6. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services: Remembering our Armed Forces and Delivering for Our Armed Forces Community

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:11 pm on 6 November 2018.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 5:11, 6 November 2018

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his extremely kind and generous words about the work of the cross-party group on the armed forces and cadets? I have to say, it's been a pleasure to be able to work with the Welsh Government to improve the lot of servicemen and women and veterans in Wales in recent years—both with you and your predecessor. So, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to do that.

I just wanted to ask one question. I was struck by your comments about the other theatres of war in addition to the western front and was pleased that you had made reference to the theatre of war in the middle east. I had the opportunity to place a wreath on top of Mount Scopus two years ago in Jerusalem in order to commemorate the role and the sacrifice of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and other Welsh troops who had lost their lives in the battle for Jerusalem and Gaza and in Be'er Sheva. I think it is important that we remember these events and that there are permanent memorials in those nations where Welsh blood has been shed. 

Can I ask the Cabinet Secretary what work the Welsh Government now may be able to do, perhaps alongside the UK Government, to make sure that it's not just in cemeteries that these things are remembered but also in other locations in those theatres to ensure that the memory and the sacrifice of those who lost their lives is not forgotten?