Thank you very much. I warmly welcome the publication of this first annual report. When I was a county councillor, I had the privilege of chairing a corporate parent panel for Gwynedd Council, and I clearly remember the detailed responsibilities on county councillors to take action for the benefit of children in care in accordance with training as if it were my own child, and there is a duty on all of us as Assembly Members to do likewise—to think about the needs of every child in care, to put the needs of the child at the heart of everything that we do and to ensure that their voices are heard.

The numbers have increased significantly and the picture has changed since my time in Gwynedd Council. According to professionals in this area, there has been a substantial change in the needs as a result of years of poverty, as a result of austerity and other social changes and new issues that are emerging. For example, county lines, problematic and inappropriate sexual behaviour, the use of social media, online abuse and so on and so forth. Historically, these weren’t prominent factors, but they are now.

The main issues leading to teenagers entering care arise because of often dangerous behaviour, young people going missing, the misuse of alcohol and drugs, behavioural problems and self-harming. The main factor is complex needs as a result of emotional and mental health problems that usually don’t reach the criteria to receive CAMHS services. And the main challenge in these cases is to find appropriate settings for these young people that meet their complex needs and keep them safe.

Issues around parenting are another prominent reason. Parenting skills can be compromised because of mental health problems among parents, the misuse of alcohol and drugs, and children witnessing violence in their homes, where there is a history of sexual abuse. There’s been a year-on-year increase in the number of pre-birth cases that are referred to authorities, often because mothers have children who are already in care, because of issues of neglect, abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and the situation may not have changed or they may have moved to another relationship where the same factors are an issue. Very often, and in most cases, it isn't just one of these factors that is a cause for concern in terms of child safety and welfare, but a combination of factors. I do think it’s important that we recognise this picture and that we take account of how this picture is increasingly changing.

As you mentioned, the Welsh Government has asked local authorities the length and breadth of Wales to create plans to reduce the number of children in care, and those plans are to be welcomed. They can provide a focus for services whilst identifying the changes that have happened. And as you know and as you've made reference to already, these plans do set raw numerical targets. I'm not entirely sure if this afternoon you're saying that the targets set for local authorities will disappear, or whether it'll be the national target that will be abolished. I assume from what you say that there will still be a need for local authorities to set targets, and I would like some clarity on that. I do think that setting numerical targets is a dangerous mis-step. This isn't the way to reduce the number of children in care.

Reducing the number requires comprehensive solutions. There may be changes to legislation required; we need to look at the courts process; we need to look at how kindship care is different in Scotland to the situation in Wales; we need to look at placements with parents where a child can live at home with the parent with a care order and with support, but in some areas the courts are reluctant to agree to that.

Certainly, we need major investment in preventative services. Short-term grants aren't going to be adequate to support those services. So, I do welcome what you've said and what the report says, namely that we need to make whole-system improvements in order to provide timely and early services for families so that they are supported to stay together with the ultimate aim of reducing the number of children in the care system. But we must do that in a planned long-term way that is careful and systematic, and we must bear in mind above all else the needs and the safety of the child, as if it were my own child. Thank you.