6. Statement by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip: Marking Interfaith Week

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:03 pm on 17 November 2020.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 6:03, 17 November 2020

Can I thank the Deputy Minister for her statement and can I say you'll be pleased to know I'm not going to repeat anything that Dai Lloyd said, but I generally agree with everything he just said? As the Deputy Minister said, Interfaith Week celebrates the contribution people of faith across the country have made to our communities and the importance of some of the work done by our faith communities who don't make a fuss about it. They go out there and they do it. But the generosity of the faith community is phenomenal, and I just think of how much the small chapel I attend has collected for the foodbank, how much will be collected for Mr X in the next couple of weeks, how much is collected every time there's a call for money. It's phenomenal. These are not rich people, but these are people of faith who care about their fellow human being.

Will the Minister join with me in thanking those people in all the faith communities within Swansea East for their running of and support for foodbanks, without which many people would go hungry, and their support for schemes like Mr X in Swansea, which provides presents for children at Christmas who otherwise would not have anything at all? But the faith community stepped up to the plate, provides food, provides presents and helps people who are less fortunate than themselves, and in many cases, the people helping people less fortunate themselves are not amongst the most fortunate in society.