Item 3 on the agenda is 90-second statements. The first one today is from the Llywydd, Elin Jones. 

It is exactly 100 years ago this week that the post-world war general election was held on 14 December 1918. The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 had only just received Royal Assent on 21 November 1918. The Act gave women over the age of 21 the right to stand for election to the House of Commons. In that general election on 14 December, one Welsh woman stood for election, and her name was Millicent Mackenzie. She stood for the University of Wales seat as a Labour candidate. She won 20 per cent of the vote and lost to the Liberal Sir Herbert Lewis. Only one woman was elected as an MP in that 1918 election, Constance Markievicz, and as a Sinn Féin candidate she did not take up her seat in the House of Commons. 

Who was Millicent Mackenzie, the first ever woman to stand for election in Wales? In addition to being a candidate in that election, Millicent Mackenzie was a professor of education at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, as Cardiff University was then known. She was the first female professor in any UK chartered university. She was a highly respected educational academic and a trainer of teachers. Millicent Mackenzie was also a leading suffragette in the Cardiff area, culminating in her standing in the 1918 election. Such is the lack of prominence of women in our history, I had not heard of Millicent Mackenzie's name until January of this year. But, we must not allow this pioneering woman's name to be forgotten during the next 100 years. As 27 women AMs in this Senedd, we thank you, Millicent, and we stand on your shoulders. Millicent Mackenzie.

I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the community of Llangollen on securing the status of being a plastic-free community from the Surfers Against Sewage organisation. The thanks go to the untiring work of volunteers such as Mair Davies and groups such as Friends of the Earth in Llangollen. This was the first community in north Wales to secure this recognition, but I’m pleased to say that others, such as Denbigh, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Conwy, Bangor, Caernarfon and Anglesey, have all started on that journey too. They have a five-point plan to reach their aim: the establishment of a community steering group, starting a programme of education in schools for non-plastic schools, getting the town council's commitment, working with local businesses, and to work with local community groups in order to reduce the disposable plastics that they use.

As part of the programme, local businesses have pledged to reduce plastic use in a wide variety of ways, from ditching the straw, to changing to paper bags, bulk buying, refilling containers, removing single-use serving items, ditching plastic cutlery and the removal of plastic packaging. There have also been a variety of events in the town to help reduce plastic, from coffee mornings to litter picks and group talks to empower others to make the change. And, of course, there's been buy-in from public and civic organisations such as the town council, Cittaslow Llangollen, the chamber of trade and local schools. Indeed, I recently visited Ysgol y Gwernant in the town, and the pupils there spoke very passionately about how they wanted to tackle the use of single-use plastic. So, congratulations to Llangollen, and let's hope that many other communities across Wales follow their example in becoming plastic free. 

On 11 December 1282, on a very cold day in Cilmeri, Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf or Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, prince of Wales, was killed. With his death, by the hand of Stephen de Frankton, one of the soldiers of Edward I, Wales and its people lost their freedom. There followed seven centuries of fighting against oppression, in a striving for self-determination, autonomy and the freedom to be an independent nation. Today, Llywelyn continues to be a crucial part of our nation’s history and our nation’s memory. In him was the spark of a civil Welsh nation and a hope for a better future for our nation. The independent spirit of Llywelyn and the 18 who stood with him until the very end remains in all of us today who are willing to stand up to injustice and for independence for Wales. We will remember Llywelyn by honouring his vision by marching forward towards the creation of a new independent Wales where everyone is free. Thank you.