NDM6723 - Plaid Cymru debate - Child poverty
NDM6723 - Plaid Cymru debate - Child poverty
NDM6723 Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes the recent increase in child poverty.
2.
Notes research for Save the Children Cymru which found that: “By age five
around a third of children living in poverty (30-35 percent) were already
falling behind across a range of cognitive outcomes (i.e. vocabulary, problem
solving, dexterity and coordination) compared with a fifth of those from
better-off families (20-21 per cent)".
3.
Believes that responsibility for the increase in child poverty and for tackling
child poverty, resides with both the UK Government and Welsh Government.
4.
Regrets that the Welsh Government has ended the Communities First programme
without an evaluation of its effectiveness or a plan for its replacement.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure equal access to high quality early
childhood education and care for all children in Wales with a specific focus on
providing additional support to all children living in poverty, as recommended
by Save the Children Cymru.
6.
Further calls on the Welsh Government to take all steps within its powers to
tackle child poverty as part of a new plan for eliminating child poverty that
includes SMART targets rather than vague statements.
7.
Believes that such a plan can only succeed with the administrative control of
social security and that securing these powers should be a major strategic objective
of the new plan.
Business type: Debate
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: Complete
First published: 16/05/2018
Decision due: 16 May 2018 by Plenary - Fifth Senedd