Diolch, Llywydd. The Royal British Legion officially launched its Honour the Covenant Campaign in London in September 2007 and in Wales there was an event held in this National Assembly the following month.

Since the early nineteenth century, men and women have served and fought for their country under the terms of the military covenant, which states that those who serve in the armed forces, whether regular or reserved, those who have served in the past and their families should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration, it says, is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most, such as the injured and the bereaved.

Having been the guest speaker at the Royal British Legion north Wales district annual conference the previous weekend, I did a short debate here in January 2008 supporting the legion's campaign, and I concluded that this must be fought until it is won and that the Welsh Government must do everything within its power to assist this.

The armed forces covenant was published in May 2011, introducing a statutory duty from 2012 to lay an annual report before the UK Parliament that considers the effects of service on regulars and reservists, veterans, their families and the bereaved and also to examine areas of potential disadvantage and the need for special provision where appropriate. The Welsh Government and all local authorities in Wales signed the covenant and subscribed to work with partner organisations to uphold its principles.

The UK Government's 2017 response to the Defence Select Committee report, which followed the 2016 armed forces covenant annual report, commented on progress in Wales. In spite of this, however, there has not yet been an independent review of progress and delivery across Wales since the establishment of the covenant.

In September 2016, a number of armed forces charities working in Wales answered a call for submissions to inform the upcoming priorities for the Assembly's Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, stating that there would be considerable merit in the committee undertaking a review of the implementation of the armed forces covenant in Wales. As no indication was received to suggest that an inquiry was planned, the Assembly cross-party group on the armed forces and cadets took a decision to undertake the inquiry that is the subject of this debate. Our motion, therefore, proposes that the National Assembly for Wales welcomes the cross-party group's report, notes its recommendations and calls on the Welsh Government to consider those recommendations.

Having considered the evidence received, the report made 23 recommendations in seven areas. It found that, in order to uphold the covenant, the Welsh Government should consider the appointment of an armed forces commissioner for Wales to improve the accountability of public sector organisations for the delivery of the armed forces covenant. The commissioner should be required to publish an annual report to be laid in the National Assembly for Wales on adherence to the covenant. A commissioner would support the specific needs of veterans, represent these to Welsh Government and properly scrutinise service delivery for veterans carried out by Welsh Government, NHS Wales and local authorities.