Found: RCGP Scotland notes that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, has confirmed

Found: In September the then Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Neil Gray wrote

Found: energy Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, Neil Gray

Found: For example, three weeks ago Neil Gray, the Wellbeing Economy Secretary, as he was at the time, and

Found: For example, three weeks ago Neil Gray, the Wellbeing Economy Secretary, as he was at the time, and

Found: I recall Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary, working together with the council leader last week around

Found: Letter from Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy at Scottish

Found: I think that people like Neil Gray, who is the Minister in the Scottish Government responsible for

Found: Scottish Government, Neil Gray MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development Š evidence

Found: Neil Gray MSP, Minister for Europe and International Development, had a meeting with partners and beneficiary

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the dates of meetings the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had since 5 July with her counterparts in the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport met with Angus Robertson MSP on 31 July and 20 August 2024. She has not yet met with her counterparts in Senedd Cymru and the Northern Ireland Assembly since 5 July.

The Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth met with Maree Todd MSP on 9 September 2024; with Neil Gray MSP on 9 September and 16 September 2024; with Kate Forbes MSP on 19 November 2024; with Jack Sargeant MS on 16 September and 20 September 2024; and met with Gordon Lyons MLA on 8 October 2024. The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism met with Minister Gordon Lyons MLA on 3 September 2024.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been discussing the new United Kingdom-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill with Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care for Scotland, and will send formal correspondence prior to its introduction. As the bill covers the whole of the UK, the Department will stay in close contact with all our devolved government counterparts, throughout the passage of the bill.

Department officials have engaged frequently with officials from Public Health Scotland, and the rest of the devolved governments, to help shape and develop proposals for new legislation. Each of the devolved governments, including the Scottish Government, are in support of a new and strengthened bill, and the benefits it will provide to the health of our nations. Once the bill has been introduced to the UK Parliament, the devolved governments will seek consent motions from their respective legislatures, including the Scottish Parliament.

@BambooSaviour @meljomur The FM has to be available as an MSP at Holyrood to answer questions and there’s no Holyrood election coming up. (Though it’s quite possible to move from Westminster to Holyrood as Neil Gray showed.)

Found: Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in the Scottish Government, Neil Gray said:  I am thrilled

Found: Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said: I welcome this long term strategic

Found: Neil Gray, the Scottish Government’s Health Secretary, said: It’s more crucial than ever that patients

Found: Neil Gray Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Scotland) I welcome the Department of Health

Found: International Development, the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP , met with Scottish Government ministers Neil Gray

Found: Vaughan Gething MS, Scottish Government Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Neil Gray

Found: Neil Gray, the Scottish Government’s Health Secretary, said: It’s more crucial than ever that patients

Found: International Development, the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP , met with Scottish Government ministers Neil Gray

Found: Members 09/06/2022 Westminster Forum Prof Brian Bell (Chair) 11 09/06/2022 Meeting with Neil Gray

Found: On the 10 August 2023, Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray approved the further implementation of No One Left

Found: item 4 – See Hear Strategy Hannah Tweed provided update on letters of concern sent from CPGD to Neil Gray

Found: Neil Gray Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care 4 Overview The NHS requires significant

Found: McGuinness 222 [REDACTED] 223 [REDACTED] 224 John Swinney 225 Kate Forbes 226 Shona Robison 227 Neil Gray

Found: Chairs •    Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care •    Caroline Lamb, Chief Executive

Found: Secretary for Health and Social Care Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Slàinte agus Cùram Sòisealta Neil Gray

Found: Energy Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Eaconamaidh do Mhath Dhaoine, Obair Chothromach is Cumhachd Neil Gray

Found: Tel 0141 337 8100 info@stuc.org.uk www.stuc.org.uk LS/TD 2nd October 2024 Neil Gray

Found: Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care welcomed the group, thanking everyone for attending

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment of

Found: Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic requesting that the previous written authority provided by Neil Gray

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment of

Found: Did Neil Gray or his officials initiate any of the invitations?

Found: redacted: s.38(1)(b)] Deputy Private Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Neil Gray

Found: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 January 2025 COSLA and the Scottish Government published Scotland’s first

Found: Regards [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Admin & Office Manager to Neil Gray MSP Airdrie & Shotts

Found: Your request You asked for, in relation to Neil Gray attending the Aberdeen v Rangers match on 17

Found: Scotland) 16 Swinney is urged to sack Gray in row over limos 'lie' JOHN SWINNEY was urged to sack Neil Gray

Found: Energy Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Eaconamaidh do Mhath Dhaoine, Obair Chothromach is Cumhachd Neil Gray

Found: Deputy Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy – Neil Gray

Found: Deputy Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy – Neil Gray

Found: Any correspondence between the energy company, SSE, and either Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Energy

Found: Energy Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Eaconamaidh do Mhath Dhaoine, Obair Chothromach is Cumhachd Neil Gray

Found: VISIT TO ANTONINE HOUSE CARE HOME, MEALLMORE 12:00-13:00, 14 AUGUST 2024 Attendees Neil Gray MSP

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the appointment of Carole

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the appointment of Evelyn

Found: (b)], (she/her) Assistant Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Neil Gray

Found: A new Stakeholder Advisory Group, chaired by Neil Gray to provide advice on healthcare reform, brings

Found: .- Any and all correspondence sent to and by Health Secretary Neil Gray and his office and social care

Found: Jan-25 Angela Constance Fatal Accident Inquiry determinations BBC completed 23-Jan 21-Jan-25 Neil Gray

Found: All emails and messages between John Swinney and Neil Gray in relation to the NHS and its performance

Found: [REDACTED] Deputy Private Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Neil Gray

Found: [Section 38(1)(b)] Deputy Private Secretary to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care - Neil Gray

Found: Media interviews: • John Swinney MSP, First Minister • Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health

Found: Speaking earlier on the program, Scotland's Health Secretary Neil Gray insisted This is not to be expected

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment of

Found: ScotGov Loan to St Mirren Football Club HI REDACTED, REDACTED Please see the attached letter to Neil Gray

Found: early November: (1) Maree Todd MSP – invitation with a guest to both semi final matches (2) Neil Gray

Found: Neil Gray Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care 5 Contributors and acknowledgements Nursing and

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, today announced the reappointment of

Found: Secretary for Health and Social Care Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Slàinte agus Cùram Sòisealta Neil Gray

Found: Care2024-09-25 00:00:00Meeting / with MSPsDouglas Ross, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party and Neil Gray

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the appointment of Sheila

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, today confirmed the reappointment of

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment of

Found: Note of engagement visit to Cairngorm Mountain 28 August 2023 Participants Neil Gray – Cabinet

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, today announced the appointment of Thane

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, today announced the appointment of John

Found: DOC 10.2 To: Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care By email: CabSecHSC@gov.scot

Found: NHS thriving once again.That requires action from me, as First Minister, from my Health Secretary Neil Gray

Found: 38(1)(b)] Assistant Private Secretary Office of Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the appointment of Janice

Found: early November: (1) Maree Todd MSP – invitation with a guest to both semi final matches (2) Neil Gray

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the appointment of George

Found: Brussels St Andrew’s Day Concert Scotland House Brussels, Rondpoint Schuman 6, 1040 Bruxelles Neil Gray

Found: redacted] [redacted] Private Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Neil Gray

Found: of Scope] Deputy Director Corporate Finance Financial Management DG Corporate Neil Gray

Found: Good Morning Scotland Date & time Tuesday 03 December 2024 7.37 Subject/Interviewee Interview – Neil Gray

Found: All communications (emails, texts) from 1 December 2024 and 4 December 2024 between Neil Gray and his

Found: On Behalf Of Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care 2024 Sent: 04 December 2024 13:17 To: Neil Gray

Found: redacted – s.38(1)(b)] [redacted – s.38(1)(b)] to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Neil Gray

Found: Previous engagements • 27 April 2023: The former Cabinet Secretary WEFWE Neil Gray MSP visited SEI’s

Found: Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray

Found: that was prepared either for the Minister of Social Care Maree Todd, Cabinet Secretary for Health Neil Gray

Found: “Neil Gray and Maree Todd must come forward to Parliament to explain why they have failed to deliver

Found: , TUESDAY 23 JANUARY 2024 – HORIZON COMPUTER SYSTEM SCANDAL Virtual meeting Attending: Neil Gray

Found: The Scottish Parliament | Edinburgh | EH99 1SP Regional 10 Panmure Street | Dundee | DD1 2BW Neil Gray

Found: Islands Region The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP Ariane.Burgess.MSP@Parliament.Scot Neil Gray

Found: Secretary for Health and Social Care Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Slàinte agus Cùram Sòisealta Neil Gray

Found: Dear Cabinet Secretary of Health and Social Care Neil Gray I am writing from the office of Lorna Slater

Found: the First Minister to make him aware of the issue.The total cost of the last six football matches Neil Gray

Found: 10 Nov: The Sunday Post and other outlets report that the Health Secretary, Neil Gray, along with other

Found: associated with the engagements For the following ministerial engagements by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray

Found: For Qs 1-5, could these all be broken down further to just include data on Neil Gray?

Found: Any emails received by or sent from Maree Todd, Neil Gray, Shona Robison and John Swinney's office between

Found: 25 29 4 Mairi McAllan 3 7 1 Maree Todd 9 8 3 Michael Matheson 1 1 0 Natalie Don-Innes 0 22 15 Neil Gray

Found: Suggested line below. 67 For information Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social

Found: information held regarding the meeting/video conference involving Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee, Neil Gray

Found: From: Neil Gray MSP Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 4:47 PM To: Minister

Found: Last September Neil Gray, who at the time was Cabinet Secretary for Energy, took a delegation of Scottish

Found: For your information, [Redacted s.30(b)] NEIL GRAY [Redacted s.30(b)]

Found: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray today announced the appointment of Sharon

Found: semi-final Venue – Hampden Park, Glasgow Date – 20 April 2024 Minister(s) in attendance – Neil Gray

Found: We also heard speeches from: • Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care • David Duke,

Found: Spouse Government Car Service 15/10/2024 Sports Event Scotland Portugal Nations League Sport Neil Gray

Found: held at these eventsHow many officials attended these events with Mr GrayWhat family members/guests Neil Gray

Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the joint visits by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to all adolescent in-patient units and the national child in-patient unit will begin, and how often these joint visits will be carried out.

Answered by Todd, Maree - Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport

The Scottish Government has asked Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) to undertake joint inspections of all child and adolescent inpatient units in Scotland as a matter of priority.

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and myself met with both organisations in March to discuss this. HIS and the MWC are working jointly to establish these inspections. The inspections will start once a robust plan has been agreed, ensuring effective oversight of the quality and safety of these services. We expect that this will become a regular programme of inspections depending on the recommendations made from the initial round.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-29010 by Neil Gray on 28 August 2024, when it will confirm a start date for the review of the NHS Scotland patient travel scheme.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

A start date for the review is not confirmed at this time – it is important that the scope and timing of the review is considered within the context of wider reform on access to health care, which is already underway.

It is recognised that transport to health is a key enabler to ensure equitable access to healthcare, and work to bring travel/transport and health planning closer together is in progress. This work will include bringing local bodies together at a regional level to consider the options for transport to health.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, on what date it will publish data showing whether the targets were met by March 2026 for (a) 95% of radiology referrals to be seen within six weeks, (b) no one waiting longer than a year for treatment and (c) the delivery of over 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, and whether the final outcome of these targets will be announced before 7 May 2026.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Statistics covering the period up to 31 Mar 2026 are expected to be published by Public Health Scotland on 26 May 2026 as per the usual release schedule.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, what specific action it is taking to reduce delayed discharge.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Further to my answer on 31 January which laid out in detail the First Minister’s plans for NHS Scotland renewal, I can confirm this will be further expanded with the publication of our operational improvement plan in March.

This plan will build on the work that has been conducted with Health Boards over the past year to improve hospital flow and reduce delays. It will set out whole system improvement action to ensure people receive the right care in the place, recognising that acute hospitals are not always the best place for patients or their families.

As part of this plan Hospital at Home will be expanded to at least 2,000 beds, by December or sooner, and will expand and coverage of treatment people can expect to receive at home and will reduce the number of people needing to be admitted to hospital.

By summer 2025 there will be direct access to a front door frailty service in every hospital with a core emergency department, to ensure people living with frailty get access to the right, specialist care for their healthcare need which will reduce the chance of a prolonged hospital stay and lower the chances of a care home admission.

A vast amount of work has already been undertaken in 2024 to date through the Collaborative Response and Assurance Group, including work with Health and Social Care Partnerships with high levels of delay to understand the challenges they are facing and support them to deliver the changes, a national media campaign highlighting the positives of Home First, and promotion and maximising of good practice such as the Discharge without Delay programme.

I am confident that with all the new measures we have laid out we will continue to see an improving picture on the level of delays across the country and that people will have access to high quality care, in the setting that is right for them.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, whether the commitments on increasing capacity for appointments relate to, or replace, the targets in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 for additional inpatient and day case activity, and outpatient activity.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Further detail will be published in the Operational Improvement Plan in March, as committed to in the answer to the GIQ (S6W-34287)

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, regarding its commitment to increase access to GPs, whether this includes the commitment in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 to recruit 1,000 additional staff in primary care mental health, and whether that recruitment process has already begun.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

While financial challenges have caused this programme to remain paused since 2022, we remain committed to delivering increased mental health and wellbeing workforce capacity in general practice, when budgets permit.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a list of Energy Consent Unit decisions made in the last year, and which of its ministers made each determination.

Answered by Martin, Gillian - Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy

All the decisions made by the Energy Consents Unit and determinations made by Scottish Ministers are publicly available on our Energy Consents website: https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationSearch.aspx

Ministers whose responsibilities included making determinations in the last year are: Dr Alasdair Allan MSP as Minister for Climate Action, myself as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Miri McAllan MSP as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and Neil Gray MSP as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. Decisions made by Scottish Ministers are done so on the basis of collective responsibility. All decisions reached by the Scottish Ministers, individually or collectively, are binding on all members of the Government.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33142 by Neil Gray on 21 January 2025, what the cost was of training Foundation Year 2 doctors in each of the last five years.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Details are as follows:

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-33142 by Neil Gray on 21 January 2025, what the cost was of training Foundation Year 1 doctors in each of the last five years.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Details are as follows:

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32799 by Neil Gray on 14 January 2025, whether it will consider commissioning a formal evaluation of the Softer Landing, Safe Care initiative by the end of 2025, in order to improve data on international medical graduates across NHS Scotland.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

The Softer Landing, Safe Care initiative was introduced in 2021. The programme is part of a coordinated offer that sits alongside the training pathway and is devolved for implementation at local board level. International Medical Graduates (IMGs), like other trainees, feedback their experience through established quality assurance processes such as the Scottish Training Survey. As such, the Scottish Government does not formally assess the initiative, and there are no plans in place at the moment for an evaluation.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S6W-33478 and S6W-33530 by Neil Gray on 22 January 2025, whether it will contact the chief executive of NHS Grampian to request the information asked for in the questions. 

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

This is a matter for NHS Grampian. The information requested is not held centrally.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with NHS boards to enhance access to mobile diagnostic units in rural areas, and what progress has been made in the last five years.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Neil Gray: Since 2021, we have provided three permanent CT scanners to support core diagnostic imaging capacity within Boards, including a mobile CT pod which is deployed flexibly to Boards that require additional capacity. In addition, one further mobile CT and seven mobile MRI scanners are being used across multiple NHS Boards to provide additional capacity.

In the last 2 years, the Scottish Government has supported the North Imaging Alliance to:

• Test a regional mobile MRI service, hosted within one of the North region boards, with the potential to be used anywhere in the North or across Scotland.
• Provide additional capacity (over and above existing mobile MRI arrangements) to accelerate work on reducing waiting times for MRI.

During 2024-25:

• The regional mobile MRI van is anticipated to remove circa 3,700 patients from waiting lists in the North, participating boards are Grampian, Highland, Orkney, and Tayside.
• 2,408 patients have received scans to date and have been removed from waiting lists
• This has saved NHS Orkney approximately £180k and meant 313 patients were able to receive scans locally rather than having to travel further afield.

Significant additional activity is already underway following the allocation of £30 million funding to target reductions to the national backlogs that built up throughout the pandemic. This includes over 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-32702 by Neil Gray on 9 January 2025, whether it will review its coding practices to allow for the identification and recording of incidents involving e-bikes, and, if so, what the timeframe is for implementing this change.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Scotland uses the ICD-10 classification for coding diagnoses. Public Health Scotland understand that no changes or updates for any codes in ICD-10 are planned, as work is currently focused on implementation of ICD-11, which in Scotland is likely to be around 2029-2030. It is also understood that there is currently no reference to e-bikes in ICD-11.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31784 by Neil Gray on 9 December 2024, whether it will provide an overview of how the Scottish Ambulance Service Special Operations Response Team (SORT) capabilities will be delivered across Scotland following the most recent review, including (a) geographic coverage and (b) resource distribution.

Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are currently reviewing its operational delivery model for SORT. The findings of the review will be discussed with the Scottish Government to ensure any changes in operational delivery meet with the expectations set out in the service level agreement, and that SAS is able to provide a safe and sustainable response to potentially hazardous and significant incidents.

Found: Gougeon Angus North and Mearns (C) Christine Grahame Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (C) Neil Gray

Found: Gougeon Angus North and Mearns (C) Christine Grahame Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (C) Neil Gray

Found: On 12 September 2024, Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care made a Ministerial

Found: Gougeon Angus North and Mearns (C) Christine Grahame Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale (C) Neil Gray

Found: I meet Lord Harrington, the UK Government Minister for Refugees and Neil Gray MSP, the Scottish Minister

Found: Cyfarfod/Meeting Geraint Evans, CEO of UK Major Ports Group 2023-07-25 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Neil Gray

Found: 2024-04-24 00:00:00 Agoriad/Opening Cerebral Palsy Cymru 2024-04-24 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Neil Gray

Found: Cyfarfod/Meeting Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for BEIS 2022-12-14 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Neil Gray

Found: Cyfarfod/Meeting DMCC, MCC, MFLG & LA Leaders re Roads Review 2023-02-08 00:00:00 Cyfarfod/Meeting Neil Gray

Found: Chair, and the Scottish Government’s Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Neil Gray

Found: Michael Ellis QC MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, and Neil Gray MSP, the Scottish

Found: this statement today about vaccine equity, at the same time as my Scottish Government counterpart Neil Gray

Found: The meeting was chaired by the Paymaster General, Michael Ellis MP, and attended by Neil Gray MSP, the

<p>Diolch yn fawr, Mark Isherwood, and I look forward as well to my visit on Friday to the Polish integration centre. Also, just in terms of links to the third sector and faith groups, I'm also very much looking forward to meeting Link International in north Wales during my visit later this week. Also, I will be holding a meeting next week with the third sector, which includes the faith groups.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I think it is important to recognise that we are pleased to be providing sanctuary for so many people. There's been a huge team Wales response to a terrible ongoing conflict, as you said. And it's this partnership approach that will continue as we support people to move on into longer term accommodation, either to hosts or into private or social housing across Wales. I've already identified the very good news that 1,200 have moved on, 800 into other hosts or, indeed, to private rented accommodation.</p>
<p>You ask about the ways in which we are supporting working with local authorities to provide interim and longer term accommodation. This is about all those in housing need in Wales, making sure that we use the transitional accommodation capital programme. We're investing £89 million through that programme to deliver more good-quality longer term accommodation, and it will help everyone in housing need. We're also investing over £197 million in homelessness and housing support. But we've taken the decision, as I've said, to include that £40 million in our draft budget, to continue our support for the people of Ukraine in this coming financial year. And these allocations underpin and highlight our commitment to supporting Ukrainian guests as they come to Wales.&nbsp;And I think it's important, in terms of that £89 million, that this is enabling local authorities to develop innovative ways in which they can accommodate those in housing need.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I think it's important to say in terms of the UK Government that we're very disappointed with the funding announcements they've made; I've made that clear in my statement. We believe the decisions to cut integration tariff funding for new arrivals, to scrap year 2 funding altogether, is short-sighted and counter-productive, because local authorities are working tirelessly to support Ukrainians and their hosts, but these funding cuts withdraw vital funding at a time of immense pressure on public services. I met the UK Minister, Felicity Buchan,&nbsp;before Christmas, with the Minister for refugees from Scotland, Neil Gray, and, indeed, we've got a meeting next week with Felicity Buchan. So, I'm glad that, again, Mark, we are moving forward on a trilateral basis to raise these issues. But there's no clarity, as I said in my statement, about the £150 million housing support that was announced before Christmas.</p>
<p>Just in terms of the breakdown or ending of placements, if, for any reason, sponsorship arrangements need to be ended early, the local authority is the one that should be notified. The authority needs to be notified as soon as possible. They'll help Ukrainians. They're all working flat out across Wales to help Ukrainians in these situations. But, also, we're funding the Welsh Refugee Council to provide support for those who need support directly, and they can in fact contact the Welsh Refugee Council. If we look at the nation of sanctuary website, the numbers are given, and they can contact and they will get bespoke advice and support on an individual family household basis. But this is about a partnership that we have with Housing Justice Cymru and Asylum Justice Cymru, who are also helping Ukrainian guests with immigration problems and questions as well.</p>
<p>So, as you know, this is about the team Wales approach, working together, supporting all of those who come to stay and live with us here in Wales, and giving them the support that we feel that they are entitled to. And, of course, many now are moving into jobs, into further and higher education, and we are addressing, and indeed the education Minister is clearly addressing, many of the issues that you've raised in terms of access to education. But also, we are addressing the issues relating to qualifications as well. This is something where, I think, in terms of the powers that we've got—. We've updated eligibility guidance for post-16 funding for those arriving under the Home Office Ukraine visa schemes, and all universities are keen to offer refuge for academics and students, and also working on the issues regarding the transferability of qualifications.</p>

<p>Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to provide an update to Members about our ongoing work to support people from Ukraine seeking sanctuary in Wales.</p>
<p>When I last updated you in October, Wales had welcomed just under 6,000 Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, including under our supersponsor route. Arrivals have continued at a slow but steady pace, and just over 6,100 Ukrainians sponsored by the Welsh Government and Welsh households had arrived in Wales by 15 November. There have been additional arrivals under the Ukraine family scheme, but we are not given that data by the UK Government.</p>
<p>More than 8,450 visas have now been granted to people from Ukraine who have sponsors in Wales, so we can expect the number of arrivals to continue to grow. We are mindful that events in Ukraine can have a direct impact on the number of Ukrainians who may arrive in Wales, and although we have seen a small number of individuals seeking to return to Wales after a period back in Ukraine, we are not seeing a significant change at present.&nbsp;</p>
<p>I was very disappointed not to see any clarity in the autumn statement about the financial future of the Ukraine schemes. We have repeatedly called for funding parity between the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the Ukraine family scheme and the Ukraine extension scheme. We urgently need confirmation of year 2 and 3 funding to support the delivery of public services, as well as continued and uplifted host 'thank you' payments. The latter would ensure hosting arrangements can continue despite cost-of-living impacts.</p>
<p>Without certainty around future funding, Welsh Government, local government and Welsh hosts are all facing difficult choices about the support we can provide to Ukrainians seeking sanctuary. We hope the UK Government will provide this clarity quickly. In response to my letters to UK Ministers about these issues, I am pleased to say that I heard from the new lead Minister for Homes for Ukraine, Felicity Buchan MP, last week. Despite this uncertainty about the finances, a meeting has been convened for Thursday with the Scottish Government Minister, Neil Gray MSP, and myself, regarding our financial position.</p>
<p>We remain focused on supporting people into longer term accommodation, so that they can have more settled lives. Over 700 Ukrainians being supported via the supersponsor route have now moved on from initial accommodation, over 500 of these within Wales, either with hosts, in the private rented sector or in other transitional and longer term housing. However, the wider pressures on housing across Wales mean that we cannot support people into longer term accommodation as quickly as we would like. We will therefore, continue to urge potential hosts to come forward and register an interest at gov.wales/offerhome. Hosting provides swift, flexible and cost-effective accommodation that enables people to regain some independence and to integrate with local communities. We know that some individuals and families have come forward to offer their homes and are still waiting to become hosts. I’m very grateful for their generosity. We are working closely with local authorities and Housing Justice Cymru to help support the matching process. But we still have nowhere near enough hosts to accommodate all who need support. We would also urge those thinking about hosting to visit Housing Justice Cymru’s website and join an introduction to hosting seminar to find out more.</p>
<p>I'd like to focus the rest of this statement on an important commemoration that we discussed in this Chamber in May. This November marks the start of the ninetieth anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine. This was the man-made famine that caused millions to die and was bravely exposed to the world, in part, by Welsh journalist Gareth Jones. The debate in May was an important reflection on those events and we committed to commemorating the event in Wales.</p>
<p>On the fourth Saturday in each November, Holodomor is commemorated internationally. We will be organising an event at Alexandra Gardens in Cardiff, alongside so many other important memorials to peace. The event will include participation by me, the First Minister and Counsel General, local government, religious leaders, and the deputy ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom. Ukrainians will be invited to attend and we will lay wreaths to remember those who suffered during previous actions perpetrated by a government in Moscow. After the commemoration, we will promote Holodomor remembrance on our social media channels to try to raise awareness further. Last week, we also wrote to hosts across Wales to ensure they knew about Holodomor and encouraged them to discuss plans with their guests.</p>
<p>Putin’s current atrocities in Ukraine are part of a longer term pattern of aggression against the people of Ukraine stretching back many decades, and marking Holodomor in this way shines a light on this. Gareth Jones, the journalist from Wales, writing about the man-made famine instigated by Stalin made clear that the affected Ukrainians did not seek pity and he remarked upon their fortitude. I think we can all see those characteristics on show in Ukraine again today. And whilst we honour the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of Putin’s aggression, we also reaffirm our commitment to help Ukrainians here in Wales to record their knowledge of war crimes committed in more recent times.</p>
<p>Through the founding of Donetsk and the reporting of Gareth Jones, as well as the more-than 500 Ukrainians who called Wales home before this conflict, our countries had several threads that connected us. Now, we are home to probably more than 7,000 Ukrainians and those many threads between our peoples bind us together more strongly than ever. I know all Members will join me in expressing Welsh solidarity with all Ukrainians on the anniversary of Holodomor.</p>

<p>Thank you. It's not often I start with a splash. [<em>Laughter</em>.]</p>
<p>Thank you for your statement. As you said, events in Ukraine can have a direct impact on the number of Ukrainians who may arrive in Wales. You referred to the UK Government figures showing that more than 8,450 visas have now been granted to people from Ukraine who have sponsors in Wales, and that just over 6,100 Ukrainians sponsored by the Welsh Government and Welsh households had arrived in Wales by 15 November. What, therefore, is the current position regarding housing for these Ukrainian people seeking sanctuary in Wales in terms of welcome centres, hotels, private homes and emergency provision?</p>
<p>When I responded to your Ukraine statement four weeks ago, I referred again to discussions you had or were planning to have with the UK Government regarding a possible uplift to the monthly £350 payment to people housing Ukrainians in their own homes. In your statement today, you said that you urgently need confirmation of year 2 and 3 funding to support the delivery of public services, as well as continued and uplifted host 'thank you' payments, stating that the latter would ensure hosting arrangements could continue despite cost-of-living impacts. But you also added that you're pleased to have heard from the new lead UK Minister for Homes for Ukraine, Felicity Buchan, last week. Will you, therefore, keep us updated on progress regarding both this hopefully developing engagement with the UK Government and the meeting convened for Thursday with the Scottish Government Minister Neil Gray MSP regarding your financial position with this?</p>
<p>We support you in your continued focus on supporting people into longer term accommodation so that they can have more settled lives. However, how would you address the statement made by a local authority housing representative at this month’s meeting of the cross-party group for north Wales—and I quote—that 'there is incredible additional pressure because of homelessness and having also welcomed refugees from Ukraine, and if refugees from Ukraine are housed by housing associations, this can create a perception to others that certain groups are being housed ahead of them', highlighting the will of local authorities to help, but the concern about how some in the public may respond?</p>
<p>You rightly state that Putin's current atrocities in Ukraine are part of a long-term pattern of aggression against the people of Ukraine stretching back many decades. This November marks the start of the ninetieth anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine, the man-made Soviet famine which caused millions to die. Although we welcome your organisation of a Holodomor commemoration event in Cardiff next Saturday, we also recognise the need for similar commemorations elsewhere in Wales. What consideration will you therefore give to organising such events, either alone or with regional partners, in the future in north Wales and other Welsh regions?</p>
<p>Responding to your Ukraine statement last month, I again referred to the document I sent to you produced by the Polish Integration Support Centre, or PISC, in Wrexham, detailing their humanitarian efforts to help Ukrainian refugees and their proposal for consolidated and sustainable support for Ukrainian people, including the construction of temporary housing, and asked you what engagement have you or your officials therefore subsequently had with them regarding this. Yesterday, I again attended a meeting with PISC, local government and business representatives, other agencies and volunteers, to discuss continuation of the humanitarian corridor organised by PISC to get vital supplies to specific charities supporting people in Ukraine, and in particular their Christmas Bridge project collecting shoebox donations for delivery to someone in need in Ukraine this Christmas, particularly 3,000 orphans living in basements due to air raids, but also older people, disabled people and soldiers in the trenches. They told me that they had not yet been contacted by you or your officials and asked me to ask you both whether you can use your position to help with their Christmas bridge project and whether you will meet them in the new year to discuss their continuing projects. I’d therefore be grateful in conclusion if you could also respond to these questions. Diolch.</p>

<p>It is interesting to remember, and it's not that long ago, that we committed to support 1,000 Ukrainians through our supersponsor scheme. We've now welcomed 3,000 through the supersponsor route. We also, actually, have a further 1,600 who we've sponsored who have visas but haven't arrived.</p>
<p>I'm looking forward, very much, to meeting Felicity Buchan next week, alongside my colleague Neil Gray from the Scottish Government, with whom we have worked bilaterally, and with former Ministers throughout our humanitarian response of welcoming Ukrainian guests. We will meet on Thursday this week, we've got the date in the diary. We will raise the issues about funding, particularly in terms of the £350 'thank you' payment for hosts, which previous refugee Minister Richard Harrington suggested should be up to £500 if not doubled. So, we are hoping that this will be something that we can progress with them. Of course, I will report back, I'll do a written statement following my meeting with the new Minister and take that forward.</p>
<p>Onward accommodation is crucial, and that's where we work with local authorities. It's good to have that feedback from north Wales. We have a framework for accommodation that sets out expectations for local authorities, and it actually makes sure that we're working together on how we can rehouse and support Ukrainian guests as they move into longer term accommodation. It's a mixture of accommodation, as I've said. Some people are moving into hosting arrangements from a welcome centre, others into the private rented sector and other forms of good-quality transitional accommodation. But you've made the point very clearly, Mark; as we recognise, we've got nearly 8,500 people in temporary accommodation already in Wales, and these are housing pressures that will only increase with the cost-of-living crisis. So, it's a huge challenge. I'm working very closely with the Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, on this issue, and working with the local authorities.</p>
<p>One of the key opportunities is the £65 million transitional accommodation capital programme that is supporting a range of initiatives by local authorities and registered social landlords. They are coming up with all sorts of options and opportunities regarding providing empty homes, transitional accommodation, a whole variety of ways in which people can be supported into next steps for onward accommodation.</p>
<p>Yes, we're having an event in the capital city of Wales on Saturday for Holodomor, but I know that, because there are so many networks across Wales of Ukrainian guests, hosts are organising memorial events as well. I'll make sure I can share any further information that my officials are aware of, and, indeed, through our contacts with Ukrainian guests.</p>
<p>You will know, Mark Isherwood, that I work very closely with the third sector group. I met them only a couple of weeks ago. That includes the organisation from north Wales who I regularly meet and you introduced me to, but also all the county voluntary councils as well as British Red Cross and now, increasingly, Ukrainian guests themselves. We actually have developed with them a participation and engagement strategy to ensure that we can engage with Ukrainian guests and much more co-produce policies for the way forward, and get their feedback. That is being implemented. Can I suggest that I actually meet with the Polish integration society on my next visit to north Wales, to Wrexham? We congratulate them on all that they've done, and particularly welcome the Christmas Bridge project.</p>

<p>Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Thank you for providing an opportunity for me to give an update to Members about our ongoing work to support people from Ukraine seeking sanctuary in Wales. When I last updated you in September, Wales had welcomed just over 5,600 Ukrainians in Wales under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, including under our supersponsor route.</p>
<p>Arrivals have continued, but at a much slower pace in recent weeks. Just under 6,000 Ukrainians sponsored by the Welsh Government and Welsh households had arrived in Wales by 18 October, and there have been additional arrivals under the Ukraine family scheme, but we are not given that data by the UK Government. More than 8,300 visas have now been granted to people from the Ukraine who have sponsors in Wales, so we can expect the number of arrivals to continue to grow steadily in the coming weeks, and we are mindful that events in Ukraine can have a direct impact on the number of Ukrainians who may arrive in Wales. We deplore the latest attempts by Putin to try to break the will of the Ukrainian people. We are continuing to work with the Home Office to ascertain the likelihood of the additional 1,600 individuals we have sponsored arriving in Wales, so that we can properly plan for providing accommodation and wraparound support.</p>
<p>In recent weeks, we have been considering the offer that we make to Ukrainians who we support in our accommodation under the supersponsor route. I and other ministerial colleagues have visited many of our accommodation sites and received feedback directly from Ukrainian guests and the dedicated staff who are helping us to provide assistance. We want to help people to transition from a supportive welcome to active integration as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>We believe that we can enhance personal independence and support people to move on to the next stage of their lives in Wales by revisiting our wraparound support offer. We will be aligning our initial accommodation offer much more closely to the support that would be received in other forms of temporary accommodation, and this will encourage guests to contribute to costs via earnings or universal credit wherever possible, after an initial short period. I have also engaged with my Scottish Government counterpart, Minister Neil Gray MSP, and I understand that they will be taking a very similar approach, as we learn from each others' experiences in our response as supersponsors.</p>
<p>Our supersponsor route is a key part of Wales's response to the Europe-wide humanitarian crisis. We must ensure that we are steadfast in our commitment to supporting Ukraine and displaced Ukrainians living in Wales, despite the increased cost pressures we're all experiencing. The support we provide here will have an impact on the family and friends still defending Ukraine. The changes we make will carefully balance helping people to be more independent, to move on to alternative accommodation more quickly, and to ensure that we have the finances we need to fulfil our commitment to the Ukrainians we have sponsored.</p>
<p>As well as my visits to welcome centres, I recently attended the Ukraine arts festival and the new Cardiff Ukraine centre. In each case, I have been struck by the desire and ability of Ukrainians, with a wide range of skills and experience, to integrate and join the workforce as quickly as possible. Many Ukrainians are already working, including a sizeable proportion of those in our initial accommodation.</p>
<p>We need to be conscious that initial accommodation should be a short-term provision, with our guests supported to move on to longer term accommodation as soon as practicable. We understand that our welcome centres, which are funded by the Welsh Government, are of a good quality—and we are proud of that—but they are not a long-term option for people, not least because roots cannot be properly established in communities in such temporary accommodation.</p>
<p>Last time I updated you, I remarked upon the good working relationship we had with the previous UK Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, and my hopes for a similar relationship with his successor. I am sorry to have to report that we have had no engagement from UK Ministers on these issues since Lord Harrington's resignation.</p>
<p>But we are at a critical juncture in the UK Government Homes for Ukraine scheme. Welsh households who signed up as sponsors are at, or near, the six-month hosting milestone that represents the commitment they made to their guests at the point of application. These households have done an inspiring thing and embodied the nation of sanctuary vision in its truest sense. We know many did not plan to continue beyond six months, but we urge as many hosts as possible to consider hosting for a longer period if at all possible. Where that isn't possible, we thank you for everything you have done for your guests and for us as a nation. For those that can continue, we have funded Housing Justice Cymru to provide advice, training, peer support and mediation services for hosts in Wales. More information can be found by calling 01654 550 550 or emailing UkraineHostSupport@housingjustice.org.uk.</p>
<p>We know that hosts in Wales are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, and this is a major factor in deciding if they can continue. This is why I wrote to UK Ministers, with my Scottish ministerial counterpart, to urge a quick decision on increasing the 'thank you' host payment to at least £500 per month from the current level of £350. We are still waiting for an update on this. We do need an urgent decision to avert a wave of homelessness presentations as we move into November, and I again call upon the UK Government to act on this, as well as providing financial certainty for year 2 of the programme, supporting the unfunded English for speakers of other languages&nbsp;provision and ensuring funding parity across the three Ukraine visa schemes.</p>
<p>We are now communicating regularly with hosts and Ukrainian guests, with a monthly newsletter being sent from the Welsh Government, and we'll build upon this with additional information sessions and participation opportunities. Alongside our funded third sector partners, we recently held an open information session, which I was glad to see around 180 people attended to hear more about our work; we are mobilising a Ukraine peer support group through Displaced People in Action; and we'll also soon survey our Ukrainian guests to better understand their unmet skills and employment needs. Ukrainians are clearly integrating very well indeed, but we will continue to consider any action we can take to make this as effective and supportive as possible. Diolch.</p>

<p>Thank you for that question. I've written to the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for levelling-up, with the Scottish Minister Neil Gray MSP, about Ukraine, and also to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about uprating welfare benefits, and I was pleased to receive a letter from Chloe Smith MP yesterday.</p>

<p>Thank you very much, Huw Irranca-Davies, for those two really important points in my portfolio for different Ministers in the UK Government. I met with the Scottish Government Minister Neil Gray earlier on today, and we now understand that there’s a new Minister for refugees in the department for levelling-up, so we’re writing to him today to again call for an increase in the £350 payment, which actually was called for by the previous Conservative refugee Minister, Richard Harrington. He said it should be doubled; we said at least £500, because so many of the host families want to continue, and also we have new host families coming forward. But also we’re writing to them about many other issues to do with the fact that there’s no guarantee of money for the next two years. We still have no money from the Government for English-for-speakers-of-other-languages provision or for health services.</p>
<p>Now, very important is the point that you make, and not just in terms of uprating benefits in line with inflation. Let’s wait and see if this Government actually does stand by that commitment made by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak that they would uprate welfare benefits in line with inflation. I hope we have a strong message from this Chamber today, on which we expect and we hope that our Conservative colleagues will back us. Hearing Iain Duncan Smith saying, ‘Well, obviously, it makes sense, doesn’t it, because they actually spend money in their communities’, was quite interesting yesterday.</p>
<p>But I have to say, we have also written—I’ve written, with the Scottish Minister for social justice and the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for social justice—about this important issue of abolishing the benefit cap, which undermines so many in their living costs, and also the two-child limit, saying that we should uplift the UK universal credit to £25 per week, not the £20 that we lost before. So, there is a lot for us to do in taking this forward with the UK Government.</p>

<p>In recent weeks, we have seen a change of UK Government and, with it, the resignation of the UK Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington. Whilst we had some particular requests of the UK Government, which have not been implemented—from funding, safeguarding processes and improvements to the visa system—Lord Harrington was always willing to make himself available to discuss matters with devolved Governments and be open about his views. We welcomed that engagement and we are asking the UK Government to continue this as part of the new Government's approach.</p>
<p>Last week, my Scottish ministerial counterpart, Neil Gray MSP, and I jointly wrote to the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the new Home Secretary, to raise awareness of our pressing needs. Our letter includes the urgent need for the UK Government to increase the £350 'thank you' payments for the Ukraine scheme hosts, to ensure that we do not see a wave of homelessness presentations as an impact of the cost-of-living increases. We have called for confirmation of year 2 and year 3 funding tariffs, as well as renewing the call for dedicated ESOL and health funding tariffs, as exist with other resettlement and protection visa schemes. Additionally, we have called again for funding parity between the three Ukraine schemes.</p>
<p>As well as funding requests and a call for the reintroduction of a Minister for refugees, we have asked for close inter-governmental working in relation to supporting those who may arrive in the UK without a Ukraine scheme visa and ensuring those studying remotely with Ukrainian universities are provided with help to continue their studies.</p>
<p>As we move into the new school year, we are seeing many Ukrainian children enrolled in schools and many parents and adults now working in Wales too. We are seeing very encouraging signs of integration in Welsh communities, and we are working hard to ensure that Ukrainians and the wider community receive the support they need.</p>
<p>In July, the Minister for Climate Change published a written statement about our transitional accommodation capital programme. This £65 million programme is supporting local authorities and registered social landlords to provide more good-quality longer term accommodation for Ukrainians, as well as looking much more widely to support all homelessness needs in Wales. We need to provide good-quality transitional accommodation options to enable everyone to get on with their lives—places people can call their own—while we support individuals and families to find a permanent home.</p>
<p>Ukrainians on the Homes for Ukraine scheme can receive advice from the Welsh Government-funded Wales sanctuary service. The service is run by the Welsh Refugee Council, along with Asylum Justice, Displaced People in Action, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales, BAWSO and TGP Cymru. Ukrainians on the Ukraine family scheme can also receive integration support via our partnership with British Red Cross. More information on these services can be found on our sanctuary website.</p>
<p>I'm very happy today to say that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change has also agreed to extend the free public transport offer for people seeking sanctuary—the 'welcome ticket'—until at least March 2023. Eligibility criteria have been updated and will be available shortly on the Welsh Government website.</p>
<p>Finally, I want to say that, earlier this year, we made a £1 million donation to the Community Foundation Wales Nation of Sanctuary Croeso fund. Sizable awards have now been made to the Welsh Refugee Coalition and Oasis Cardiff, as well as small grants to other organisations, to ensure people seeking sanctuary can be supported, irrespective of their national origin. All contributions to the fund will be used to help people fleeing terrible circumstances, and I call on organisations and businesses to consider making a corporate donation to play your part in our nation of sanctuary efforts.</p>
<p>We are immensely thankful to those across Wales who are acting as hosts to Ukrainians. Acting as a host is a big commitment and we want to ensure that it is supported. We have funded Housing Justice Cymru to provide a host support service, which includes expert and reliable information, training, advice and guidance for people hosting, or those considering hosting, on the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Wales.&nbsp;More information on sessions and training can be found on the Housing Justice Cymru website.&nbsp;However, we still need many more households to consider whether they could provide a home for six to 12 months for those in need, and if anyone is considering this, we encourage them to register their interest at gov.wales/offerhome, and to attend one of the introduction to hosting sessions facilitated by Housing Justice Cymru.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We are developing a regular timetable of communications with our Ukrainian guests and hosts to ensure that they are regularly informed about updates, opportunities and available support. In addition, we are planning to engage with arrivals to better understand aspirations, challenges and integration since arrival in Wales. Throughout this crisis, Wales has lived up to its aspiration as a nation of sanctuary and it is vital that we hear the voice of those who have arrived and are settling in Wales to ensure that our response meets their needs. Finally—very finally—with the conflict in Ukraine, Llywydd, continuing as a result of Putin’s ongoing aggression, we must ensure that we stand ready together to continue to welcome people into our country and into our homes.</p>

<p>Thank you very much, Mark Isherwood. I think I made it very clear in my statement how important it was to have a Minister for refugees, Richard Harrington. Actually, we were meeting with him on a fortnightly basis; the job certainly wasn’t done. He played a very important role. He actually resigned the day before the leadership of the Conservative Party was announced, and I believe that his understanding, from the meeting we had only a week before—. He was actually going to come down to Wales; we had it in the diary. We were going to go and visit a welcome centre together. The job certainly isn’t done.</p>
<p>I am pleased to hear from my officials that, in terms of the role that was played and the important issues that we were raising with the then Minister for refugees, there is a recognition that that needs to be followed through. I would be very interested to see what reply we get from the Home Secretary and Simon Clarke, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. I’m very happy to share the letter that we wrote, myself and Neil Gray. We reiterated the points that we were discussing. We paid tribute to Lord Richard Harrington for his commitment. We asked if there was going to be a UK Minister with portfolio responsibility, not just, I have to say—. In terms of his ministerial responsibility, it wasn’t just for Ukraine, it was for Afghan and Hong Kong welcome schemes as well. We'd very much welcome a dedicated Minister, and would support the appointment of a successor.</p>
<p>But we raised the issues—the financial issues, the real issues—that are now causing a great deal of concern. He called—and publicly, actually—for a doubling of the £350 monthly thank-you payment to hosts. We asked for an increase at least to £500, or up again, doubling to £700 per month. An urgent decision is needed regarding this, because the hosts now, as they reach the end of their six-month period—. That is beginning to start; we’re writing to all hosts to see if they will continue. This is a crucial issue. We asked for quick decisions, and I hope you—as I perhaps asked you last week when we had a briefing about this—and your colleagues will also urge for a quick decision on this funding package.</p>
<p>Also, in terms of the funding package, which we’ve raised on a regular basis, we have no information. And of course, the finance Minister has raised this as well about year 2, year 3. We have no funding for ESOL services from the UK Government, or indeed tariffs for health either—both, actually, that were provided to the Afghan resettlement scheme. I’ve had no contact from the immigration Minister about this, or any other responsibility in relation to refugees and migrants.</p>
<p>I look forward perhaps that maybe we might have some telephone calls from not only the Prime Minister but other Ministers to us in Government. It’s vital that we do actually engage with them and follow this through. There is a huge job of work to be done here. We’re taking responsibility in the way that I’ve outlined fully, and also funding not only our welcome centres, but also paying thank-you payments to hosts if they support a family who initially arrived in Wales under the Ukraine family scheme. That's not happening in England. The commitment that we're making is considerable. I hope everyone will join us today, saying that we need to press for those answers in terms of financial support.</p>
<p>You introduced me, in fact, Mark, to Link International in north Wales, a fantastic organisation. They're a key part our third sector network, which meets regularly with officials and with myself. They also, of course, link to all of the other voluntary groups, the WhatsApp groups now all over Wales that the Ukrainians are organising themselves, which is, of course, what we want to encourage. In fact, this coming weekend, they've organised an arts festival at the Sherman Theatre. I hope people will have seen that. I shall be speaking at the opening event. It's also being sponsored by key Welsh celebrities who are backing what they are doing. But it is important that the support from the third sector is recognised.</p>
<p>In terms of devolved services, I said in my statement that we are now meeting—. Well, I met throughout the whole summer with local government leaders, and we have work streams that run at official level on everything to do with the initial welcome, the move-on services. But we're meeting fortnightly at meetings chaired by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on Ukraine, because the local leadership is crucially important in terms of the provision of those devolved services. They are linked, of course, to the health service, to the third sector, ESOL, et cetera.</p>
<p>We did contact the MOD, and they had no accommodation available. There are many good examples of how authorities, universities, the third sector are coming forward, and, obviously, we would welcome anything else that came forward. But we followed that MOD contact—nothing at that point, or indeed now. But they are all coming together to make contributions. Also, I very much welcome the work that the Polish integration society has undertaken.</p>
<p>In terms of north Wales, we are very thankful to all the authorities in north Wales, all the third sector, to the universities as well, who are engaging, both Bangor and Glyndŵr. There is excellent work in terms of welcome and also, of course, those family hosts.</p>