Thank you, Llywydd. I'd like to formally move amendments 41 and 42, tabled in my name. This issue was first raised, or amendment 42 was first raised, at Stage 2 by Plaid Cymru spokesperson Helen Mary Jones with my full support. It's in line with committee recommendation 13 at Stage 1. During our evidence sessions, it became very apparent that the body should be able to make representations to Welsh Ministers as this would enable the body to become actively involved in and influence the design of future health and care systems in particular.

The board of community health councils noted that if 'A Healthier Wales' was aimed at putting the citizen's voice at the centre of healthcare, to drive development and delivery of health and social care, the new body should have the right of representation at a national level. Specifically, it was stated that it's more than about making written representations and getting written answers. It's about being in the room when the conversation takes place. It's about being around the table. It's about driving that agenda with policy makers and planners.

The Royal College of Nursing felt that it was important that the citizen voice body should be able to influence the provision of health services. And it's very disappointing that the Minister has continually rejected this recommendation wholesale, on the grounds that Welsh Ministers do not commission or provide services. But of course, Minister, what you do do is you set the direction of travel. That's what the parliamentary review was about. That's what 'A Healthier Wales' is about, and all the iterations that will follow it over the years. We make a lot, don't we, about listening to the voice of the citizen, about staff engagement, about all these soft, fuzzy things, but we actually have to start delivering it, and we have to start engaging with people.

I tabled amendment 42 after further consultation with the board of community health councils at Stage 2, because the amendment as drafted imposes both a duty to respond to the representations, as well as a duty to comply with guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers relating to the representations made. 

We would reject amendment 1, again on the basis that this is too weak to be able to respond to the strength of concerns that we received during Stage 1. Guidance alone is not enough in these circumstances. At Stage 2, the Minister was keen to reject the right on the basis that these representations would have to be made public, and that a response to a representation may not be something that should be provided in writing. I would contend that this amendment also clearly states that guidance would be issued about how listed persons would respond. We can also see where guidance fits in, but we're adamant the duty to respond must remain on the face of the Bill.

Amendment 41 amends section 15 on the citizen voice body representation to public bodies, extending it to Welsh Ministers and any other person who makes decisions on behalf of a local authority or NHS body, and we think that this provides a broader approach to representations made.

We do oppose amendment 76, on the basis that amendment 41 widens the list of bodies that the citizen voice body can make representations to. Again, it's the same argument I made at Stage 2; in fact, a similar amendment that was limited to Welsh Ministers was withdrawn at Stage 2 in favour of this amendment.