​But what I would like to say this afternoon is to respond in more general terms about the importance of physical activity, and to turn this short debate, as Rhianon has already done, to some sort of appeal that each and every one of us in Wales should learn the importance of regular physical activities for both of physical and mental health, and the benefits that they provide. As has already been stated, exercise reduces the risk of ill-health and it is a means of managing existing conditions. The evidence is clear, as it the importance of regular physical activity. If physical activity were a drug, it would be considered to be miraculous—a miracle cure for our health—because it can prevent and assist with so many conditions.

But, as well as being good for individual health, as you said, Rhianon, physical exercise is also a means of bringing individuals together to enjoy activities in a social context. It strengthens community ethos too, and this is exactly what it does when runners come together. This is what it does, too, when individual runners simply pass each other on a daily basis as they jog. People get to know each other because they share physical activity as an interest. Feelings of loneliness and isolation in society are increasing, and participating in physical activity in public, with the appropriate attire, obviously, and with the appropriate footwear, too, which is very important as one grows older—. I won’t advertise a particular shop in Cardiff where I buy running shoes regularly, but it’s important that we have comfortable and safe footwear. And the way we prepare for running is also crucially important.

Unfortunately, the situation we are facing, according to the latest information we have as a Government in the national survey for Wales, is that only 53 per cent of adults—so, a little over half of Welsh adults—say that they undertook 150 minutes of physical activity in the previous week. I don’t want to sound like a nonconformist preacher—although we have an excellent nonconformist preacher listening to us, and thank you for doing so—and I don’t want to condemn this, but it is something that people should reconsider. What is particularly worrying is that men are more likely to exercise than women and that people living in more deprived areas and people over the age of 75 are also less likely to be undertaking any sort of physical activity than any other part of the population. So, that is contrary to what one would hope to see in terms of the value of exercise.

So, increasing physical activity rates is a priority for the Welsh Government, and I, as Deputy Minister in this role, have a particular responsibility in this area, and it’s a responsibility I take very seriously indeed. We are committed to increasing levels of physical activity and, in order to deliver that, we have established a physical activity partnership for Wales. This was one of the most constructive meetings that I have attended, having been in this role for almost two years, in that officials and leaders at Public Health Wales, Sport Wales and Natural Resources Wales have come together, along with Welsh Government officials, to encourage and support collaboration on all levels. I think this is the way forward in this area, namely that the public bodies that work on our behalf in various different spheres—Public Health Wales in health, Sport Wales from the point of view of my department, and NRW from the point of view of the department responsible for the environment—come together and work together. I am pleased to announce that there will be a national summit in the spring for these bodies to come together to develop an action plan.