3. 2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:26 pm on 14 June 2016.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:26, 14 June 2016

Diolch yn fawr, Simon Thomas. Certainly, I think on your first point, it’s worth just spending a moment recognising the tragedy and the massacre at Orlando and the fact that we did bring together a lot of people yesterday outside the Senedd—members and allies of the LGBT community, people of different faiths, joining Wales with other nations in that show of strength and solidarity for all those who are affected by the tragic and deeply saddening attack in Orlando. Of course, we were able to have that moment of silence, very appropriately, at the beginning of this session today. As you said, the First Minister did say he would review that policy, and I’m certainly happy to follow that up. It was very good to see the rainbow flag with the Welsh dragon, and the recognition of that in the way that we as an Assembly had pulled together in support. I think that was very welcome last night. But I would also say that, of course, this is about how Welsh Government, the Assembly and Stonewall Cymru work so closely together to tackle LGBT inequality.

I want to say on your second point that I was also very disappointed. I will certainly be happy to not only approach the Leader of the House of Commons, but also to work with the shadow leader, Chris Bryant, on this issue. Again, it not only is disappointing, it’s disrespectful in terms of the Welsh Grand Committee, not just in terms of those entitlements and rights, but the respect for the way in which we here, of course, work together with our two languages.