I’m pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this debate this afternoon. Safeguarding children and young people online continues to be a genuine challenge for society, and we all have a duty to ensure that children are protected better from the risks of using the internet. As Darren Millar said, the internet is an extremely useful tool, too, for educating children online, and previous generations could only dream of that. Not only is it an excellent academic tool that can support teaching and learning, it also provides access to the latest entertainment at the touch of a button, and it encourages children to develop relationships through social media. And although each of these areas helps to educate our children and young people, it can also be a very dangerous place for them.

The internet has demonstrated that, although it can strengthen relationships, it can put children at risk of cyber bullying, exploitation and abuse, both sexual and emotional. You don’t need to look too far to find some heartbreaking stories of children across the world who have taken their own lives because of the bullying and threats that they received online. Just recently, in my own constituency, a 14-year-old girl died at home following a hidden battle against cyber bullies, an issue that she had kept hidden from her family. Unfortunately, this young girl is one of a host of young people who suffer in silence at the hands of bullies who have used the internet as a platform to spread hatred and to abuse. We owe a great debt to these victims and their families, and therefore we must do more to ensure that the internet is safer for our children. I believe that this starts by having a far more open dialogue across society on how we use the internet more safely and more responsibly. We have a duty to ensure that that dialogue happens in classrooms, at home and in communities across Wales. I would encourage the Cabinet Secretary—and we will do everything we can on this side of the house to support her—to consider the establishment of a broad-ranging campaign in Wales, encouraging people to discuss the advantages and risks of using the internet.

It’s also crucial that the Welsh Government takes the reins by taking action on the NSPCC’s demand for a comprehensive strategy that would be supported by a digital support group to ensure that Wales is in the vanguard in keeping children safe when they are online. A public debate on online safety, as well as an online action plan led by Government, would hopefully send a strong message that the safety of children online is a priority for the Welsh Government, and that this is something that has been considered in earnest.

Now, schools, of course, have an important part to play in terms of safeguarding children and young people, and it’s important that teachers and classroom assistants are given full and up-to-date training on issues related to online safety, so that they can better identify those who are at risk of abuse online.

So, in responding to the debate today, perhaps the Cabinet Secretary could provide us with an update on the level and frequency of training provided to teachers in relation to online safety. Naturally, schools across Wales should look to adopt policies for preventing and tackling cyber bullying, and promoting online safety, which are appropriate to their own communities and their own local cultures. I accept that some good work has been done across Wales. As Darren Millar said, the South West Grid for Learning has been working in partnership with the Welsh Government since 2014 in order to raise awareness of issues of cyber safety in Welsh schools, and I note that they launched their own tool to assist schools in Wales to assess and improve their policies and safety practices. But as has already been said, only 78 per cent of schools in Wales have registered and use that particular tool, which means that 22 per cent of schools are evaluating things in a different way.

Now, while schools have to be proactive in drawing up policies that best reflect their own needs and the challenges that they face, certainly there is some scope for some basic standards in terms of how schools should measure their efficiency in tackling the issue of cyber security and safety. Now, the South West Grid for Learning has called on Estyn to establish clear expectations for cyber safety and to support and lead schools and other agencies in reaching those targets and standards. So, in responding to this debate, perhaps the Cabinet Secretary could give us an update on how far Estyn have got in developing those standards.

So, in conclusion, Deputy Presiding Officer, the internet is changing the way that we are communicating, and though I accept that the internet can be a great educational, social and cultural tool, it can be a very dangerous place for people who are vulnerable, particularly children and young people. It’s crucial that we speak openly about the benefits and risks of using the internet, and encourage children to be positive digital citizens who use the internet confidently and safety. So, I encourage Members to support the motion this afternoon. Thank you.