The following amendment has been selected: amendment 2 in the name of Siân Gwenllian. In accordance with Standing Order 12.23(iii), amendment 1 tabled to the motion has not been selected.

So, we'll reconvene with item 10, which is the Welsh Conservative debate on the armed forces. Before I call Mark Isherwood to move the motion, I have looked at the number of speakers that we have and I have reduced speaking times down to three minutes. That does not affect the Minister or those moving or closing the debate, but all of the speakers will be required to stick to three minutes and I will cut you off at three minutes. That way, we will get everybody in the debate. So, I call on Mark Isherwood to move the motion. Mark.

Motion NDM7456 Darren Millar, Rebecca Evans, Siân Gwenllian, Caroline Jones

To propose that the Senedd:  

1. Notes that today is Armistice Day.

2. Remembers and honours all those who have lost their lives and made sacrifices in the service of our country, including civilian casualties of conflict.

3. Thanks all those organisations across Wales working to support the Armed Forces community and our veterans.

4. Expresses gratitude for the significant contribution made by the Armed Forces to the national COVID-19 response in Wales. 

5. Acknowledges the significant ongoing contribution that the military makes to Wales.

6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to continue to engage with stakeholders as it seeks to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant.

Motion moved.

Diolch. This morning, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we remembered the sacrifice of those who have served in the armed forces, and those in the civilian population whose lives were lost or irreversibly changed by conflicts since 1914. This cross-party motion proposes that we remember and honour all those who have lost their lives and made sacrifices in service to our country, including civilian casualties of conflict.

This year has marked the eightieth anniversaries of Dunkirk and the battle of Britain and 75 years since VE Day and VJ Day. It’s also 60 years since the Malayan emergency ended; 38 years since the Falklands war; 30 years since our armed forces were deployed to the Gulf, following the invasion of Kuwait; and 25 years since the first phase of UK operations in support of peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslavia ended.

During the retreat to Dunkirk, both John Edwards and his cousin Llewellyn Lewis fought in the rearguard defence with the first Royal Welch Fusiliers—or RWF. John Edwards was born in Ruthin in 1911 and was an officer’s groom. Llewellyn Lewis was born near Dolgellau in 1919 and was called up at the start of the war. He was 20 when he was captured. Edwards was 28.

On 26 May 1940, Edwards and Lewis were far from the beaches of Dunkirk. They’d been ordered to stand and fight until the last round and the last man in an effort to slow the German advance, whilst others were evacuated. The first RWF fought at the small town of Saint-Venant and nearby villages, retaking bridges over important waterways. However, with the Germans still holding other bridges, the company was surrounded, suffered heavy casualties and the final men were captured in an attempted breakout that night. Edwards, Lewis and the other captured soldiers were marched towards Germany with little food and water, and were eventually taken to Toruń in Poland. Edwards spent the rest of the war in captivity, working as a prisoner of war farmer. He returned to Britain in 1945 skeletal and was unrecognisable to those who knew him. Lewis died in Stalag XX-A in 1941, aged 21.

Eighty years after the battle of Britain, we remember the Welsh few, 67 men from all corners of Wales who served with distinction in the air and made a significant and gallant contribution to the battle of Britain. They were part of the 2,947 air crew from Britain, the Commonwealth and many other countries that fought in the battle. We remember, too, the vital part played by RAF bases in Wales in supplying pilots and aircraft in that desperate struggle during the long, hot summer of 1940.

On 5 September 1940, Sergeant Glyn Griffiths from Llandudno, flying Hurricanes with 17 squadron, shot down a Heinkel He 111 bomber over Chatham. He’d attended John Bright School in Llandudno before joining the RAF as a pilot in 1938. He became a battle of Britain ace—a pilot with five confirmed victories—shooting down 10 enemy aircraft during the battle, for which he was awarded the distinguished flying medal. His medals and flying logbook are now on display in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.

St Asaph pilot officer Denis Crowley-Milling, flying spitfires with 242 squadron, shot down a Messerschmitt 110 fighter bomber over east London. Later in the war, he shot down a number of enemy aircraft and was awarded the distinguished service order, the distinguished flying cross and bar. In August 1941, he was shot down over France, but he evaded capture and, with the help of the French underground, managed to escape back to Britain and rejoin his squadron. In the years after the war, Denis Crowley-Milling had a distinguished RAF career, rising to the rank of air marshal and also being knighted.

For Polish Heritage Day on 9 May this year, I recorded a message for Wrexham’s Polish integration centre, referring to the key role played by Polish fighter squadron 303, flying Hawker Hurricanes, which claimed the largest number of aircraft shot down of the 66 allied fighter squadrons engaged in the battle of Britain. Thirty-one out of the 145 Polish pilots who took part in the battle of Britain died in action.

The role played by the RAF in Wales in protecting the skies above Britain continues today. The crews of our Typhoon jets, which defend our skies 24/7, are all trained at RAF Valley on Anglesey, and St Athan performs a vital role in training engineering technicians for the RAF’s front line.

On 8 May, we commemorated the historic seventy-fifth anniversary of VE Day—Victory in Europe Day—the day on which allied forces formally announced the surrender of Germany, bringing the second world war to a close in Europe. However, many thousands of armed forces personnel were still involved in bitter fighting in the far east. On 15 August, we remembered the seventy-fifth anniversary of VJ Day, commemorating both the surrender of Japan and the end of the second world war.

This year, we must also thank our armed forces for the significant peacetime contribution they've made to ensure vital NHS services still run and supplies are distributed to our important front-line services during the COVID-19 pandemic. As this cross-party motion states, the Welsh Parliament expresses its gratitude for the significant contribution made by the armed forces to the national COVID-19 response in Wales. However, we should also ensure that they continue to receive our support by upholding the armed forces covenant.

We welcomed last month's confirmation from the Welsh Government that military veterans in Wales will benefit from a new railcard offering discounted rail travel, after the scheme was announced by the UK Government in England earlier this year. Following a campaign, led by the Royal British Legion and Poppy Scotland, which I've previously raised here, we welcomed the UK Government's announcement in July that the 2021 census will now include a question to provide information on whether someone has served in our armed forces. This will provide the legion, public bodies and other military charities with valuable information to ensure that they can best meet the needs of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

The Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative was recently launched by the Office for Veterans' Affairs in the UK Cabinet Office to encourage more veterans to join the civil service when they leave the armed forces, ensuring the civil service benefits from the wide range of skills and talents in our armed forces community. We therefore also welcomed last weekend's Welsh Government announcement that they will be joining this initiative. Leaving the armed forces can be particularly challenging for veterans, who often find it difficult to settle into civilian life and find a job. As well as benefiting the civil service, this initiative boosts the employment prospects of people who have served, helping them to advance their careers beyond the armed forces.

It's imperative that the hard work of Veterans NHS Wales both continues and continues to expand, providing veterans living in Wales with assessment and psychological treatment for mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Between April 2010, when its service was launched, and March 2019, they've received 4,319 referrals. In 2018-19 alone, 808 referrals were received. Veterans NHS Wales's business case for increased funding now is inarguable, and I therefore ask the Welsh Government when a decision will be made, where several therapists have uncertain employment post March 2021.

The scale of the need was again emphasised to me during a call in September with the charity Icarus Online, in its third year after being established in response to the issues faced by veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and the severity of their symptoms. Icarus provides immediate care, assessment and rehabilitation for military veterans, uniformed services and their families. A team of just 16 people, all volunteers, are treating 1,100 people annually, plugging a gap in access to treatment. They receive three new cases every day via their answering service, provided by Moneypenny in Wexham.

As amendment 2 states, we must strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts and for an end to war, and we therefore welcome the establishment of Academi Heddwch Cymru. We will be supporting amendment 2 accordingly.

Welsh Conservatives would also appoint an armed forces commissioner for Wales, accountable to the Welsh Parliament, to champion the needs of the armed forces community and ensure that Wales upholds the armed forces covenant; establish an armed forces card to provide free bus travel, priority access to NHS treatment, and home adaptations for service-related injuries or illness; free access to leisure centres and Cadw heritage sites; introduce a service people premium for the children of those serving in the armed forces; bring 150 empty social housing properties back into use, specifically for military veterans at risk of homelessness; and ensure the maintenance of war memorials. We will remember them.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.23, I have not selected amendment 1 tabled to the motion, and therefore, I call on Dai Lloyd to move amendment 2, tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian. Dai.

Amendment 2—Siân Gwenllian

Add as new points at end of motion:

Supports the need to strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts and for an end to war.

Believes that at a time of unprecedented national and global challenges Wales must play its role in shaping a peaceful future and therefore welcomes the establishment of Academi Heddwch Cymru.

Amendment 2 moved.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we all fell silent as they did on the first Armistice Day. In remembering the sacrifice of those lost, we also remember the suffering of those who survived.

My grandfather fought in the battle of the Somme in the first world war in 1916 and, incredibly, he survived, or I wouldn’t be here of course. But he survived suffering until his untimely death when I was a very young boy. And, of course, members and veterans of our armed forces have seen terrible sights and it’s very difficult to cope with that, and they need ongoing support. There are all sorts of organisations providing that support because people can be scarred for life.

In remembering my own grandfather, we need to look to peace. We welcome the establishment of Academi Heddwch Cymru, which is the subject of our amendment, and I seek your support in a cross-party spirit, and I welcome Mark Isherwood’s support.

Armistice Day today is very different. We are separated, the small group of those who still survive reducing every time, and we are remembering them in the midst of a pandemic. Our debt is huge to the generation of my grandfather and more recent generations, their sacrifice poignant.

We lost the poet Hedd Wyn in 1917, with his words about war, as I have quoted many times before, in many remembrance services:

The harps to which we sang are hung / On willow boughs, and their refrain / Drowned by the anguish of the young / Whose blood is mingled with the rain.

Therefore, to conclude, through our tears, Deputy Llywydd, and as joint signatories to the motion, naturally we support the motion before the Senedd today and thank everyone who was involved with bringing it forward and tabling it. Technically, in order to have a vote on our amendment, we will abstain on the initial motion, and I do thank Mark Isherwood for indicating that the Conservatives will support our amendment too. So, we will move to a vote on our amendment before enthusiastically supporting the motion as amended. Thank you.

As Monmouthshire County Council's armed forces champion and as a granddaughter of a major myself, I know the importance of recognising the works, needs and commitment of our armed forces. It is appropriate, therefore, that today, on Armistice Day, we recognise the enormous debt we owe to those serving and who have served in our armed forces. They serve our country with dedication, at the risk of their own lives, and we owe it to them to provide the care and support they so richly deserve.

Remembrance this year, unfortunately, has had to be very different: no march past, no big parades, no festivals. The very fact that remembrance this year is different demonstrates why it's more important. British military personnel have and are continuing to play, as Mark Isherwood has already pointed out, a key role in this country's response to the pandemic. During the peak of the military's response, 20,000 troops were at the ready as part of a COVID support force, with more than 4,000 deployed at a time. In Wales, military personnel helped to build the field hospital at the Principality Stadium. Armed forces personnel were mobilised to help the Welsh ambulance service, as already outlined, and military operations in Brecon worked alongside the Welsh Government to provide planning support.

We have a duty to ensure our armed forces, past, present and future are not forgotten and are appreciated. I believe that Wales needs an armed forces commissioner, accountable to this Parliament, to champion the needs of our service personnel and to ensure that we uphold the armed forces covenant. There needs to be more work done to ensure their needs are thought about and embedded in all policy areas, and money needs to follow to the councils in order for them to meet those requirements.

Leaving the military, often after a long period of service, presents former service personnel with many challenges. It often means their having to relocate, move home, find new employment and undergo a change of lifestyle. Veterans can often struggle to obtain information about the services available to them when returning to civilian life. The armed forces covenant employer recognition scheme has gone a long way to embed and highlight their needs when delivering services on a county council level, and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Monmouthshire County Council for recently receiving their gold award, and other councils and employers across my area of South Wales East that have done a lot of hard work in changing minds and attitudes in relation to veterans and their needs.

We would introduce an armed forces card, which would be available to veterans and existing services personnel. This would offer a wide range of benefits including free bus travel and free entry to swimming pools and Cadw heritage sites. I welcome that military veterans of every generation will soon be able to benefit from cut-price rail travel thanks to a UK Government initiative. The veterans railcard is aimed at supporting veterans after their service, providing up to a third off off-peak fares for adults, companions and children. At this point, I wish to just pay tribute to all the hard work of Johnny Mercer MP, the Minister for defence people and veterans, whose task it is to pull together all functions of the Government to ensure veterans are looked after in the manner they deserve. His hard work and determination, often drawing on his own experiences, that he puts into his work has been exemplary. He started the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, helping veterans to join the civil service, and it's great to see the Welsh Government backing this.

Presiding Officer, Wales has a long, proud relationship with the armed forces. Our military makes huge sacrifices to keep this country safe. It's only right we continue to show how much we value their efforts once they leave the armed forces. There's been a lot done, but there's a lot more we can do and should do. Thank you.

I think all of us take time to reflect and take time to look again at the service and sacrifice that members of the armed forces have made, both today and in the past. For me, something I found particularly poignant this year was the centenary of the burial of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey, and Members may have heard the story of that being told on Radio 4 in the mornings at the moment. It really is an extraordinary way to pay tribute to all those young people who were lost in the first world war, but the story itself and the way in which that happened is also an inspiration to us today.

There's going to be broad agreement, I think, across the Chamber on the central importance of the military covenant, and paying our debt to veterans and to service families. I'm very proud of the work that the Welsh Government has done over the years on this, and as veterans Minister, I certainly wanted to ensure that the Government—and, to be fair, as a Senedd we've always had cross-party support on all of these issues—ensured that service families and veterans in Wales receive the very best support, and that their needs are met on an ongoing basis.

What I'd like to hear more about from the Welsh Government is how we can ensure that we support our existing armed forces as well. Wales already punches above its weight in terms of the contribution of people and resources to UK armed forces, and many of us would like to see a far greater number of serving personnel based in Wales, and a strategy that links support for the wider armed forces community with support for those serving today. That means investment in and support for the defence industries, which are an important part of our economy already, and we want to see the Welsh Government working more closely with the MOD on procurement and developing the resources that we can provide for the armed forces of today.

I think we all also want to see the headquarters in Brecon retained and strengthened at the heart of a new network and infrastructure, sustaining a new and expanded role for the armed forces in Wales, with bases certainly for the Welsh regiments and formations, but also playing a bigger role in sustaining and supporting the wider military establishment. I would like to see the Queen's regulations, for example, amended to provide a place for Wales on the management of our armed forces. There's a seat for London on the army board—why not for Wales as well? There is an agenda, I believe, that requires vision and ambition, working together with today's serving personnel to ensure that in remembering the sacrifice of the past, we also invest in the people and families of today, and for the future.

I'd like to start by paying tribute to all men and women who've lost their lives in conflict. There is a fundamental distinction between celebrating war and marking the sacrifice of individuals. It is the latter that I would wish to do. When I worked as a researcher in Westminster, I worked closely with Elfyn Llwyd and our much-missed friend, the late Harry Fletcher, on a manifesto for veterans of the armed forces. This was published in 2014, and followed years of work from our party, including establishing an all-party parliamentary group for veterans and, in January 2010, publishing a working paper with the aim of strengthening the welfare provisions for veterans.

As has been said, although the vast majority of veterans readjust to life on civvy street, a considerable minority will face difficulties with homelessness, substance abuse and a breakdown in relationships. There is no automatic signposting for help in the army debriefing process. Our manifesto called for the military covenant to include social services, for mental health assessments to be part of the debriefing procedure, as well as welfare support, including advice on housing, employment and money management, and we called for a system of veterans' courts to be established. Too many of the recommendations have still not been listened to six years later, so I'm glad to support the motion today. But I also commend the Plaid Cymru amendment to the Chamber. It says that we support the need to strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts.

I said at the start of my remarks that there is a distinction between supporting and thanking individuals and glorifying the conflicts in which they fought. On Armistice Day, the collective consciousness of Europe focuses on the end of a particular war, that war that was meant to end all wars. In Good-bye to All That, Robert Graves says of the armistice,

'The news sent me out walking alone along the dyke above the marshes of Rhuddlan...cursing and sobbing and thinking of the dead.'

The peace had been won, but it could not eclipse the futility of war or the senseless pity of so many dead. I'll end my remarks with an englyn by William Ambrose, or 'Emrys':

Skill always in peace—may it increase / under the patronage of peace; / Idleness is the glory of the sword / and rust is its distinction.

The closing couplet translates loosely as,

'Idleness is the glory of the sword / and its rust is its distinction.'

Wyndham Davies, Arthur Jenkins, Richard Jones, David Lumley, Edward Meredith, Albert Metcalfe, Thomas Shelton and William Davies—the names of the fallen from the second world war that were read out at the remembrance service that I attended in Raglan this morning. And in towns and villages across the country, countless more names were being read out at the same time—names of servicemen probably known now only to their families, but without whom we would almost certainly not be in this Chamber today with the freedom to debate the subjects we want to debate today.

Wales has a proud military heritage—men and women in our recent past called upon to defend, advance and, in some cases, lay down their lives for the cause of freedom. These past few months have been exceptionally challenging for all of us and, once again, the armed forces have continued to show their contribution to Wales in the face of the adversity of the global pandemic. As a nation, we've always been proud of our armed forces for what they've sacrificed and for the role they now play in supporting the interests of the UK around the world. On a personal note, I became particularly aware of issues faced by armed forces families when I married into one. My father-in-law is himself a veteran. 

My own constituency of Monmouth is home to the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, the most senior regiment in the British Army reserve, and it has given continuous loyal service to the Crown since 1539. It is part of our reserve forces and is the only remaining militia unit in the British army. As Members will, I'm sure, appreciate, in this debate I could not fail to mention our links with HMS Monmouth in the constituency. This impressive ship is the seventh bearing that name in the Royal Navy, with a heritage that spans 354 years. As of 2018, it had the greatest number of battle honours of any ship currently serving in the fleet. 

Now, the importance of our war memorials dotted around Wales has been mentioned previously by Paul Davies and by other Members in the Chamber today. In villages, towns and cities across Wales, they are part of our shared history, linking families and places in their past common endeavours on behalf of the country. They are not just a reminder of what has happened, but of what shapes our futures. We are lucky to live in a liberal democracy, where we enjoy the sort of freedom and opportunity that so many other people are denied. These memorials remind me of the fact that what was defended in the face of adversity in the last century is so very precious, but also, we must continue to cherish, respect and defend those freedoms each day, not just for ourselves, but for each other. 

We should be rightly proud and thankful for the support our armed forces have given to Wales over the last seven months, but it is not good enough just to be thankful. We need to show a passion for all our armed services for their dedication, and for what they continue to do on all our behalfs. 

As has been said before, as was the case for many communities across Wales, Remembrance Sunday was very different in Alyn and Deeside, and it was the same across the United Kingdom. But I was very grateful for the opportunity to lay a wreath in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms. I did, however, miss seeing friends and neighbours on what is usually a big occasion in the civic calendar. However, it was right that veterans remained at the very heart of Sunday's and today's events, and I know the Minister will be delighted to know that 94-year-old Tom Oldfield was present at the service, and did his family, as he always does, very, very proud. The Minister will know we are immensely grateful to Tom in Connah's Quay. 

Llywydd, we did have some sad news in Alyn and Deeside this week. We lost a true hero. Gilbert Butler was 19 when he took part in the D-day landings. At 91 years of age, Gilbert received France's highest honour for his bravery—the Légion d'honneur. And that was presented to Gilbert by my dad four years ago. I'd like to take the opportunity today to say, 'Rest in peace, Gilbert, thank you for all you gave us'. My thoughts are very much with Gilbert's loved ones at this sad time.

Llywydd, if I may, I would also like to put on record my thanks to the armed forces for the way they have worked to tackle the challenge of the coronavirus, and all the work that they will continue to do in the years ahead. This debate is an opportunity to remember, and to put on record our cross-party tribute to all those who gave so much so that we could be free. In closing, Llywydd, I would like to say: at the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. 

Today's newsreels talk of the new wars—Afghanistan and Iraq—and our charities and Governments look to rebuild the current young lives that are wounded, and support the families that have lost in recent conflicts. I want to talk about the veterans of the forgotten wars—people like my father, because he represents the essence of the very ordinary men and women of the armed forces who have served since world war two in conflicts less remembered. Like many of his generation, an ordinary man who did some extraordinary things.

At an age younger than any Member of the Senedd ever, he was one of the few who led men into the jungles of Myanmar during the communist insurgency, and led most of them back out again. An ordinary man who worked undercover in dangerous situations that his family are only now learning of as age wins its battle. An ordinary man involved in the Falklands, and whose contemporaries saw action in forgotten wars like the Korean war, the Suez crisis, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cyprus, Dhofar, Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo, Ireland. And too many times, when they returned, it was to public hostility and an indifferent employer. Yet, the rights and wrongs of our involvement in a conflict rest with us as politicians making policy, and us as citizens who vote those politicians in, not the armed forces personnel, which is why I welcome the UK Government's introduction of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, in order to tackle the endless pursuit of armed forces personnel making life and death decisions under extraordinary pressure in hostile environments. 

I also wish to recognise and thank the many charities and organisations that support armed forces personnel, but the reality is that these charities should not be relied on as the main support mechanisms for veterans. I know that's a constant refrain heard by Government, but we should remember that ex-forces personnel have a different set of experiences from most of us. They've been part of a very singular community, in which trust, order and respect are founding blocks, the chain of command is strong, and to enter civvy street for some is a break with all they know, and it breaks them. Many become jobless, homeless and feel worthless. And that is why the Welsh Conservatives would bring 150 empty social housing properties back into use, specifically for military veterans at risk of homelessness.

Llywydd, armed forces personnel are truly extraordinary ordinary people. They serve and sacrifice and seek no reward, and I ask that Members of the Senedd recognise that and support this motion.

On this day we commemorate the day the guns fell silent in the war to end all wars. Sadly, this wasn't the end of conflict, but we mark the end of this bloodiest conflict each year and commemorate all those who lost their lives in armed conflict throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Sadly, it is sometimes necessary to take up arms in order to defeat evil and protect the innocent. Thankfully for us, there are men and women prepared to lay down their lives to defend our lives and our freedoms. On this day we remember that sacrifice.

The tradition of marking Armistice Day began in 1919. The following year, unknown British servicemen were exhumed from four battle areas. Their remains were brought to the chapel at St Pol. Brigadier General L. J. Wyatt went into the chapel where the bodies lay on stretchers, covered by union flags. He had no idea from which area the bodies had come. General Wyatt selected one, which was placed in a plain coffin and sealed. The other three bodies were reburied. The destroyer HMS Verdun transported the coffin to Dover, and it was then taken by train to Victoria station, to London, where it rested overnight. On the morning of 11 November, the coffin was placed by the bearer party from the third battalion Coldstream Guards on a gun carriage, drawn by six black horses of the Royal Horse Artillery. It then began its journey through the crowd-lined streets, making its first stop in Whitehall, where the Cenotaph was unveiled by King George V. The King placed his wreath of red roses and bay leaves on the coffin, and his card read, 'In proud memory of those Warriors who died unknown in the Great War. Unknown, and yet well-known.' The coffin was then taken to Westminster Abbey, and the body of this poor unnamed soldier was laid to rest in the west end of the nave. This is the grave of the unknown soldier.

So, each year, on Remembrance Day, I give thanks and pay tribute to those unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for us. And even today, 102 years on, servicemen and women are still making sacrifices to protect our freedoms. And we remember the sacrifices made and honour the survivors, and we do this by honouring the armed forces covenant. We will honour them, we will remember them. Diolch yn fawr.

All around the world, countries commemorate an Armistice Day and an Armed Forces Day. It is a recognition of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women, wherever they are, in support of freedom and democracy, in whichever country they belong to. Amongst the countries of the world, war has sadly been the most common event between us throughout our modern history. Different cultures, often very different forms of Government, but all with a common belief in the importance of defending common freedoms. Millions of people have sacrificed their lives in this way, and in Wales, and the UK, and throughout the world, we pay recognition to the ultimate sacrifices made by so many in the past, the present and, sadly, those in the future.

We all come from different backgrounds and different heritages, but all have a common respect. My father was a refugee from Ukraine, a country that lost 10 million people during the second world war, and a country that, sadly, is still at war. My one uncle died in the Red Army, as he crossed the River Oder, marching on Berlin. Another uncle died in the partisan war against Stalin, in October 1951. And we see today protests in Belarus, where people are fighting for democracy—a country that lost around 6 million people during the second world war and we can also look to our friends in Europe who have similar experiences. All of us in this Parliament have our own family histories to reflect upon and it is a duty of all of us to remember those thousands of people and their families who served their country, who have sacrificed their lives or their well-being, either through physical or mental illness. And I am pleased that this is an issue that is one that is so frequently in our minds and in our debates in this Senedd.

One final unifying factor for all those who serve in the armed forces of their country, in whichever part of the world they are in, is a recognition of the horrors of war and that the most important victory for them, for them all, would be to achieve the legacy of a world where we are all able to live together in peace, freedom and prosperity. Diolch, Deputy Llywydd.

Members frequently begin a contribution by thanking or congratulating the Member who has moved the motion for debate. In that vein, I will thank both Mark Isherwood as the introducer of the motion, and Darren Millar as its tabler. I would like, though, to go beyond that standard formula today to recognise the very substantial work that Darren Millar has done over many years in a number of different capacities to support the armed forces in Wales and so strongly link this institution with their work. Thank you, Darren.

Of course, the work that any of us as Members do does not compare with the risks and sacrifices that members of all our armed forces bear on our behalf. That is why it's so important both that we remember the ultimate sacrifice given by so many for the freedom and relative peace we enjoy today and the work today of our armed forces to help maintain that.

Mick before me spoke of our different heritages, and my mother is Irish and my grandfather served as a Fianna Fáil member in the Dáil in Dublin, yet he only served one term. And we believe, at least I understand from family, that this was in part at least because he thought that Ireland should have adopted a more pro-British policy during the second world war rather than a strict neutrality, which ended with that message on Hitler's death from the Irish President. 

I think it's so welcome now that, in Ireland, people who did serve in the British armed forces, whether in the first world war or the second world war or otherwise, are now remembered and given their just due. I find that as something that is very welcome and so important to their families.

We also today recognise the support that our armed forces give to civil authorities in other key respects, including potentially now a COVID vaccination programme. Because of COVID many of us have been unable to attend remembrance services this year in the way we normally do. I therefore conclude with that familiar refrain, never dimmed by repetition:

'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: / Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. / At the going down of the sun and in the morning / We will remember them.'

On this Armistice Day we mark the ultimate sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we today can live our lives free from tyranny, racism and fascism. We will not forget all those who have died in the call of serving their country or those who have been impacted in so many ways still today in war and conflict. We will also not forget the millions of Jewish families—children and babies, brothers and sisters—systematically and horrifically tortured and murdered, alongside other ethnic groups, the disabled and political prisoners. We will not forget you.

This morning, I marked the historic moment of armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month at Penallta House, the headquarters of Caerphilly County Borough Council, where, in a socially distanced ceremony, representatives of the armed forces and civic life met to honour the fallen.

Today the use of the armed forces during this pandemic crisis reminds us of the sacrifices still being made, but many have paid and will continue to pay the ultimate price. And this is something many cannot or do not contemplate as a consequence of the work that we do. That we honour those who have fallen in battle and that we honour those who are willing to do battle in our name is right and is proper. Today schools across Islwyn did the same, as did Blackwood Primary School, who also honoured all those who have given their lives, with a virtual whole-school assembly. And I want to place on record my appreciation for schools such as Blackwood primary, who, in this the strangest of years, commemorated with the next generation of the school community coming together to mark this special occasion. These children are our future, and we will remember them.

Deputy Llywydd, to conclude, I do also know how much Darren Millar puts into his advocacy of our armed forces. He is an able chair of the cross-party group, and so, on this matter, I wish to wholeheartedly echo his call, and that of the Welsh Government, for the continued and ongoing support for the armed forces covenant. I know, personally, it is so highly valued by the armed forces community, the authorities implementing it, their armed forces champions and, of course, veterans and their families. It is a coming together, where there is so much to divide us. So, today, tomorrow and for ever, we shall remember the fallen of Islwyn and of Wales and all those who continue to serve to keep us free.

Thank you. Can I now call the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn?

Diolch. Each November, as we pause for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, we are reminded of the tremendous bravery and sacrifices of our past and present armed forces and their families. It's a testament to that service and sacrifice that the motion before us was tabled with cross-party support and it's right that we collectively reflect and recognise our armed forces communities here today on Armistice Day. I'm pleased to be able to respond on behalf of the Welsh Government and it's a privilege to lead on our work to support those who have served and continue to serve in Wales.

Remembrance this year takes place under very different circumstances. At a time when everyone in Wales is being asked to make sacrifices, we remember the generations before us who made sacrifices—many the ultimate sacrifice—to keep us safe. The Royal British Legion led the campaign to encourage people to put poppies in their window and to join in with a collective act of remembrance marking the two-minute silence on our doorsteps. Local and national media have carried many superb stories of how people and communities have found safe and innovative ways to remember and also continue to raise funds for the poppy appeal.

When flicking through social media, I was moved to tears to spot a familiar figure, albeit in a face covering, in the background of a slimmed-down service in Connah's Quay, behind the Member for Alyn and Deeside. And I thank my colleague for his kind tribute to my great-uncle Tommy Oldfield, now aged 94, and a proud veteran of the D-day landings. Many of us here today also took the opportunity to mark the occasion appropriately in our own communities, and I was honoured to attend a small socially distanced service in Mold, outside St Mary's church, as well as paying my respects safely and separately in Holywell, Flint and Northop Hall.

Deputy Presiding Officer, it's right that we remember the scale and devastation that can be caused by conflict. World war two alone was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history that also saw many civilian lives cut short. The courageous sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom and gave their lives for our country must not be forgotten. This year, we've seen significant anniversaries. Whilst they may have been marked differently due to COVID-19, it by no means diminished our appreciation, recognition and respect.

We commemorated the eightieth anniversary of the battle of Britain and we also celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day. This year I was honoured and privileged to speak with veterans of the second world war and was moved and inspired by their experiences. One of these was Mr Ronald Jones. Despite injuries during the French invasion, Mr Jones, an ex-sergeant from the Second Platoon 17th Field Company of the Royal Engineers, bravely returned to operations on two separate occasions. Many of us will be aware of other similar remarkable stories, and we've heard those shared in contributions today—memories that should and must be shared and preserved for generations to come.

We are rightly proud of that remarkable generation that came before us, and I am proud of all that we are doing today in Wales to support our veterans and wider armed forces community, working together in common cause, through both the armed forces expert group and the cross-party group, collectively providing a voice for the armed force community.

Our annual report sets out the breadth of support available and the collaborative progress we have made, from the continued support of £700,000 a year for Veterans NHS Wales; providing £120,000 to tackle loneliness and social isolation, funding that has enabled Blesma to establish its brunch and digital inclusion project; championing the Supporting Service Children in Education, SSCE Cymru programme, which, in collaboration with the army in Wales, secured covenant trust funding for four regional school liaison officers; and I was pleased to be able to confirm an additional £275,000 per year for two years from 2021 to enable the excellent and instrumental armed forces liaison officers to continue in their roles. We continue to meet and work with our key stakeholders collectively, considering and resolving any issues that are identified. Working alongside the UK Government, we are supporting and participating in the veterans railcard scheme, enabling veterans and their family members to receive discounted travel across the UK.

We will always strive to go further in our support for those who have served and continue to serve and their families. That's why the Welsh Government has now introduced the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative within Government here, recognising the skills and abilities veterans bring to the workplace. On 30 November, I will be launching our 'Capitalising on Military Family Talent' document. Created in partnership with the Scottish Government and Business in the Community Cymru, the document is aimed at spouses and partners of serving personnel and sets out available employer support. Newly formed action groups have been set up to address matters relating to employment, transition, information and awareness, and finance, following our comprehensive armed forces scoping exercise. The groups are already meeting and making progress and include representatives from organisations that support veterans and their families.

Whilst the remembrance period naturally offers the chance to pay tribute to past service, it would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity today to pay tribute to current members of our armed services, who this year have stepped up and stepped in to support our communities and our country as we faced the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Their assistance has been integral to supporting our NHS and the most vulnerable in our communities by providing vital expertise, knowledge and skills to help tackle COVID-19, but we know that their contribution goes much further, and this Government recognises not simply the primary role our armed forces play, but the broader social and economic benefits they bring to the communities in which they're situated. 

We welcome the establishment of Academi Heddwch Cymru, and we should always strive for peaceful resolutions and recognise the role our armed forces have played in peacekeeping operations around the world. Peace, like progress, is not inevitable. We've come so far in progressing our work in this area and, by continuing to work in partnership in Wales, we will build on our support for those who have served and those who continue to serve. We will not forget, we will remember, and we will always support our armed forces community. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you very much. Can I now call on Darren Millar to reply to the debate? Darren.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank everybody who's taken part in this very good-natured debate? There have been some excellent contributions, and, as always, I have to remind myself that the armed forces and the contribution that they play to modern Wales as well as our history has been absolutely tremendous. I'm particularly interested to hear, again, more about people's family tales, including the Minister's, with Uncle Tom; Angela Burns talking about her father's contribution to military service; and of course the stories that we heard from Mark Isherwood in his opening comments and remarks on the debate, and, of course, the gentleman from Alyn and Deeside—I think his name was Gilbert. I didn't quite catch his surname; I think it was Gilbert Butler. What a remarkable man. People who fought for our country, people who have made a huge sacrifice, some of them still with us—heroes that we can honour and choose to honour as much as we can—but too many of them, unfortunately, fallen and not here today. And that's why it's important that on this Armistice Day we remember them all.

Can I just thank the Minister for her generous response to the debate as well? I think there has been some excellent collaboration between the Welsh Government and the UK Government in terms of furthering the support for the armed forces family and for veterans, and it's been wonderful, as chair of the cross-party group on the armed forces, to have been invited to participate on the Welsh Government's expert group. It was your predecessor, Alun Davies, former Minister for the armed forces, who contributed to today's debate, that opened the opportunity for that, and I think the engagement has been really, really positive and it has delivered significant benefits for our armed forces community.

We know that nothing's perfect, there are still improvements that we can make, but there has been a tremendous amount that has been achieved in recent years, particularly for our veterans with the devolved responsibilities that the Welsh Government has. You reeled a few of them off a few moments ago, with the veterans railcard this year, the great place to work initiative, which guarantees veterans the opportunity to have an interview if they've got the right skill set for civil service jobs. These are really positive developments, as was, of course, the additional funding that you announced earlier in the year for our armed forces liaison officers, who do critical work on the front lines in our local authorities and working with health boards as well, trying to join everything up. So, I want to pay tribute to you, as a Government Minister, for that work. Of course, there's always more to do. We know that Veterans' NHS Wales is in need of further capacity to be able to increase the services that it provides to our veterans to cut those gaps down in waiting times, and we know that there's further work on the UK Government side that needs to be done as well, particularly in terms of maintaining the military footprint here in Wales, which of course has been squeezed over the years, but we are standing shoulder to shoulder with you as a Welsh Government to want to maintain that military footprint. We recognise the significant economic benefit that Wales derives from it.

It's very poignant today that we celebrate—or mark, rather—the hundredth anniversary of the internment of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster. It was interesting to hear the full details of that story from Caroline Jones—a very moving account, I think, of just how that body happened to be interred in Westminster Cathedral. And there will be story after story that people can share about individuals who suffered, who are unsung heroes, who are out there, but that one in particular, I think, was very moving for me.

Congratulations to Monmouthshire on achieving its gold employer status in the recognition scheme for the armed forces. I just hope that many other local authorities will follow that lead, and other parts of the public sector will follow that lead too. You've done an excellent job as an ambassador for the armed forces as the armed forces champion, Laura, and it's great to have someone else with a deep interest in the armed forces here as a Member of the Senedd.

Just in closing, I want to turn to the COVID response contribution that our armed forces have made in recent months. There was a huge amount of logistical support that the armed forces provided to the Welsh Government over the course of the pandemic. We've seen them distributing PPE equipment to front-line services. We've seen them mobilising in order to deliver the Dragon's Heart Hospital. We've seen them supporting our Welsh ambulance service with their response, even delivering a baby, we were told at our cross-party group, on one of those calls. And, of course, they've been heavily involved in rolling out and ramping up the testing capacity as well. So, I want to take this opportunity, in closing, just to thank them not just for their service over many, many centuries to Wales, but also for their service today, their live service around the country in supporting us with this new crisis that is amongst us, and to pay tribute to each and every one of them. We will remember you, not just today, but at all times of the year, and we will continue to do what we can on a cross-party basis in this Senedd to make sure that we uphold that very important armed forces covenant that we've all subscribed to. Thank you.

Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Okay, therefore we will defer voting under this item until voting time.

Voting deferred until voting time.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, I will suspend the meeting for five minutes before proceeding to voting time, when ICT support will be on hand to help with any issues before we get to voting time.

Plenary was suspended at 19:24.

The Senedd reconvened at 19:29, with the Deputy Presiding Officer in the Chair.