I'm pleased to take part in this debate, and I'd like to pay tribute to the voluntary community transport schemes that serve my constituency, Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern—DPVC—and Eastvale Community Transport, which also serves Vaughan Gething's constituency. The latter is a small charity, founded in 1986, based in Penarth, serving the community in the eastern Vale bounded by Penarth and Barry by providing accessible transport in two wheelchair-friendly, 12-seater minibuses with volunteer drivers. Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern provides weekly minibus transport to local supermarkets, to various regular social activities, and for a weekly luncheon club and to a church service. DPVC also works closely with the Vale of Glamorgan Council around the Greenlinks service, which had support from European funding. Greenlinks is supported by the Vale council, working in partnership with DPVC, using a dedicated Volkswagen Caddy with wheelchair adaptations, which takes elderly patients to and from the new Dinas Powys medical centre. Both DPVC and Eastvale Community Transport are models of voluntary commitment, serving local communities in my constituency. They provide vital services for elderly people. They break down isolation—that's already been said in opening remarks. They break down that isolation for those who use the services, but they provide a rewarding role for experienced volunteer drivers. Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern says the majority of its volunteer drivers are retired—many are over the age of 70—which means that there is a need to renew D1 licences, with medicals, et cetera, at regular intervals. They are concerned about the future recruitment of volunteers who are eligible to drive minibuses, as many will not have the required D1 entitlement on their driving licences. Both these organisations would like section 19 permits to remain unchanged, so that the charities can continue to provide the transport services that are currently provided and have the flexibility to adapt to changing needs within the community. 

And, finally, both organisations comment on the insecurity of funding, the short-term nature of funding, and raise concerns that any changes to the conditions of section 19 licences, such as requiring special qualifications, could add to costs and could potentially lead to the closure of the valuable and unique services they provide. What is important, I think, is that—. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary, in responding to this, will consider the evidence from the community transport sector in this debate, particularly if the Welsh Government is responding to the Department for Transport consultation on community transport permits. But I also recognise and know that the Welsh Government is very supportive of the community transport sector and the unique role it plays as part of an accessible transport service, and I'm very glad to take part in this important debate today.