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Find out how the Bevan Foundation informed debate in the Senedd in December 2022
Although the Senedd was only in session for two full weeks in December 2022, the Bevan Foundation made a valuable contribution to its business during that time.
Council Tax Reform
The Local Government and Housing Committee is holding an inquiry into Council Tax and the Bevan Foundation was pleased to give oral evidence on 1st December. Speaking to the Committee, our Director, Victoria Winckler, said that Council Tax was one of the most unfair taxes in Wales. She urged the Committee to consider more radical reforms than those proposed by the Welsh Government, including changes to ensure that the tax better reflects property values and phasing out the single person discount.
You can read the transcript or watch the recording of the session here.
Child poverty
The Plaid Cymru debate on 14th December was on child poverty. The motion asked the Senedd to note the rates of child poverty and the impact of the cost of living crisis, and called on the Welsh Government to develop a child poverty strategy, underpinned by statutory targets, as a matter of urgency.
In moving the motion, Sioned Williams MS quoted directly from the work of Dr Steffan Evans, Head of Policy at the Bevan Foundation, including the Bevan Foundation’s views on the importance of targets in any strategy. She followed on from his quotes by saying:
‘This is crucial advice. This is what our motion is about’.
Later in the debate, Luke Fletcher MS took forward Bevan Foundation arguments to uplift the value of Education Maintenance Allowance while Cefin Cambell MS quoted more Bevan Foundation evidence on child poverty.
Several amendments to the original motion were proposed, with the resolution that was eventually passed stating that the Senedd:
Notes the significant investment of the Welsh Government in tackling child poverty and that in line with its current child poverty strategy, the Welsh Government will this month publish its update report and will be publishing a refreshed strategy in 2023.
The Bevan Foundation makes its resources and insights available to all Senedd Members on the same basis. We are pleased that we are regularly quoted by Senedd Members from all parties.
