I'd like to start my contribution to this debate with a quote from the EHRC Wales committee chair, Martyn Jones: 'Behind the statistics are real people with lived experiences of discrimination and inequality. We need to shine a light on the positive contribution made by all groups in society on a daily basis. We must change the narrative from one of burden and negativity to one that empowers individuals to be who they want to be, regardless of their age, sex or socioeconomic background. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.'

We in Plaid Cymru would agree. We want Wales to be a fair and just society where everyone is treated equally and enjoys the same rights, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. The real lived experiences of discrimination and inequality must be recognised when drawing up policies across all Government departments. That's why I welcome the commitment by the Welsh Government to bring the socioeconomic duty into force in March 2021, and I hope this will lead to a cross-Government approach to reducing inequality and poverty through a national outcomes model. This good progress stands in contrast to the Tories in Westminster, who seem intent on undermining human rights, and that is a strong argument in favour of seeking the responsibility for equalities legislation to be devolved to Wales.

Although most of the work highlighted in this report was carried out before the coronavirus pandemic, we cannot ignore the current context from an equalities perspective. COVID has disproportionately affected older people and disabled people, with impacts including mortality, isolation from family and friends, as well as significant effects on physical and mental health. Reduced care availability and the introduction of isolation measures have resulted in nearly 200,000 more people in Wales undertaking unpaid caring responsibilities since the start of the pandemic.

Around a quarter of the adult population of Wales—700,000 people—now care for a family member or friend. I want to see the Deputy Minister commit to placing equalities at the heart of the Welsh Government's pandemic recovery planning, policy development, and implementation, including assessing equality impact and publishing these assessments. Communities and affected groups should be encouraged and enabled to participate in the decision-making process. We have an opportunity to equalise post COVID. Let's do what we can to see that through.