Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. I welcome your statement today, Deputy Minister, and I wish to pay tribute to all of those who gave so much in various conflicts over the years. I cannot even begin to imagine the horror of war in 1914 or now. I am glad that I cannot. We must acknowledge the sacrifice of millions of lives, but also the sacrifice of mental and physical health, of lives planned and imagined but not lived, of marriages that never happened, sweethearts, parents and siblings lost, and all of the civilian lives lost and affected by war.

We can all recall a member of the family who fell—that name said with pride, and who we cry for every November, however long ago they died. I hear from veterans that they perceive an increase in crowds at the services over the last few years and this is very, very welcome. You all know that my son is currently serving in the army. He has done five tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, plus many more. He has seen friends and comrades die in battle in front of him—they were my sons too. He serves his country and his Queen with pride. He's willing to risk his life for us; my heart bursts with pride at the man and the soldier he has become. 

One of the most touching things about this Remembrance Sunday for me was standing next to a lady who was telling her five-year-old son why we were there. She mentioned a fallen relative and the millions of others who gave their lives and she just said, 'So we can lead a better life'. It is vital that we continue to tell our kids about war and conflict and about reconciliation and tolerance, and my only ask today is that we make sure that our schoolchildren are taught about armed conflict and its place in the development of our democracy. The only political point I feel is appropriate today is that, while a railcard for veterans is very welcome, I know that serving soldiers, sailors and the air force would much rather see homelessness tackled, housing provided and prosecutions stopped. We will remember them.