Thank you very much, and thank you for bringing this important debate forward today. It is true to say that the situation of women has been transformed since the days of the suffragettes, but equality is a long way from being a reality. I do hope that Plaid Cymru’s amendments note in a practical way a few areas where this Government can bring influence to bear.

One of our amendments relates to healthy relationship lessons in schools. The education sector in England has announced that sex and relationship education is going to be mandatory in schools. Healthy relationship education will be taught in primary schools there, with a focus on building healthy relationships and remaining safe. And secondary schools will be duty-bound to teach sex education and healthy relationship education, where pupils will develop their understanding of healthy relationships among adults, with sex education taught in the same context. Schools in Wales don’t have any duty to bring these courses forward, other than to just teach pupils about HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

A report by the European Parliament notes that the Nordic and Benelux countries have the highest-quality sex and relationship education, and that report also suggests that high levels of pregnancy among teenage girls happen in nations where sex and relationship education is taught at too late a stage in their lives. It was noted in a report from Bristol university in 2016 that LGBT education is invisible within sex and relationship education and reinforces prejudices against the LGBT community. Research shows that sex and relationship education that is effective not only reduces pregnancy levels among teenage girls and sexually transmitted diseases, but it can also, of course, open discussions in relation to abuse of women and girls and reduce violence against women.

Now, 8.3 per cent of women between 16 and 59 in Wales suffered domestic abuse during 2016, compared with 4.3 per cent of men. Now, in this figure, 3 per cent of women suffered a sexual assault, compared with 0.5 per cent of males, 6.5 per cent of women suffered abuse from a partner, compared with 2.7 per cent of men, and 4.4 per cent of women suffered stalking, compared with 3.5 per cent of men. This shows a gender disparity that is clear. In order to change this, we need to introduce healthy relationship education at as early a stage as possible, and I do note that the Cabinet Secretary for Education has established a panel to assist with this work in Wales. But I also note concern expressed by some that this aspect of developing the national curriculum isn’t being given as much priority as it could by this Government and that we are at risk of missing this real opportunity provided by the Donaldson review.

I turn now to another of our amendments related to representation. In 2014 only two of every 100 of the top businesses in Wales had a woman chief executive, and in terms of local authorities, only 18 per cent of chief executives are women, and only 27 per cent of councillors are women. This is in stark contrast with the staff of local authorities, where 72 per cent were women in 2014. Now, the percentage of female Assembly Members has fallen to 41.7 per cent from 50 per cent in 2003, and my own party has room for improvement here. We need to reintroduce a system and a meaningful mechanism to increase that percentage, in my view. Plaid Cymru, in Government, would introduce management boards that were gender balanced in institutions funded by the Welsh Government.

I’ve only touched on two areas this afternoon, but two areas that this Government, in an entirely practical way, with the right will, can address and assist us to move towards a far fairer Wales. Thank you.