3. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on increasing diversity in elected office? OAQ54253

A report on the Welsh Government diversity and democracy initiative was published on 26 June. A further phase of the project will commence shortly and will build on that earlier work in advance of the next local government elections.

Can I thank the Minister for that response? I think we have seen some progress—albeit slowly—across a large number of areas like MPs, AMs, and even councillors. Something that concerns me is that we've had seven police and crime commissioners, not one has been a woman, not one has been from an ethnic minority, and it's very much the situation that people are looking at it and seeing that it's only people of a certain type who may be able to stand for becoming police and crime commissioners. What can we do to ensure we have a better mix in police and crime commissioners?

Well, I thank the Member for his question. I recognise there is a way to go with PCCs. Some of the police and crime commissioners have appointed deputies who reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, and this has been a very positive step. But, of course, like all elected offices, it's political parties who need to make efforts to ensure that they encourage and support people from diverse backgrounds putting themselves forward for these offices. Of course, PCCs aren't devolved, but I will ask officials to raise these concerns in conversations with the UK Government on electoral matters.

You may remember, of course, Dame Rosemary Butler's campaign to try and encourage more women into public life, so it's this Assembly as a whole and not just Welsh Government that has something of a good story to tell on at least the beginnings of progress.

I've just come back from the final session of the all-Wales BAME engagement programme, run by Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales. I know that you're a mentor there as well. It's very rewarding for mentors and mentees alike, and showing the early signs of being effective as well. As you know, there are a number of organisations working in this territory now, so can you tell me how you, Deputy Minister, can use your budget to support and promote the particular programmes of those organisations and others like them?

I also welcome, Suzy Davies, the all-Wales BAME mentoring engagement programme, and I've been very inspired by the mentees and I'm sure you have, and others who have taken part in that are also keen. I think you might be, Suzy Davies, a mentor in the Women's Equality Network Wales mentoring programme, as others are across this Chamber. We see this as a key role to play in terms of supporting those mentoring arrangements in terms of developing future diversity in all public appointments and, indeed, in mentees considering the possibility of elected office as well.

We have, of course, a diversity in democracy programme that we're taking forward in terms of local government, and I think that's reflected in the debate we had very recently. But also, this is reflected in the work that I'm doing in terms of public appointments. And we are looking at the ways in which the mentoring programmes can provide a key role to play in encouraging candidates and looking, of course, at the support for those organisations. Both of those organisations, actually, do already get support from the Welsh Government, but looking particularly at the impact of those mentoring programmes.