AMs committee discusses Social Services Bill

An influential group of Welsh Assembly Members will be discussing the Welsh Government's Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Bill today.

The Cross Party Group on Older People and Ageing is meeting at 12.15 at Tŷ Hywel in Cardiff Bay.

Age Cymru provides secretariat for the Cross Party Group on Older People and Ageing.

Mike Hedges AM, Chair of the group comments:

"The Social Services and Wellbeing Bill represents a major step forward in the process of changing the way people in Wales receive social care and support altogether.

"We know that over the years, social services in Wales have been faced with a number of fundamental challenges, particularly as we have an ageing population leading to an increase in demand for services.

"The Bill recognises this and aims to transform the current system to better meet the needs of service users as well as deliver on a sustainable, high quality social care system for the future.

"I look forward to discussing the Bill in further detail with colleagues at the forthcoming Cross Party Group meeting, as well as evaluating the impact this ambitious piece of legislation will have on the older and ageing communities in Wales that rely on these services of a regular basis."

Martyn Palfreman, Head of Social Services Directorate at the Welsh Local Government Association, and Phil Evans, Acting President of Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru, are addressing the meeting.

Age Cymru's Policy Advisor, Amy Clifton and Ruth Crowder, Chair of the Welsh Reablement Alliance, will also be giving their reaction to the legislation.

Members of the Cross Party Group on Older People and Ageing will be questioning the speakers about the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Bill.

The group will also be taking questions from organisations representing people affected by the legislation during the meeting.