Clearly we need to take urgent steps to improve the quality of life in society for our older people. It is essential that we see greater focus from the Welsh Government on developing innovative policy solutions, including real integration of health and social care. It is a bit daunting when you stand here, when we know that we've had the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and we're no closer now to seeing true integration of those services. Long-promised, but never delivered. 

A Welsh charter or bill of rights, codified in law, would make rights in these areas especially more relevant to older people on an individual basis and enable them to identify when their rights are not being upheld, and allow them to challenge service providers. These are basic rights now under the European convention on human rights and the Human Rights Act 1998, but they need to be basic rights here, from this Welsh Government, and, you know, enshrined in Welsh law to dignify the right to liberty, the right to security and the right to make decisions about their lives, to the freedom of association, and the freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment. Such direct and clear ownership of these rights could directly lead to improved confidence for many in challenging poor services.

This would complement the potential additional powers for the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, proposed in the current draft Bill, encouraging more older people to speak up where they have experienced poor treatment, particularly relating to their age. We know that this is important. The Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Sarah, has noted that age discrimination and ageism are widely tolerated across the world. Further, she states that the most effective way to ensure that older people's rights are guaranteed does require legislation and legislation that would create specific duties to protect and promote older people's rights. 

We, as the Welsh Conservative group—and I'm extremely proud to be able to work with them on this—have long called for the commissioner to become accountable and actually appointed by this National Assembly for Wales, rather than Welsh Government. Because there is a conflict, there is pressure and I think only today, when we've heard of a toxic culture of bullying in our health service in Wales, that people, when they're part of associations, groups and organisations that are there, fundamentally, to protect our citizens—that they shouldn't feel threatened or intimidated in any way by this Government. Such a shift could be included alongside the introduction of this kind of legislation.

Ensuring such accountability would allow for proper cross-party scrutiny and dedicated older people's legislation. This would be an opportunity to make that a reality. Deputy Presiding Officer, at events that I've held, in speaking with constituents, through various visits to homes, hospices and hospitals, I have heard first hand from older people, particularly those who are more vulnerable. They feel their voices are not heard. Their rights are not respected. Many don't even know what their rights are. And the quality of service they sometimes receive is being diminished. Such anecdotal evidence has also been referred to by the commissioner. She has highlighted the devastating impact that this can have upon their lives. One only has to look at the work she did on social care and the care homes, and social care management across Wales. It was left where that service is very much wanting. 

Ensuring the promotion and protection of clear rights that older people can feel ownership of will go a long way to ensuring that this demographic across Wales lives free from abuse, free from neglect, ageism and discrimination, and can continue to participate fully in their communities and thrive in older age. We mustn't forget that every one of us here, and everybody outside, they all will be getting older. We certainly don't—. The clock doesn't go backwards; it goes forwards. So, what if we could be leaders and pioneers here, in Wales, really enshrining the rights of our older people to protect them?

It is my view that the most effective way to ensure that this approach is adopted across Wales is through much-needed legislation that does create specific duties to protect and promote older people's rights in a similar way that the children's Measure was strengthened for the rights of children and young people in 2011, and make rights more relevant and real to individuals. I cannot understand why we have those rights enshrined for children and young people—and I obviously respect those and we want those—but our older people deserve equally. We talk about equality so often in this Welsh Government, but until we have those rights enshrined in a charter or, indeed, in firm and robust legislation, then we are failing those 800,000 now, but it's a growing demographic and it's going to get a lot larger. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr.