I welcome the Secretary of State here today. As one who’s sat on the benches with you, I can remember all your ‘hear, hears’ and banging of desks when you were here, but I can see you’re far better behaved now you’ve got to the Secretary of State position. But it is a real warm welcome to you that we extend from the Conservative benches, as it is your first visit as Secretary of State. I heard the comments you made in your speech that you hope it to be the last, but I do recall the previous Secretary of State saying the same words when he was here because of the progress of the Wales Bill.

Whilst many of the commitments today will of course centre on the draft Wales Bill, it is important to approach this Queen’s Speech debate with a focus on the raft of measures that will have an impact on Wales or those that will highlight the Welsh Government’s inaction in many of these areas. The provisions contained within the recent Queen’s Speech will act to deliver economic security for working people and improve people’s life chances. It is a set of legislative proposals with these core principles at their heart, and they should be welcomed. Many reserved laws will have a profound impact on Wales, whilst some England-only Bills emphasise issues the new administration here must consider as it develops its own legislative programme. These plans build on the work already undertaken by the UK Government over the last six years to stabilise our economy and emphasise the progressive agenda that supports our long-term futures.

At the heart of this Queen’s Speech is a focus on improving life chances for the disadvantaged. Where provisions apply only to England, it is important that we hear clear plans from the Welsh Government as to how they will ensure our nation does not fall behind. Indeed, a new care leavers covenant is hugely positive for carers and, as part of the Children and Social Work Bill, will improve those chances. We must ensure those in Wales have their life chances supported in a similar way, and monitor closely how developments in England succeed.

New reporting requirements within the Higher Education and Research Bill will lay down the challenge of social mobility to the higher education sector, and outline clearly the work that needs to be done to support progression rates for all. How such supply-side reforms will be matched here in Wales needs to be outlined by the Welsh Government.

The Local Growth and Jobs Bill also puts business rates in England under the spotlight and I renew my calls today for the Welsh Government to outline when it will bring forward enhanced rate relief for small firms on this side of Offa’s Dyke. There is a monumental risk of us falling behind in Wales on this issue, following other recent business rates announcements made by the current Chancellor.

Security is also a key element of this Queen’s Speech, and many non-devolved issues are at the heart of the agenda to help keep Wales’s communities safe, including stronger powers to disrupt extremists and protect the public. Furthermore, reform to prisons will ensure the right balance between punishment and rehabilitation, and support the ethos of giving everyone the chance to contribute to society—core beliefs for a one-nation Conservative Government.

We also know that this Queen’s Speech paves the way for the establishment of a national infrastructure commission on a statutory basis. This will deliver expert independent advice on infrastructure issues. As part of this debate, I hope the Welsh Government will outline how its own plans for an infrastructure commission—thrashed out behind closed doors with Plaid Cymru—will complement the work of this new body.

The draft Wales Bill is, of course, likely to be the most pertinent of Bills to interest Members in this Assembly. This Bill will deliver a clearer, more stable devolution settlement and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the UK Government as it progresses.

The development process of the draft Wales Bill is important to note. Key stakeholders have been hugely positive about the redrafted Bill, and the UK Government deserves immense credit for the listening exercise it undertook in amending previous proposals. I sincerely thank the Secretary of State for his role in this.

Indeed, my own party here in the National Assembly for Wales discussed at length issues around the list of reservations and consents, and the Wales Office acted constructively and decisively in the search for consensus. A reserved-powers model would be an historic step for the National Assembly, whilst the arrival of further responsibilities offers a clear opportunity to deliver Welsh-specific solutions to the challenges we face, including, and notably, over energy and transport.

Some of the good things about the redrafted Wales Bill are that the Bill does not do what it ultimately set out to do in its draft form and it does enable many areas of life in Wales to benefit from decisions made in this legislature. That is a game changer for Wales, in particular around income tax, and it’ll bring real accountability to the National Assembly for Wales. How these powers are used will shine new focus on this National Assembly and the public’s judgment of the Welsh Government.

Many of the principles contained within this legislation are among its most pertinent conditions. By establishing the permanence of the National Assembly and the Welsh Government in statute, we see enhanced formal recognition of this Assembly within the UK’s constitutional arrangements. I hope all Members will reflect today on how important that is.

It is worth reflecting that this debate takes place only hours after discussing the name of this National Assembly. It is this Bill that will enable us to make that decision and discuss other arrangements, including size, electoral systems, and the voting age. We must not lose sight of this significance.

Of course, the Wales Bill is part of a package of wider reforms that Conservative-led Governments have implemented. One such development is the fair funding floor, which Labour had 13 years to implement and did nothing. That was deeply regrettable. [Interruption.] I’m deeply concerned by the eruption from the Cabinet Secretary—I’m concerned about his welfare. [Laughter.] Are you feeling well, Cabinet Secretary?