Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank everybody in the Chamber who has contributed to this debate? Most of the debate has been very good spirited and I think it’s important that we take things forward in support of our armed forces community and the veterans that we have in Wales on a cross-party basis wherever possible. I’m pleased that the Minister put on record his support for much of what we are proposing today in our motion, notwithstanding that he will still be supporting the Government amendment, and that that will not be withdrawn. I want to pay tribute to the Government, to be fair, for the excellent programme of activities around the centenary of the first world war that have been organised, and for the way in which there has been dignity in the commemorative events, and for the fact that they’re not just happening here in Wales, but where there is an important place, like Mametz, we’re also represented there and holding events overseas. I think that the impact that that particular service had on those who saw it on the television or were indeed present, as Andrew R.T. Davies, Neil Hamilton and others have indicated—it had a big emotional impact on those who were there, particularly hearing some of those individual stories that have been brought to the debate as well.

I also want to thank the Welsh Government for continuing to support Armed Forces Day, both in north and south Wales, when it occurs, and, indeed, the investment that you continue to give into the Veterans’ NHS Wales service. There is a capacity problem, though, in that service, and I’m pleased that the Minister has reflected on that and said he will look at whether there’s an opportunity to provide some more investment. It is clearly unacceptable that people are still waiting too long, sometimes, for an assessment. As the Minister wil know, and others in this Chamber will know, particularly when mental health issues are presenting, it’s often important to strike while the iron’s hot and, when somebody wants to engage with a service, to give them some rapid access.

I am a little bit concerned at the advice that’s been given to the Minister around security in relation to the census. I’m a big supporter as well of the Royal British Legion’s campaign ‘Count them in’, because it is important that we know where our veteran community is in order that we can focus our services on them. I can sort of understand it for serving personnel, in terms of security concerns, but certainlty for veterans, those who have not been in active service for many years, I think there must be some way of getting around the concerns in order to get things right. I want to pay tribute to the Royal British Legion, to SSAFA and to the many other organisations that support veterans in communities across Wales.

Mark Isherwood did make an excellent opening speech, setting the scene. He went into graphic detail about the futility of those battles on the Somme, and in particular at Mametz Wood, where many people lost their lives. There was a parade in Ruthin over the weekend, where 4,000 poppies were paraded down the streets to commemorate the lives of those Welsh soldiers who were lost over the course of that battle. When you think about the lives that were lost in the battle of the Somme on the first day—30,000 people, which is the population of the town of Colwyn Bay, the biggest population centre on the north Wales coast, gone in just a 24-hour period—it is pretty horrific. That’s why we’ve got to do what we can, not just to remember those events, but to reflect on them in order that we can avoid similar horrific events taking place in the future.

I’m very proud that CAIS and their Change Step programme is located and has its headquarters in my constituency, in Colwyn Bay. Of course, it’s a Wales-wide service that that organisation provides, but it’s in a precarious state. It has funding that will see it through to March of next year, but beyond that, there’s no security. I do implore you, Minister, to look at whether there’s an opportunity to fund that service, to make it sustainable into the future, because there is absolutely no doubt, when you speak to people who’ve engaged with that particular programme, the Change Step programme, that it has made a radical difference to their lives—very often grabbing them when they’re on that spiral of decline, having had problems with PTSD, and it’s pulled them back up onto their feet and set them right. And, of course, it extends support to the family network that you mentioned as well, Cabinet Secretary—a very important part of the jigsaw, which is often overlooked and ignored.

Suzy Davies reminded us, of course, that we shouldn’t just focus on this centenary event, but we also need some permanent commemorative activities and things that we can engage with all of the time and all year round. We have an idea for a national military museum at different locations across Wales that people can engage with. I think that that is an excellent idea that the Welsh Government ought to pick up.

On our proposal for an armed forces commissioner, again, I’m pleased that you haven’t shut the door completely on that, Minister, and that you’re looking at the evidence from Scotland, but remember, the Scottish commissioner is purely for veterans, not for the whole of the armed forces family. What we’re proposing here is slightly different from what’s available and on the table in Scotland. In terms of affordability and the way that they can drive improvement in services, it’s important that you don’t completely overlook it and that you do look to a commissioner who can hold those armed forces champions in our local authorities and in the NHS to account for delivery on the objectives that we all have, indeed.

Hannah Blythyn, of course, made reference to some of the activities and the work of Flintshire War Memorials in her own constituency, and I think it’s important to reflect on all of those.

Steffan Lewis—very briefly, you made reference to Chilcot and, of course, this debate comes hot on the heels of the publication of that report and, quite rightly, you reflected on the very difficult decisions that Governments often take, sometimes with hindsight that may have been different when people look back on history. But it is important that we reflect on the peacekeeping missions now that many of our troops are engaged in around with the world, and that we do all we can to support those who are in active service and who’ve had active service in the past across the country.

So, I commend the motion to you. I do hope that you’ll be able to support it unamended.