Diolch, Llywydd. As a Government, we want all children in Wales to have the best start in life, to fulfil their potential and to realise their rights. And it's so important in the current context, in the situation that we've been just debating, that we keep that ambition fixed in our sights. It's also crucial that we have this meaningful debate each year to focus on our achievements so far in Wales regarding children's rights, and to take account of the children's commissioner calls for us to go further.

So, today, we discuss and debate the Children's Commissioner for Wales's annual report for 2019-20, which was published earlier this month. This report was written looking back at what has taken place during the previous financial year, but within the context of the pandemic. I value having an independent and impartial voice for children and young people in Wales—one that challenges the work of Government and others through the lens of children's rights, one that aims to promote and safeguard their interests.

In her annual report, the commissioner has highlighted many of her achievements over the last year. These include engaging with over 15,500 children and young people across Wales through various events, delivering training to 200 early years professionals, and managing 627 cases through her investigations and advice service.

While the rest of this session is likely to focus on her 18 recommendations for Government, I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of the work of the commissioner's office, and to thank her and her team for the services they provide to children and young people who need assistance and advice. And I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the commissioner and her office for working with Welsh Government, Children in Wales, and the Youth Parliament on the 'Coronavirus and Me' survey. This provided an opportunity for children and young people across Wales to tell us about their experience of the coronavirus, the lockdown which was in place at the time, and the impact it was having on their lives. We are the only Government in the UK to have asked directly and consulted children and young people in this way. More than 23,700 children and young people, aged between three and 18, responded; it was a remarkable response. Their responses are being heard by politicians and policy makers alike, and my thanks goes out to all those who took part.