Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. Stroke, unfortunately, affects far too many people in Wales—the majority of which are preventable. Here in Wales, around 7,000 people have a stroke each year. One in eight strokes are fatal within the first 30 days, and one in four are fatal within the first year. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer, and more men than prostrate and testicular cancer combined. I welcome the fact that there has been a reduction in the number of people dying from stroke in Wales. There have been vast improvements in the chain of survival, and the new improved stroke delivery plan will, I’m sure, continue this trend.

The majority of us now know how to recognise the signs of stroke, which has added to the improved stroke outcomes. This means more and more people surviving stroke, but that brings with it other challenges. We now have nearly 65,000 people living with the long-term effects of stroke here in Wales. We have to ensure that we have adequate rehabilitation and long-term care plans in place to support stroke survivors. Stroke is the largest single cause of complex disability, and over half of all stroke survivors have a disability. With these points in mind, Cabinet Secretary, I just have a couple of questions to ask you.

The new delivery plan prioritises the prevention of stroke. With nearly three-quarters of strokes being preventable, this is key to reducing the number of strokes in Wales. Cabinet Secretary, last year, the Stroke Association, in conjunction with community pharmacies, ran the Lower Your Risk of Stroke campaign, which encouraged people to get their blood pressure checked, to check their pulses for any irregularities, and to recognise the signs of a transient ischaemic attack. Does your Government have any plans to build upon this campaign and roll it out across all health settings in Wales?

The delivery plan rightly recognises the importance of stroke research. Despite being a bigger killer than cancer, when it comes to medical research for stroke, the UK spends just one fifth of the amount we spend on cancer research. What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase the amount of funding for stroke research in Wales?

And, finally, Cabinet Secretary, life after stroke can be challenging for many, and I welcome the recognition that we need greater collaboration between health, social care and the third sector to deliver rehabilitation and support. With around half of stroke survivors left with a disability, what additional funding will be available to provide for the ongoing support needed for stroke survivors?

Once again, Cabinet Secretary, allow me to welcome the new stroke delivery plan, and I look forward to working with you to ensure we can deliver a reduction in the number of strokes, and improve outcomes for those blighted by this illness. Thank you.