Inquiry5

The Children, Young People and Education Committee undertook follow-up work on its inquiry into the Emotional and Mental Health of Children and Young People in Wales

Following the publication of its original Mind Over Matter report in 2018, the Committee committed to keeping a close eye on the implementation of the report’s recommendations. Outlined below is the work the Committee undertook in the lead up to the publication of the Mind over Matter: Two years on follow-up report in October 2020.

Timeline since publication of Mind over Matter report

In April 2018 the Mind over Matter report (PDF 3.32MB) was published. The Welsh Government’s response (PDF 1.262KB) was published in June 2018, to inform the Plenary debate that followed in July 2018.

Following the Plenary debate a revised Welsh Government response was requested. This was in light of the cross-party consensus in the Siambr that the Welsh Government’s original response did not meet the ambition outlined in the Committee’s report and recommendations.

In response to the Plenary debate, in September 2018, the Welsh Government established a Ministerial Task and Finish Group chaired jointly by the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Minister for Education. The Welsh Government also agreed to provide an update (PDF 202KB) on recommendations by March 2019.In February 2019 the Committee wrote (PDF 76.1KB) to remind the Welsh Government of the request for a revised response.

In May 2019, the Welsh Government provided the requested update (PDF 824KB) on progress in relation to the Committee’s recommendations. An update (PDF 655KB) from the Chair of the Together for Children and Young People Programme was also provided.

In June 2019, the Committee conducted public scrutiny sessions to inform its follow up work:

20 June 2019 – Minister for Health and Social Services and Minister for Education.

26 June 2019 - Chair of the Together for Children and Young People Programme.

In July 2019 the Welsh Government wrote to the Committee (PDF 397KB) on the actions agreed at the oral evidence session.

In August 2019, the Committee wrote to the Welsh Government (PDF 163KB) outlining its conclusions and recommendations from the follow up scrutiny sessions. In October 2019, Welsh Government responded to the Committee’s letter. (PDF 471KB)

In December 2019 the Committee received a letter (PDF 1 MB) from the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the future of the T4CYP Programme. In response the Committee wrote (PDF 104KB) outlining its next steps.

In February 2020, the Committee sought views from stakeholders to assess the extent to which the recommendations from its original Mind over Matter report had been implemented. A stakeholder workshop was held in which stakeholders RAG rated the implementation of the recommendations The Committee also met with parents and carers (PDF 129KB) and representatives of the Welsh Youth Parliament. (PDF 143KB).

Final Output

In October 2020, the Committee published its Mind over Matter: Two years on (PDF 707KB) report.

The Committee received a response (PDF 119KB) from the Together for Children and Young People (2) Programme in November 2020 and a response (PDF 6MB) from the Welsh Government in December 2020.

The report was debated in Plenary on Wednesday 16 December 2020.