Bevan Foundation welcomes Assembly’s report

We were pleased to input into a recent inquiry on inequality and the impact of Covid-19.

We welcome the Equalities, Communities and Local Government Committee report on inequality and the impact of Covid-19 and support the overall recommendation that the recovery must be targeted at those hardest hit by Covid-19 and should seek to rectify existing inequalities.

We were pleased to give evidence to the Committee and to see some of our recommendations reflected in the report. We are glad the Committee highlighted the importance of Welsh support schemes and the recommendation for Welsh Government to review how local authorities are providing free school meals over the summer holidays.

On migrants, we were particularly pleased the Committee acknowledged our work on integration in Wales and recommended Welsh Government review the cohesion and hate crime plans and networks, with a view to developing an integration strategy in the long-term.

We also welcome the recommendation that Welsh Government deliver awareness training for front line public services staff to ensure migrants do not face discrimination when accessing services, and the Committee’s support for our calls to improve awareness among migrants of schemes like the Council Tax Reduction.

We hope Welsh Government takes forward these recommendations.