SENEDD members from across the political divide reiterated calls for targets to tackle the scourge of child poverty after the Welsh Government published a “monitoring framework”.

Jane Dodds said a review, which was published alongside the child poverty strategy framework on Monday, makes the route clear – “no targets and therefore no change”.

The Liberal Democrats’ leader in Wales told the Senedd it should be ashamed that 29% of children are in poverty as she stressed: “We must do better.”

Pointing out that poverty targets are enshrined in Scottish law, she added: ”The Labour Welsh Government has no clear target on how to eradicate child poverty.

“If you actually believe your strategy will work then measure it … what are you afraid of?”

During a debate on the children’s commissioner’s 2023/24 annual report on October 15, she urged Labour to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

Ms Dodds, who was a child protection social worker for 27 years, said: “Keir Starmer says we must ‘share the pain’ – if you’re a child in poverty, you’re already living in pain.”

Sioned Williams warned children’s rights are being undermined by poverty, accusing Labour of putting party interests before children.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow social justice secretary backed the children’s commissioner’s calls for clear targets and outcomes in the Welsh Government’s child poverty strategy.

Ms Williams criticised Labour and the Tories over “unjust and damaging” policies, accusing Welsh ministers of being too cowardly to press party colleagues in London for change.

Ms Williams, who represents South Wales West, denounced the Welsh Government for abolishing a previous target of eradicating child poverty by 2020.

Joel James focused on growing use of e-cigarettes among children and young people, with 24% having tried vaping and 7% found to be regular users.

The Conservatives’ social justice secretary told the Senedd that some vape liquids are laced with “spice”, a dangerous lab-made drug designed to mimic cannabis.

He echoed the commissioner’s call for stronger action on banning single-use vapes.

Mr James said: “Four in five smokers start before the age of 20, and are addicted for life, and so we need to be acting much faster if we’re going to prevent this health epidemic.”

Turning to school meals, he said the commissioner reported that only 19% of children felt full after their meal as he raised concerns about standard portions regardless of age.

He warned of a two-tier system, with richer families able to provide a packed lunch and poorer children left to go hungry.

Gareth Davies, a fellow Conservative, said the report suggests the Welsh Government still has a steep climb ahead to make progress on child poverty.

“We have been ascending at a disappointing pace, unfortunately,” he warned, calling for a commitment to reducing abuse, neglect and other adverse childhood experiences by 2030.

He added: “30% of children in Wales are still living in poverty, which is way too high.

“This is higher than both Scotland and Northern Ireland, but it’s more than three times higher than Denmark, Finland and Norway.”

The Vale of Clwyd MS raised the report’s warning that nearly half of Welsh children aged seven to 11 are worried about having enough to eat, “which is completely unacceptable”.

Labour’s Buffy Williams, who chairs the Senedd children’s committee, backed concerns about single unified safeguarding reviews which incorporate multiple separate ones.

Ms Williams said the Welsh Government told the committee the reviews were world-leading and groundbreaking in an evidence session on child criminal exploitation last month.

“Yet this report raises a number of significant concerns about the proposed new reviews … governance, accountability and implementation of review recommendations,” she said.

“Worryingly, the commissioner is unclear about what changes, if any, have been made to the review process to address these concerns.”

Ms Williams also raised the Welsh Government’s corporate parenting charter, saying the committee is sceptical it will deliver tangible change for looked-after children.

Labour’s Julie Morgan pointed to progress on children’s rights including votes for 16- and 17-year-olds and the Welsh Government’s ban on smacking children.

The former minister focused her contribution on Gypsy and Traveller children, warning of a worrying trend in low attendance at school.

She said: “I’ve spoken at length to a Gypsy mother, who described the experiences of her teenage son in high school, and the extreme levels of prejudice and bullying he experienced.

“This is just not acceptable and we simply have to do better.”

Responding to the debate, Jane Hutt said the Welsh Government’s strategy sets out the aim of mitigating the worst impacts of child poverty.

On vaping, Wales’ social justice secretary said legislation proposed at Westminster will be the biggest public health intervention in a generation.

THE WELSH Parliament is set to hold a “historic” debate and vote on assisted dying.

Julie Morgan has tabled a motion calling on the Welsh Government to support the principle of assisted dying and Westminster proposals for a compassionate change in law.

The Labour Senedd member’s motion was co-submitted by the Conservatives’ James Evans as well as Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price and Heledd Fychan.

Ms Morgan’s debate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday October 23 at about 3.15pm.

The vote will be non-binding and Ms Morgan notes that responsibility for assisted dying is not devolved to Wales because it is a matter governed by criminal law.

But her motion says if assisted dying were legalised, the Welsh Government would require an in-depth understanding given its responsibility for health and social care.

Assisted dying typically refers to a terminally ill person receiving lethal drugs from a clinician to administer themselves but the motion extends this to people who are intolerably suffering.

Meanwhile, assisted suicide is the act of intentionally helping another person to end their life and euthanasia involves a physician administering a lethal drug to relieve suffering.

Ms Morgan proposes that the Senedd, “believes adults of sound mind who are intolerably suffering from an incurable, physical condition and have a clear and settled wish to die should have the option of an assisted death, subject to robust safeguards”.

The motion highlighted changing public attitudes towards assisted dying, with up to 88% of the public now favouring a change in the law.

It says more than one person a week from the UK chooses to end their life in Switzerland but many cannot afford the costs of end-of-life centres which can be more than £10,000.

Ms Morgan, a former minister, sought to clarify whether cabinet members, who typically abstain on member debates, will have a free vote as she quizzed Jane Hutt on October 15.

Ms Hutt, who is the chief whip and Trefnydd, a role similar to the leader of the house in Westminster, confirmed ministers will have a free vote as it is a matter of conscience.

She told the Senedd a bill on assisted dying is working its way through the House of Lords and a similar bill is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons today.

Trevor Moore, who is chair of My Death, My Decision, a grassroots campaign group, described next week’s Senedd debate as a historic moment.

He said: “We’ve been encouraging a debate in the Senedd for some years because we believe Welsh people should have their say on this important issue.

“It’s been a decade since it was last debated but this time we believe the vote will be very different.

“This debate will be about a law for people who are intolerably suffering from incurable conditions, not one limited to people who are terminally ill.

“It’s important that people who are suffering from conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and locked-in syndrome are not ignored.

“People who are suffering unbearably deserve choice, compassion and dignity.”

Speaking to the BBC, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby described assisted dying as “dangerous” and a “slippery slope” towards people feeling compelled to end their lives.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE woman behind Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm and Bug Farm Foods has disputed claims that insect protein ‘mince’ will soon be rolled out to school dinner menus in the county.

In a submitted question to be heard at the Pembrokeshire County Council meeting of October 17, member of the public Valerie Sutherland will ask: “At a recent Biodiversity Study Day, Dr Sarah Beynon of the St David’s Bug Farm said that VEXo – the ‘mince’ used in their spaghetti bolognese comprising insect protein and vegetables – will be rolled out to Pembrokeshire schools soon.

“Has a contract for this been signed for imminent rollout? If so, have the allergic reactions and inflammatory issues been taken fully into account as children with seafood allergies will be affected by the chitin in this product?”

In a related question, she will also ask: “Insects bred for human consumption carry parasites that are seriously harmful to humans. Are councillors aware of the potentially serious health implications of children effectively being forced to consume insect protein as outlined [in an accompanying study]?”

Pembrokeshire is well known for Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm, the vision of Dr Sarah Beynon, who wanted to combine her love of farming, academic research and education by setting up a centre of excellence in her hometown of St Davids, with VEXo produced by Bug Farm Foods.

Dr Beynon, responding to the published submitted question, disputed saying the ‘mince’ would be ‘rolled out’ to schools.

“I did not say this, as it is not true. I explained the exciting development of VEXo insect and plant protein mince with over 2,000 Pembrokeshire school children, teachers, social scientists, nutritionists, Welsh Government and Innovate UK, explaining that VEXO Bolognese was due to be offered on school menus in Pembrokeshire in 2020.

“Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic hit during the same week that we were due to finalise the roll-out with Pembrokeshire County Council. Schools were closed, so it did not go ahead. I mentioned that we are looking forward to revisiting this with Pembrokeshire County Council in the future, but did not put a timeframe on it.”

On pupils being ‘forced’ to consume the protein, Dr Beynon added: “We would never force anyone to eat anything they didn’t want to. Pupils are never forced to consume a food – during the previous discussions, it would be offered as a choice on the menu.

“Interestingly, 100 per cent of pupils liked VEXo Bolognese and one of the most wonderful outcomes of in-school workshops we ran was that children said it made them want to learn more about sustainability in schools. It also increased the take-up of school meals.”

On other issues raised by the questioner, she said: “As insects, like crustaceans, are arthropods, those allergic to crustaceans may also be allergic to insects. As with any other food, allergen labelling is vital, and all of our insect-based products are labelled appropriately and allergen information provided to groups who visit us in advance.”

She finished: “All plant, fungi and livestock foods have the potential to carry pests, parasites and pesticides that can be harmful to humans. The vital stage in eating them is how they are processed or cooked with industry-standard critical control points reached. Insects are no different. Insects farmed for human food are anaesthetized before being killed (frozen) and are cooked at high temperatures. Full microbiology testing is carried out.

“The fact that the resultant products have a stable ambient shelf life for around two years shows just how low-risk the food product is. Insects used in Bug Farm Foods’ food products are farmed in UK insect farms with the very highest biosecurity standards. Because the industry is relatively new to the UK and Europe, the legislation around farming them has been developed with modern understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare, meaning that it is some of the most up-to-date in the world.

“VEXo was specifically developed, here in Pembrokeshire, to tackle issues related to childhood obesity and nutrition gaps in growing young people. It contains about 80 per cent less saturated fat than a conventional meat-based Bolognese and is high in iodine, which is often low in teenage girls’ diets. Insects contain highly digestible protein, contain all essential amino acids, heme iron and a really good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.”

The questions will be heard and responded to at the meeting.