I think much has already been said very powerfully in this debate, and covered, so I’m not going to touch on those areas that have already been covered. I want to confine my comments, quite briefly, to support for mental health in the workplace.

Could I start by commending the intent behind this motion from Plaid Cymru? But I believe the third proposal of the motion is a diversion away from what should be the main thrust of the debate. We could spend many months or longer engaging in legal arguments with the UK Government over the competence of this devolved administration legislating on employment matters. And those arguments are certainly pivotal when it comes to addressing, for example, applying the provisions of the insidious Trade Union Act 2016 here in Wales to devolved public services, but they are not what we should be focusing on when we come to talk about mental health issues in the workplace.

We do, of course, already have employment law that provides protection for employees against discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, although I do understand the mover’s reservations about the UK Government’s commitment to that. ‘Is the legislation strong enough?’ is a question, of course, that one can always pose, but perhaps the question should be, ‘Is the legislation being effectively applied in the workplace?’ If I learned one thing during my 30-odd years as a trade union activist and organiser, it is that you can put in place as much legislation as you like, but you will never put an end to discrimination of any sort in the workplace unless you tackle the culture of prejudice at work and ensure that robust support mechanisms are in place for victims of discrimination. That’s why I am fully in support of the amendment from Jane Hutt, which recognises the important role for employers in supporting people with mental health issues at work.

I’m also pleased that, in his statement in this Chamber yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport made reference to the Welsh Government’s support for businesses and organisations to recognise that mental ill health should not be a barrier to effective working. There are some excellent examples of major companies in Wales, like Admiral and Dŵr Cymru, that provide comprehensive mental health awareness training for their employees, not only to help them in their engagement with customers, but also to support colleagues in the workplace. These companies see raising mental health awareness as an integral part of their health and safety strategies.

I also want to give recognition to the important role that trade unions in Wales play in both raising awareness of mental health issues at work, but also being at the forefront of providing that robust support in the workplace. I’m particularly proud of the work undertaken by my own union, Unison Cymru Wales, which has organised training courses to appoint mental health champions to enable them to best support colleagues suffering with stress, anxiety and depression.

So, in conclusion, Deputy Presiding Officer, I’m just grateful for having had the opportunity to speak in this debate and to support the amendment from Jane Hutt, which, as I said, I think would make this a motion that all in the Chamber could support, and would provide the impetus for tackling issues around mental health in our workplaces.