I'm pleased to take part in this afternoon's debate. Now, the 'Welsh Government Annual Report 2019' gives us a focus towards creating a more prosperous, equal and greener Wales, and whilst there has been some progress on each of these fronts, we on this side of the Chamber hold deep reservations that outcomes against some of the Welsh Government's actions show that Wales is far from where we should be. As the First Minister said earlier, whilst Wales was the first country in the UK to declare a climate change emergency, there's still a great deal of work that needs to be done in this area. 

This view was, indeed, echoed by the Assembly's Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, who recently said that whilst the Minister told the committee that the 2020-21 budget would provide an opportunity for the Welsh Government to back its declaration of a climate emergency with action and associated funding, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. Indeed, the committee said, and I quote:

'On this basis, we expected a transformative and radical budget. We have not seen evidence of this. We are disappointed to conclude that this draft budget constitutes "business as usual".'

Similarly, the Welsh Government are keen to highlight its transport achievements in the annual report, and whilst the Government may feel that the continuing upgrade to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road is something to celebrate, it simply isn't the case. It's an undeniable fact that an eye-watering amount of money has been spent on that piece of road and continues to be spent on this road, and the Welsh Government has still yet to justify the value for money to the taxpayer, as well as handle the frustrating impact that the delays have had on local residents.

Now, the annual report also highlights the importance of high-quality, accessible health and social care services, and yet you only have to look at the current state of services being delivered in north Wales via a health board that's been under the Welsh Government's direct control for nearly five years to see that things are far from perfect. Just 66.8 per cent of patients are being seen within the critical four-hour period. There are serious failings in the delivery of mental health services, and the health board is set to post a deficit of £35 million in this financial year. And yet there's nothing in this document that recognises those challenges and explains what the Welsh Government is going to do about them.

Now, the Welsh Government make it clear that mental health remains a key priority by highlighting the fact that perinatal mental health teams have been established at each health board. However, as Members will be aware, the only in-patient mental health support available to mothers in Wales is in England, and so without a mother and baby unit here, women in Wales with acute mental health issues are either being admitted to psychiatric facilities without their child, or being sent to units that are miles and miles away. The Chair of the Assembly's Children, Young People and Education Committee has rightly said that the situation needs to change urgently, and so it's unfair for the Welsh Government to say that it's prioritising mental health support when actions that's desperately needed isn't taking place.

Llywydd, there are of course some achievements that have been delivered this year. For example, I'm pleased to read that the employment rate of disabled people in Wales increased to 49.2 per cent in the year ending September 2019, and that over the same period the gap between the employment rate of disabled people and non-disabled people in Wales narrowed by more than two percentage points, and that is good news.

The Welsh Government is also right to highlight that from April 2019 Welsh rates of income tax were introduced, giving us a say over a proportion of income tax to be paid in Wales. However, there seems to be absolutely nothing in the taxation section of the document of the Welsh Government's plans to increase its tax-raising powers further—nothing about the plans for a vacant land tax, the social care tax, or a local tourism tax. Of course, we on this side of the Chamber fundamentally disagree with the Welsh Government's approach to taxation, and we remain committed to delivering a low tax economy for Wales.

Llywydd, if I could now turn to the Welsh Government's legislative programme, we on this side of the Chamber will do all that we can to constructively work with the Welsh Government to ensure that any legislation passed is as effective as possible, and delivers value for money. This Assembly in particular, however, has highlighted the Welsh Government's refusal to do more to support legislative campaigns from other parties, and it won't surprise Members that I very much regret that my autism Bill was not taken forward. Similarly, I've also called, for several years now, for legislation to come forward to protect Wales's war memorials, and, despite warm words from several Ministers, very little has actually been done. However, I do accept that there is some important legislation taking place over the next 12 months. For example, the wild animals and circuses Bill is working its way through the Assembly, which will be a much needed and important step forward for Wales's animal welfare agenda.

Therefore, in closing, Llywydd, whilst the intention to create a more prosperous, equal and greener Wales may be admirable, the Welsh Government still has a long way to go, and my colleagues and I will continue to constructively engage with the Government, where we can, to see Wales flourish for the future. Thank you.