Plenary 03/03/15
Stage 3 Debate on Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Bill

Group 9: Education about Healthy Relationships (Amendments 5, 6, 7, 11 and 58)

Janet Finch-Saunders
I speak on behalf of the Welsh Conservative group, and we fully support and endorse these amendments based on much of the evidence received for the committee Stage 1 report. This recommended that the Minister amend the Bill to make provision for compulsory whole-school age-appropriate education programmes based on healthy relationships. Welsh Conservatives believe that education and learning are crucial at the appropriate time in preventing violence against women and girls, and also, indeed, between both sexes. And where better than when inappropriate behaviour first presents? This is the right way to go about it.
Now, even with the Minister’s statement of last week, many remain unconvinced that what he outlined will go far enough. This Bill must legislate for the embedding of champions in every school across Wales to drive forward the healthy relationship agenda. The employment of at least one fully trained member of staff in each school, who pupils can call on for assistance and information on matters relating to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, will give children the confidence to discuss these issues regardless of changes to the curriculum. As I said before, it’s about when inappropriate behaviour first presents.
In addition, the appointment of such a champion among school governors and student councils will reinforce the principles of this Bill even further. As such, we would like to see this new section added to the Bill, and we will be supporting the amendments of group 9 on education about healthy relationships.

Group 12: Annual Progress Reports (Amendments 12 and 68)

Janet Finch-Saunders
This amendment makes an addition to section 11 of the Bill on annual progress reports by the Welsh Ministers. It will require the Minister to publish a report each financial year of the financial resources made available to achieve the purposes of the Act. The amendment will also require the Minister to report on any increase or decrease in the cost of services provided by relevant authorities in complying with the Act. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the financial implications of the Act can be effectively scrutinised by this Assembly.
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Evidence submitted to the committee during Stage 1 proceedings highlighted that there is likely to be an increase in the demand for services as a result of the Bill's implementation. The WLGA stated that extra demand for services does not appear to have been taken into account in the explanatory memorandum. In the light of this, the costs of the Bill might need to be revised. The Violence Against Women Action Group also raised concerns about the resources available to deliver the aims of the Bill. In our report, the committee noted that,
‘We also believe it is important for arrangements to be made to monitor the financial commitment of implementing the Bill’.
Placing a requirement on the face of the Bill to publish a report on the financial resources and implications of the Act will ensure that financial outgoings and demand can be effectively monitored and scrutinised. It will also assist when planning budgetary allocations and ensure that appropriate levels of funding are allocated to the implementation of the Bill in the future, and I thank Peter Black for his comments in that regard.