Hannah Blythyn: This year is especially poignant. Remembrance has its focus on past sacrifices made by those from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, but today, we see terrible bloodshed, loss and distress in Ukraine. Our hearts, our support and our solidarity go out to the people of Ukraine, including those who have made their homes here in Wales. This year is also significant as we remember the...
Hannah Blythyn: Diolch, Llywydd. This debate falls in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday, when, once again, we will pause our daily lives to reflect and remember all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in past conflicts. We think also of those who have served over the years and those still serving today, their families and their friends.
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his question. My point, in terms of the Wales veterans commissioner is that it is an appointment of the UK Government, and therefore not directly accountable to the Welsh Government. As I said, I have met him a number of times, it's still early days; he came into post in June and it's a part-time position. In fact, I was with the veterans commissioner just this morning...
Hannah Blythyn: The Veterans' Commissioner for Wales is a UK Government appointment and is therefore not directly accountable to Welsh Government. However, the commissioner is an important advocate for veterans in Wales. I have met him a number of times and look forward to working in partnership with him for the benefit of our veterans.
Hannah Blythyn: Can I genuinely thank the Member for his thoughtful and considered contribution there? I want to start off by saying, James, I'm sure you'd be very welcome to rejoin Unison, but I think there was a ripple—[Interruption.]—there was a ripple of shock waves from the benches next to you with your revelation of being a former trade union member. But trade unions are for everybody, and as we...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for his question? It'll come as no surprise to others in the Chamber that I wholeheartedly agree with the points that Jack Sargeant made there. I think the approach of the UK Government when it comes to trade unions and workers' rights in particular, and particularly their hidden-away, almost, announcement of their intention to try and repeal the Trade Union (Wales)...
Hannah Blythyn: We work in social partnership and are embedding social partnership in public bodies through the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill to drive improvements in public services and well-being. This builds on existing arrangements with, for example, NHS, local government and the cross-public services forum, the workforce partnership council.
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank Peter Fox for his question? You are right to acknowledge the impact that rising fuel costs are having, not just on the third sector, but I actually heard today in a meeting with the Partnership Council for Wales about the impact it's having for people particularly in the social care sector too in travelling between people who they are looking after and caring for, as well. So, I...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his question and, obviously, for recognition of a sector that not only helps some of our most vulnerable in society, but also provides employment for people in communities right across the country. As I said, in the most recent third sector partnership council meeting on the cost-of-living crisis, the impact it's having on fair pay in the sector was raised, and,...
Hannah Blythyn: The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the third sector and its workforce was discussed at the most recent meeting of the third sector partnership council. In addition, we are committed to and continuing to work in social partnership and use our wider levers to promote fair pay in the third sector.
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Sarah, for those very well-said comments there in terms of calling out the risk of history repeating itself in terms of ignorance. Do you know what? I don't actually think it's ignorance half the time, unfortunately; it's intentional. And that kind of othering and the homophobia, that kind of low level, almost, sometimes—. It's inferred homophobia that is latent in some of these...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank John Griffiths for that contribution? I think he's right to shine a light on the role, not just of Newport City Council, but actually the significant part that local authorities can play in our communities, in terms of not just supporting Pride events, but then going back to what Altaf said in terms of their own networks, how they support their own staff, and actually how they...
Hannah Blythyn: Thank you, Sioned, for the support.
Hannah Blythyn: I think it really is well appreciated, and I think being able to stand and speak in solidarity on issues and matters that make such a difference to people—we're talking about people's lives aren't we—and being able to—. We talk about taking action, but you can't underestimate people speaking up and challenging and taking the right position on these things. There's very little for me to...
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank the Member for those warm words of support for Pride at the end of his contribution there, and also very much welcome the supportive comments around what we're trying to do in the LGBTQ+ action plan? I'd be more than happy, as we develop the plan, to discuss certain elements that the Member might have a specific interest in. As we do that over the coming weeks and months, I'm more...
Hannah Blythyn: Pride was born out of the need and the will to protest, to fight for equal rights, to be seen, to be ourselves, to be respected, to stand together as a community and to demand an end to discrimination. There is still more to do, and so we have a responsibility to redouble our commitment to continue to change history for the better, here and abroad, and to create a future where we recognise...
Hannah Blythyn: Diolch. Pride Month this year marks 50 years since the first UK Pride; 50 years since Saturday 1 July 1972 when people came together to take that first step and bring Pride to the streets of London. Five decades on, we can be proud of how far we've come on LGBTQ+ rights thanks to the activists and allies that came before us. But, we cannot be complacent, with LGBTQ+ communities under attack...
Hannah Blythyn: I thank the Member for his very considered question. I know this is an area that the Member is very passionate and committed to supporting in his role as a Member for North Wales, and it was lovely to bump into you as I actually got off the HMS Severn. I had the privilege of a tour around there after the royal gun salute on Thursday, although I would not recommend to Members disembarking a...
Hannah Blythyn: The Welsh Government is committed to continuing to provide support for veterans across Wales. This includes funding armed forces liaison officers, investing in mental health services and supporting Armed Forces Day in Wrexham on 18 June.
Hannah Blythyn: Can I thank Joyce Watson for the contribution? I know it's something you've particularly been involved with in the past, particularly within the construction sector too, in terms of tackling unjust and unfair work practices, and I know you've worked with both colleagues and me in terms of actually how to take forward codes of practice around this. This legislation seeks to strengthen the work...
