I rise to support the Welsh Labour Government's budget for 2020-21. Despite a decade of harsh austerity and cuts inflicted on Wales by the UK Tory Government in London, the Welsh Labour Government here continues to act as a firewall against a shrivelled and stunted Welsh block grant, and a chronic absence of UK infrastructural spend. It is important, with climate change, that this changes.

And this is separate in addition to the unexpected £200 million take from Welsh finances by the UK Government. Indeed, austerity looks set—and I disagree with Mark Reckless—to continue in the years ahead. In October 2018, then Prime Minister Theresa May stated austerity would end in 2019. And in September 2019, then Chancellor Sajid Javid declared the Tories had turned the page on austerity. It's 2020, and look what's happened to them. Yet, austerity is still ravaging communities across Wales—and I invite you to see some of them—forcing families into food banks, from homes into homelessness.

So, I am heartened that at the centre of this Welsh Labour budget is the Welsh national health service, education and public services. As a former county councillor, I know that the vital public services that are run from our city and town halls and our rural communities across Wales are the service delivery hubs and the engines that actually run Wales. This budget sees a real-terms increase for every authority, and the difference this makes in reality is profound. For Islwyn residents, this allows the drastic proposed cuts of £8.5 million—the reality—to be reduced to £3 million, but this is still £3 million less. For Islwyn residents, this means the necessary council tax rise proposed can be lessened, and for Labour councillors—they will continue to stand up for the well-being of their citizens and the valued public services that they do not wish to cut. This Welsh Labour Government continues to back them financially, even with the scorched-earth terrain that the Tory policies of austerity and cuts create for our public services. 

When I was elected to this Senedd, I stated one of the major drivers for my political motivation was a desire to tackle poverty. As such, I welcome that a major plank of this Welsh Labour Government's budget is focused on that vital issue of tackling poverty via preventative spend, and I welcome the Government's intentions also around Supporting People and the bus subsidy.

Nearly £1 billion is already invested in a wide range of measures that contribute to tackling poverty, including the council tax reduction scheme, which delivers discounts for one in five households, backed by £244 million each year; £1 million for the discretionary assistance fund; £2.7 million for school holiday enrichment; £6.6 million for our poorest young people; and free breakfast club pilots for secondary schools. I could go on: £0.25 million for sanitary projects via food banks and organisations; £3.1 million in this budget for local authorities and colleges to supply sanitary products free of charge, aiming to stop silent period poverty, which impacts on attendance and attainment for some of our young people.

The Labour-run Caerphilly County Borough Council has led the way in Wales on this issue, and provided 100 per cent plastic-free period products to young women across the borough. This is evidence of the difference that a radical Labour-run county council working in partnership with the Labour-run Welsh Government can make to improving the lives of its citizens, working together for a green, clean Wales. I continue to campaign for all Welsh local authorities to follow suit and provide plastic-free sanitary products. Having met inspirational Ella Daish, a passionate activist campaigning to end period plastic across the UK, I wish to pay tribute to her. I know that the Welsh Labour Government will continue to lead the way in this field, as this radical budget clearly shows. 

So, to conclude, Llywydd, I urge all Members who believe in a fair Wales, who wish for a just Wales and who yearn for a better Wales to back this strong and stable Welsh Labour Government budget for 2020-21. Thank you.