Item 6 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip on marking Interfaith Week, and I call on the Deputy Minister and the Chief Whip, Jane Hutt. Jane.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Interfaith Week celebrates the contribution people of faith across this country have made to their communities. It's hard to imagine when than in the recent history of the COVID-19 pandemic this contribution has been more necessary or more appreciated by so many, and it is at times like this, times of adversity, that care and compassion in people and communities of faith and no faith shine through. It's no surprise that a great many of those who have come forward have been from our faith communities.

In Wales, we have a unique opportunity to bring our faiths together in the interfaith council, which co-exists alongside our interfaith forum, which has played a vital role in the collective response to the pandemic.

In February, communities were devastated by storm Dennis, Ciara and Jorge, and, just a few weeks later, we moved into a national lockdown that brought unprecedented and extraordinary restrictions on every aspect of our lives. The critical need for such restrictions has never diminished, however difficult they have been. As we know, the virus is cruel, spreading from loved one to loved one, through our most human need to see family and friends, as well as the spiritual needs so clearly expressed by our faith communities. So little of our lives has been left untouched, including those of faith communities, who were asked for a long period not to congregate, not to open their places of worship, not to mark their important festivals in the way they usually would. No Member here would underestimate how great an ask that was, neither will any Member be surprised to know that these restrictions did not diminish the efforts and spirit of our faiths in Wales. And while the physical doors were shut, the work did not stop. In fact—and I speak directly to the faith community now— your resourcefulness and energy to find ways to keep in touch with your own worshippers has been remarkable. You've reached out to the wider community, and you hold both the gratitude and the admiration of this Government and the Senedd as a whole.

This response to adversity is reflected at times of crisis. After the February flooding in Pontypridd, the churches of Castle Square and St David's Uniting helped to clean up the local area and raised over £2,000 for local flood victims. Community House, Newport, has been bringing people together from all ages, backgrounds, races and religions for over half a century. It provides a home for many groups and activities, including a Caribbean church, an Ethiopian church and two east European churches. And many of the people who attend Community House are from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, experiencing the profound and disproportionate impact of coronavirus. Community House has arranged regular Zoom meetings to get community leaders in touch with people who are in need of help. They've provided food parcels, computers and internet access for children, in partnership with the Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales, 'With Me In Mind', and a community connector. I urge faith groups to take the opportunity to apply for the funding I've made available from the COVID-19 third sector response fund and through the community facilities programme. And I hope this will help them to provide continued support to their communities.

Food banks across Wales, often hosted by places of worship, have continued to share food with those in need, and new ones have opened. Churches like Gateway in Abergavenny have provided hot meals for children while the school was closed, and also provided a hot meal for NHS staff for 11 weeks through lockdown—around 1,200 cooked meals. They've also given school bags and stationery to children as they return to school. I've heard of many examples of support being given over the phone, with members being encouraged to ring each other, contact those in care homes, and providing opportunities to pray by phone. 

Each year, Interfaith Week is usually marked by gatherings, a walk and a concert, last year featuring the interfaith choir. This year, I joined a virtual 'Music and the Spoken Word' event, organised by the Interfaith Council for Wales. I was delighted to see the interfaith council's suggestions for personal and social daily exchanges through Interfaith Week, from planting something, doing a kind deed for someone, and to write three things that make us feel grateful. It was also an opportunity to hear directly from people about how they're coping through the pandemic. 

During these past months, the interfaith council has supported the project run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to donate 11,300 hygiene bags to the patients of the hospitals and care homes across Wales, so that people had access to basic essentials when their family members, friends and neighbours were not able to visit them. Deputy Llywydd, these are just a few of the examples from our communities across Wales.

During Interfaith Week, there was an LGBT+ event hosted by the Swansea Unitarian Church and the university faith team. The virtual gathering gave people an opportunity to share, connect and make friends. I'm also aware of the work by faith groups to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and against the scourge of racism. And during a time when key festivals such as Eid, Easter, Hanukkah, the Jewish new year, and, more recently, the Feasts of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls, will or have been disrupted, you've worked to ensure people can still mark these occasions. This year, we marked Diwali with inspiring online events. I'm pleased that the Hindu and Sikh faith communities in Wales who celebrate Diwali participated in the events that the Welsh Government organised to mark Diwali, such as the digital Diwali celebrations from 9-13 November.

Fundraising for good causes has continued. Outreach has not stopped, and the support for some of the most vulnerable people across our country has been kept strong. During national volunteering week, I met with people who told me about their volunteering work during Ramadan, helping those around their community during these difficult times, with food parcels and care for the elderly throughout this pandemic.

The way the Government and the faith communities have been able to work together during the past months is testimony to the strength and importance of the faith communities forum. It reflects the long-standing, multicultural and multifaith traditions that are deeply rooted in communities across Wales, and has enabled us to keep an open and constructive dialogue. So, I'd like to thank all volunteers in every village, town and city across Wales for your tireless work. I don't underestimate the magnitude of your task, comforting others and supporting vulnerable people, and I hope that all Members will join me in marking Interfaith Week and celebrating the outstanding work of our communities of faith and no faith in this extraordinary year.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. I welcome this statement today on Interfaith Week, which aims to build on good relationships and working partnerships between people of different faiths and beliefs. Over generations, we have built a successful, multiracial, multifaith democracy. This week provides a focal point for interfaith activity, so that more people are aware of its importance and are able to take part. Each year, Interfaith Week begins on Remembrance Sunday. This is significant, as we should always remember the contribution of people who came from countries that now form part of the Commonwealth to fight for us. One and a half million volunteers came from the Indian sub-continent, 15,000 volunteers from the West Indies, 5,000 men from Africa.

In these days of increasing racial prejudice and discrimination, it is right to take the time to reflect on this fact. In cemeteries across the world are the graves of people of all races and faiths, or no faith, who fought side by side to defend the freedoms that we enjoy today. Interfaith Week celebrates and builds on the contribution that distinct faith communities continue to make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society. Progress is definitely being made. In the latest national survey for Wales, 75 per cent agreed that they now belonged to their area—they feel like they belong to their area—and that people from different backgrounds get on well with each other, treating each other with respect. This is up from 52 per cent the previous year.

But problems still remain. Hate crime is an increasing problem in the UK, and sadly Wales is no exception. Police forces in England and Wales recorded a 3 per cent increase in recorded religious hate crime incidents in 2018-19. Although the majority of religious hate crimes are conducted against Muslims, the rise of antisemitism is a major concern, with the number of reported incidents against Jews doubling from 2018 to 2019. While it is likely that the increase in hate crime has been driven by improvements in recording by police and a growing awareness of hate crime, there is no doubt that the problem is escalating.

Interfaith Week is an essential part of increasing understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs. Faith groups have been brought together to meet the challenge presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They have reached out to help the elderly and those most at risk, such as pregnant women and people with chronic conditions within our communities. By doing so, they provide much needed support to the vulnerable, whilst tackling the loneliness and isolation that lockdown regulations entail. An amazing example of this that I went to visit was Feed Newport in Pill in Newport. It was well worth a visit, Deputy Minister, for what they're doing. They're not just providing food to people; there are so many other services that they've incorporated in that. It's something definitely worth looking at and something to roll out across Wales.

Bringing communities together is a key part of Interfaith Week, and I fully support its intention to promote greater understanding and better relationships between faith communities in Wales. We will all be stronger if we work together, play together and live together. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Laura Anne Jones, for those very positive comments and contributions, acknowledging the importance of Interfaith Week. I'm glad you mentioned the fact that Interfaith Week actually coincides and starts with Remembrance Day, and in fact I was very privileged, and I'm sure that everyone was aware of the fact that Race Council Cymru, for the second year running, organised a memorial service in Alexandra gardens in Cathays for ethnic minority servicemen and women. We laid wreaths on that Saturday. It was the second year, and we were particularly pleased that we had very socially distanced representation there across all the faiths who attended. So, wreaths were laid by the Muslim Council of Wales, the Hindu Council of Wales, the Jewish community, the Christian community—they were all there expressing their faith and their support for Remembrance Day. And people can see that all-important plaque that was placed there last year, supported by the Royal British Legion as well.

I also feel that it's very important that you recognise that attitudes are changing, and you see that through the surveys in terms of the views of the people of Wales, through our national surveys, but we know that we can't take that for granted.

Now, I mentioned the virtual event that I attended on Thursday that the Interfaith Council for Wales organised, and what was very interesting, again, were the views that came from all of the different faiths represented. One participant from the Hindu faith said that people of faith are right out at the front in terms of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The temple closing was such a shock—these were two young Hindus who used to meet every week—but they said, 'We've now learnt new skills to keep our faith alive online, and also to look out to the community to see how we could share. We closed our doors, but this led to the opening of our hearts. We grow a lot and we've grown closer together'. Of course, that also is very connected with the Sikh participant at the event who said, 'Faith has taught me to trust. I taught myself to put others before myself. We are all one'. And there were many other expressions of that kind at that event, which, of course, I would have liked many more to have been part of that. It was very revealing in terms of that commitment.

I think we also have to face the fact that there is hate crime. Only a few weeks ago, we had the Hate Crime Awareness Week, and it was very important that we looked at the statistics. I had a statement here today in the Chamber, and, following the statement that I made, I met with ambassadors of Victim Support Cymru who launched their hate crime charter, focusing on the rights of victims of hate crime. We signed up, as a Welsh Government, to the charter, showing our commitment to playing our part in tackling hate crime, also recognising that we looked at statistics from the past year and there was actually a decrease in religious hate crime. But we know that it is also about people coming forward, feeling that they're confident to report. I made the point that no person in Wales should have to tolerate prejudice or hate crime, and everyone has the right to respect and should be able to go through their lives without being insulted, harassed or attacked.

So, we have to use Interfaith Week as an opportunity to really share and embrace how people are working together, coming together and learning together, and the project in Pill, I'm sure, will be just one of the many examples we could give today.

May I first of all thank Jane Hutt, the Deputy Minister, for a wonderful statement? I join with her in her welcoming words. We're here noting Interfaith Week, but as the Deputy Minister has already said, we're not only noting but celebrating the contributions made by our faith communities, particularly during the pandemic over these past few months when congregations haven't been able to come together in their traditional way, be that in a chapel, church, mosque or other place of worship; we have been meeting online, of course.

As one who is a lay preacher, I do see all of the hard work that is done on a voluntary basis, and I'm astonished by it, I have to say, as the Deputy Minister has already outlined. And it's not just in our Christian chapels and churches, but it's also the vital contributions from other faith backgrounds, as we all come together in our towns and cities, and the voluntary work that happens on the ground is truly astonishing. And given the response to the pandemic, it has gone up to another level that we've never seen before, and also in response to the flooding that the Deputy Minister mentioned. The hard work done on the ground deserves celebrating, and that's why I welcome this statement so enthusiastically today. Providing food to food banks, providing food parcels to individuals and families who are vulnerable, the response has been quite staggering; providing furniture, clothes, dry carpets, toys for children, everything you can think of.

And, of course, during lockdown, we couldn't hold services in our churches, chapels or mosques, as I've already mentioned. And, of course, there were strict restrictions in terms of weddings and funerals, but despite that, there was great collaboration happening. I had my first experience of being a lay preacher on Zoom, before returning to the pulpit just last Sunday. Following this recent lockdown, our chapels and churches have reopened, and they have been disinfected in a way that has never been seen before. There is incredible work happening. The red and white tape is keeping everyone 2m apart in the pews in our chapels, with hand sanitiser at the door, everyone wearing masks, no singing of hymns, with test and trace in place, both in written form and through the COVID-19 app, where you scan your phone at the door as you enter the chapel or church. These changes have been quite incredible, as has the ongoing cleaning as various community organisations use our vestries and halls during the week. The challenges have been immense, indeed, as the Deputy Minister has already said.

And I also want to thank the Deputy Minister for what she said about the funding available to our communities of faith to deliver more at a local level to support our most vulnerable people, because such pots of money haven't always been available to faith organisations. So, can I just ask you how many such organisations have made applications under the scheme that you've outlined this afternoon?

But, to conclude, Deputy Presiding Officer, in this important week, we've all been paying numerous, well-deserved tributes to NHS workers, workers in social care and local government staff, as well as carers, and we occasionally forget to mention our faith communities and all the voluntary work that happens on the ground, quietly and behind the scenes, without anyone realising it. And I would also like to thank those who have no faith background who also help our communities. So, I thank the Minister, and I thank everyone for their hard work—it is a cause for celebration indeed.

Diolch yn fawr, Dai Lloyd, and thank you so much for your very positive, enthusiastic and sincere response to this statement, and I know how much it means to you personally as a lay preacher, a Senedd Member, a long-standing colleague, and recognising over the years how important the development of the Interfaith Council for Wales has been for Wales. In fact, I just wonder, Dai Lloyd, whether you were able to watch S4C's Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol on Sunday night? It was about Interfaith Week, and there was a very interesting discussion about the links between devolution and interfaith communities. Many will have seen Aled Edwards, of course, speaking on these points, but also recognising how the interfaith council is celebrating Wales as a multi-ethnic country, and the asylum seeker Joseph Gnabo coming to Wales as an asylum seeker, making Wales his home and saying in Welsh on the programme, 'I feel safe here in Wales.' That programme is worth watching, if anyone hasn't had the opportunity to see it.

But I think it's important if I just say one word of thanks to the Faith Communities Forum and the reopening places of worship task and finish group. Because, very quickly, we convened the Faith Communities Forum, which I co-chair with the First Minister, and we've met four times in 2020—we don't usually meet so regularly. It's a valuable opportunity to see the concerns of different communities, because you have talked about the challenges for churches, chapels, mosques and temples, as we have done in those arenas in the Faith Communities Forum. So, the reopening places of worship task and finish group is a sub-group. They worked very closely with officials to help plan the safe reopening of places of worship. They've provided advice on the development of Welsh Government's guidance for places of worship. In fact, I met them during the recent firebreak lockdown, and it has been about hearing their concerns, but seeking the advice and guidance as we move and ease out of the restrictions. I think it has been formidable, the engagement and the learning from each other, from Muslim to Hindu to Christian to Jewish across that interfaith forum.

I will finally say that funding for faith groups is available through our third sector resilience fund. We have had a great many applications for this resilience fund, and the emergency fund as well, but also lots of councils' voluntary services at a council level—for you, it would be Swansea—have also had funding from the Welsh Government to help local groups as well. So, it's cascaded down through Welsh Government to the local level. But I have worked particularly hard to ensure that the communities facilities programme, that's that capital—and many of you know those capital grants are very much sought after for conversions of chapels, churches—I have opened this up to make sure that mosques and temples and non-Christian faith venues can access this. But they have particularly been looking at purchasing ICT equipment to allow staff and volunteers to work remotely to continue to deliver services and to, obviously, provide some of those kinds of equipment such as video-conferencing facilities. But I would be very happy, again, to give a bit more of an outline on how that funding, both revenue and capital, has reached our faith and non-faith groups in those community settings.

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.

Thank you very much indeed, Mike Hedges, and I would like to say thank you for the generosity of all those in Swansea East, from your local chapel to all the other faith communities who have shown their generosity of faith, as you have said, in terms of responding to the coronavirus. We've had other examples of that in response to the flooding, as well, pre COVID—so often it was the churches and chapels who opened up their doors. I saw it in Llanhilleth, just on the terrible flooding before the lockdown. But I specifically want to just thank the people of Swansea East, because that's just one constituency, one area of Wales where we know that can be replicated across Wales. I particularly thank the people of your community, your chapel, not just for raising the money and the goods for foodbanks—and often, as you say, the ones who don't have the greatest resources are the ones who give first—but also for the scheme to provide presents for children at Christmas.

Caroline Jones.

Can I thank you also, Minister, for your statement—

No, Caroline Jones, sorry, not Darren Millar. Caroline Jones.

Pardon me. It asked me to unmute. I couldn't hear properly.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your statement, Deputy Minister. Interfaith Week provides us with the opportunity to increase understanding between the faiths, and also with those with no religious beliefs at all. Deputy Minister, do you agree that interfaith disputes have been the root cause of the majority of armed conflicts, and increasing understanding is absolutely vital to avoiding conflict and loss of life? What role do you envision the Welsh Government playing in promoting understanding and awareness between the faiths as well as those in secular society? With a number of different faiths running in schools in Wales, how will the Welsh Government ensure that interfaith awareness will play a part of the religious teaching at those schools throughout the year? And finally, Deputy Minister, Interfaith Week is a great introduction to interfaith understanding and co-operation, but how will the Welsh Government ensure that this happens every week of the year, and not just one week in November? I too would like to give thanks to the faith community for always being there, not just as COVID has taken many lives and has been needed more than ever, but for coming together with the flooding and the foodbanks. Thank you so much to the faith community for always being there, particularly now. Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you very much, Caroline Jones, for your support for Interfaith Week, which is not just for the week, as you say, it is for 365, the whole of the year. And we do embrace those principles and those values of understanding, sharing, tackling hate crime and raising awareness of the strength of our faith communities. I think what is very important is that we look to this when we start with our children and young people. In fact, I'll just say—very rarely do I say a personal thing, but my granddaughter, who is only two, was actually last week apparently listening to hear about Diwali, and that is at nursery level. It's early years through. We have a wonderful opportunity, of course, with our new curriculum to ensure that that celebration and understanding and awareness raising is embedded in our curriculum. But of course, it is about how we work together to ensure that we can see that this is the real opportunity, and the collective view and values of Wales. I think that will of course help us to address conflict, prejudice and particularly the issues that we are concerned about, with the impact of coronavirus, where so many have lost their opportunities, perhaps, in terms of faith gatherings, but actually have turned to each other and turned to the volunteers who come with faith and no faith to their doors to support them.

Thank you. And now Darren Millar.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank you, Minister, for your statement? I'm absolutely delighted that you're making a statement to mark Interfaith Week, and I very much hope that this will become an annual fixture on the Welsh Government's business in Plenary. As you've said, there has been significant disruption to faith communities during the pandemic, and the inability to meet in a place of worship has obviously caused significant hardship for many individuals who rely very much on that communication with other people in their congregations for their own spiritual strength. Clearly, it's been a very difficult time, but I'm glad that our places of worship are now back open and I very much have enjoyed being part of online services, but there's nothing like being back in a place of worship, being able to see people in the flesh in the same way that we're able to see people in the flesh in other walks of life. 

I think I just wanted to ask you, if I may: can you continue to assure the Senedd of the Welsh Government's ongoing support for chaplaincy—publicly funded chaplaincy services? We've seen, obviously, significant numbers of people who have experienced bereavement as a result of the coronavirus and, because of the pandemic, many people haven't even had the opportunity to say their final goodbyes to many of their relatives at the bedside in the way that they might have been able to at other times. So, clearly, bereavement services in particular are something that many hospital chaplains are able to provide to people, as first responders in many respects. And I would very much appreciate—I've always appreciated the support that the Welsh Government has given to NHS chaplaincy services, but I wonder whether you could just put on record today and join me in thanking those chaplains across Wales who have done such important work at what I'm sure has been a very difficult time for them and those that they've been supporting. 

In addition to that, you've made reference to the interfaith councils and the interfaith forum, and I also want to recognise them for their significant contribution to the faith communities and to the social life of Wales. But will you also join me in thanking those individuals who are also participating in the cross-party group on faith, who work so hard to ensure that topics that are of interest to the faith community are on the agenda for all of us in the Senedd, and to really make sure that we listen to that diversity of voices that comes from the faith community? It's been a pleasure to chair that cross-party group over the past 12 years, I think it is now. It never ceases to amaze or encourage me the way that people with very diverse opinions are able to get on and work together collaboratively in the interests of the people of Wales on that group. So I hope that you'll join me in thanking them for the contribution that they make. 

And one final question, if I may. The interfaith forum, which has been such a successful forum that's able to engage directly with the Welsh Government, I think would benefit greatly from an additional member, if I may say so, and that is in the form of a representative of Wales's pentecostal denominations. There are over 120 pentecostal churches from the three main pentecostal denominations here in Wales. They have over 17,000 people attending those congregations each year, and many of them do a great deal of good work in their local communities. I wonder, Minister, whether it's time now for the Welsh Government to recognise the significant contribution of the pentecostal denominations by affording them a seat at the table on the interfaith forum so that they can make a positive contribution in the way that they do in their communities to the nation of Wales and the good work that you and the Welsh Government are doing to improve faith relationships. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Darren Millar. Can I start by thanking you for the work that you do in chairing the cross-party group on faith? I also just recall that wonderful event that we had in the Senedd last year, a Holocaust Memorial Day event, where we all came, with the cross-party group very much leading that event, as you have done. I think it is important to just look at some of these difficult decisions that have been made with the restrictions. From 22 June, places of worship were able to open. Over the summer, restrictions were relaxed and types of activities were allowed to increase. But during the firebreak, of course, they were closed again for communal worship, but open for funerals, weddings and for broadcasting of services. As you say, so many are so pleased now that they're back open for communal worship, ceremonies including funerals and marriages, and supervised children's activities.394

You make an important point about bereavement services and the role of chaplains, which I'm sure has come to the fore in terms of our health service, and we need to look at that contribution. But I would like to mention the ceremonies group. This has been playing a very key part. It's a new name for a group that's looking at faith, burials and cremations, and it has now additional focus on weddings and similar events. And they've come together, again looking with faith leaders within Wales, and representatives of those of no faith, and community representatives, looking at the key issues in relation to the impact of coronavirus. And they have also looked, of course—they have been a sub-group of the COVID-19 moral and ethical advisory group.

You do make an important point about our faith communities forum, on which, actually, we were having a membership review just before the impact of the pandemic, and there are other parts of other faiths as well who are interested in coming. You've mentioned Pentecostal—and there are others who are interested in joining that. It is a very vibrant and sincere and close-knit group, and the interfaith forum feeds into our faith communities forum, which I chair.

But I want to just say that it's not just us as Ministers meeting them. Officials have met with members of the task and finish group regularly over the past six months, and they held online question and answer sessions, attracting up to 125 people to each, with faith leaders, and volunteers asking questions about practical issues that have been mentioned, about reopening buildings, cleaning and safe environments. So, I think there's a whole new understanding and awareness that has come as a result of not just the infrastructure we already had, that close working relationship, but how our faith communities, and those of no faith, and their communities and interests, have responded to the coronavirus.

I just have to finally say that it's just one of the ways in which we come back to some of the words that were said to me last week. In fact, this was from a Muslim, who said, 'With hardship comes ease, and with this comes unity'.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

I thank the Deputy Minister.