It is a privilege today to participate in what really could be a historic moment for our older people in Wales, and indeed our future generations. Whilst Wales is home to less than 1 per cent of the world’s population, the Bill brought forward today by my colleague, Darren Millar AM, could really be a global game changer. It would set an important precedent for other nations to follow—the need to embed a rights-based approach in the development, planning and delivery of public services that affect our older people.

Whilst I must acknowledge that Wales has been a pioneering nation for the interests of older people in many ways, such as with the creation of the world’s first older people’s commissioner role, in 2006, more can and should be done. We should all ask ourselves why we would not want to help forge a nation where there is a legal duty on Ministers and Welsh public authorities to consider the 18 United Nations principles for older persons. Personally, I see no possible excuse for hindering these, as the principles have the best interest and respect of older people at heart.

Just consider this: if this Bill did receive Royal Assent, it could almost immediately set about transforming the lives of over 800,000 older people in Wales, as, for example, it would go a long way in empowering older people to take charge of decisions that affect their lives, including the quality of their care. Now, the need for this was highlighted in the ‘A Place to Call Home?’ report, where a worrying reality was outlined—that too many older people living in care homes have an unacceptable quality of life. For example, it was found that older people see their personal identity and individuality rapidly diminish, and lose choice and control over their lives, once in a care home. They are often not receiving the level of care they have a right to expect, and the culture of care homes is often built upon a dependency model, which often fails to prevent physical decline, and does not allow people to sustain or regain their independence. Now, in my opinion, the Bill would help individuals and authorities tackle such devastating inequalities. I'm not saying all this—the report said that.

Additionally, for rural constituencies like mine, Aberconwy, which forms part of the county council with the highest proportion of over-65s in Wales, it is true that this Bill would achieve a great deal, through helping to protect the interests of elderly residents when changes to local facilities are being made. For example, over the last few months, I have been involved in a campaign to save bus services, which provide key lifelines to communities, and especially elderly residents. If this legislation was in place, I am confident that there would be greater consideration of, and greater weight placed on, the impact of changes on the older person—in my constituency, and, indeed, all of our constituencies and regions. The need for this is apparent, as the closure of 189 public toilets, one in six libraries, and 29 GP practices in Wales coincide with an extremely high rate of isolation and loneliness. Indeed, according to Age Cymru, 75,000 older people in Wales have reported always or often feeling lonely—a problem that is exacerbated by the withdrawal of local services. And this is happening under a Welsh Labour Government.

Undoubtedly, when considering that it is the older generation who make up the majority of Wales's army of volunteers, and that grandparents alone save Welsh parents £259 million a year, it is clear to me that this Bill is the least that we could give them back in return. So I do hope, Deputy Minister, that you have a change of heart, and, indeed, your backbenchers and your Cabinet colleagues. Because, do you know what, it is the same Chamber, but different legislation, on a different week. This is all because, I'm afraid, it is a Conservative-led piece of legislation. What hope does it give to backbenchers like myself? What hope does it give to new and aspiring Assembly candidates and Members that they can be picked in a ballot and then it gets as far as the floor of this Senedd, only to be turned down from pure tribalism and party politics?