Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 5 - Tŷ Hywel. View directions

Contact: Rhys Morgan 

Media

Senedd.TV: View the webcast

Transcript: Transcript for 04/10/2021 - Equality and Social Justice Committee

Items
Expected timing No. Item

(13.15)

1.

Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

Minutes:

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting of the Equality and Social Justice Committee.

  

1.2 The Chair stated that if for any reason she dropped out of the meeting, the Committee agreed that Sarah Murphy MS would become Temporary Chair in accordance with Standing Order 17.22.

 

1.3 No apologies were received from Members. Jenny Rathbone MS and Sarah Murphy MS declared an interest for item 4 as both are members of credit unions.

 

(13.15 - 14.15)

2.

Debt and the pandemic - public services

Rob Simkins, Campaigns Manager, Shelter Cymru

Will Henson, Policy & External Affairs Manager, Community Housing Cymru

Lisa Hayward, Welfare Reform Policy Officer, Welsh Local Government Association

 

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 Apologies were received from Will Henson, Community Housing Cymru.

 

2.2 Members received evidence related to debt and the pandemic.

 

2.3 During the session, Shelter Cymru agreed:

  • To share their report 'Life in Lockdown in Wales'.
  • To provide further evidence on how they signpost people to the services and specialist help they provide.
  • To provide details of the correspondence they have had with police forces and Rent Smart Wales regarding illegal evictions.
  • To share more information on the lessons learnt from the moratorium on evictions and debt collections.

 

The Welsh Local Government Association agreed:

  • To write to the Committee about the number of council tenants who have fallen into rent arrears since the pandemic.

 

(14.30 - 15.15)

3.

Debt and the pandemic - impact on groups with protected characteristics

Lee Tiratira, Youth Team Lead and BME CYP Project Worker, Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team (EYST)

Cerys Furlong, Chief Executive, Chwarae Teg

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 Members received evidence related to debt and the pandemic.

 

3.2 During the session, Chwarae Teg agreed:

  • To share information on debt across housing and council tax and how the statistics break down into protected groups.

 

(15.30 - 16.15)

4.

Debt and the pandemic - affordable credit

Claire Savage, Policy Officer, Credit Unions of Wales

Sara Burch, Manager of Gateway Credit Union

Daniel Arrowsmith, Policy & Regulatory Compliance Manager, Association of British Credit Unions Limited

Karen Davies, Chief Executive, Purple Shoots

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 Members received evidence related to debt and the pandemic.

(16.30 - 17.00)

5.

Debt and the pandemic - think tanks

Steffan Evans, Policy and Research Officer, Bevan Foundation

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 Members received evidence related to debt and the pandemic.

(17.00)

6.

Papers to note

6.1

Correspondence from the Gender Network regarding gender equality - 15 September 2021

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1a Members noted the correspondence.

6.2

Correspondence from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding the protection of classified information - 21 September 2021

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.2a Members noted the correspondence.

6.3

Correspondence from the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill LCM - 22 September 2021

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.3a Members noted the correspondence.

6.4

Consultation response to the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and the Wales Governance Centre

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.4a Members noted the consultation response.

(17.00)

7.

Motion under SO17.42(ix) to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

Minutes:

7.1 The motion was agreed.

(17.00 - 17.15)

8.

Consideration of evidence - debt and the pandemic

Minutes:

8.1 Members considered the evidence received under items 2,3, 4 and 5. Members agreed to write to Community Housing Cymru and the WLGA for further information.

(17.15 - 17.30)

9.

Consideration of the Armed Forces LCM

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

9.1 The Committee discussed and considered the draft report and LCM. Subject to minor changes, they will agree the report electronically.