Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome this debate on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales impact report for 2019-20. This is an unprecedented time for equality and human rights in the UK and communities have been facing exceptional challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We're all aware some people are disproportionately and adversely affected more than others. I'd like to thank the interim chairs, Dr Alison Parken and Martyn Jones, the Wales board and staff of the EHRC for their continued work in highlighting inequalities and promoting equality and human rights in Wales during this challenging time, and for this impact report.

In their report, the EHRC highlighted as one of their priority areas the importance of education in creating a more equal and fair society. In the new curriculum, learners will explore the local, national, and global context to all aspects of learning. They will learn how to make connections and develop understanding within a diverse society. Last July, the Minister for Education appointed Professor Charlotte Williams to chair the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, contributions and cynefin in the new curriculum working group. The work of the group includes—but goes beyond—black history, to consider a range of minority ethnicities as part of the story of Wales. Membership comprises experienced practitioners and contributors to black, Asian and minority ethnic and Welsh history.

Transport is also a key policy theme. It's vital to employment, education and access to services, and affects our social and community well-being and health. I'm grateful to the EHRC for providing invaluable advice and information to inform the development of the transport strategy, including information on older and disabled people's experiences of using public transport. The formal consultation closed yesterday, but 'Llwybr Newydd'—new path—sets out a long-term vision for an accessible and sustainable transport system.

Whilst the EHRC report mentions criminal justice, this remains a reserved matter, but many of the services needed to support offenders, ex-offenders and promote rehabilitation are devolved, and the responsibility of the Welsh Government. Last year, the Commission on Justice in Wales published its report, 'Justice in Wales for the People of Wales', and of particular relevance is the finding that the funding of legal advice services through legal aid means access to justice is not universally available across Wales. The commission on justice highlighted growing advice challenges in some areas, a serious risks to the long-term sustainability of many legal practices. But recognising this, the EHRC trained advice providers and public sector workers to raise awareness of discrimination so they can better respond to their clients' needs.

Members will be aware that the Welsh Government introduced the single advice fund to help meet the increasing demand for access to advice services. Ten million pounds of grant funding has been made available for provision of information and advice services from January last year until March this year. It's important that we recognise that advice services have had to change, with the single advice fund providers transferring their face-to-face advice services to remote channels—telephone, e-mail, web chat—a mammoth undertaking by the providers to transfer their services, but reaching out to so many.

It remains the intention of this Government to commence the socioeconomic duty, which will come into force by 31 March. The duty will require certain public bodies to consider the socioeconomic impact when making strategic decisions, and I'm proud our Government is taking this forward. But we've worked closely with the EHRC to prepare for the commencement, and to ensure the duty delivers its intended impact. It is important also that we've taken forward action in a number of other areas where EHRC have engaged with us: the race equality action plan for Wales, the LGBT+ action plan, research into the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people—we're awaiting a report that's been commissioned from Professor Debbie Foster of Cardiff University on that particular subject—but also, importantly, research into opportunities to strengthen and advance equality and human rights in Wales.

I think it's useful to just take note that we have worked to develop plans for Wales that have been co-constructed, particularly the race equality action plan, involving grass-roots groups, young people, older people, along with Welsh Government staff networks, with black, Asian and minority ethnic staff engaging in the vision for the race equality action plan. I think it's also important that the EHRC has played a part in our steering group, in the research into opportunities to strengthen equality and human rights in Wales. We've had many calls for action to strengthen and enhance our equality and human rights in Wales. We've commissioned research to inform future discussions, and a draft report is due next month.

The EHRC's impact report debated today provides us with just a brief taste of the commission's work in Wales, and continues to emphasise the importance of the EHRC's contribution to Welsh life, to improve lives and safeguard rights and help create a more equal Wales. Diolch yn fawr.