I welcome this debate this afternoon on the equality and human rights annual review. The review sets out five priority aims for strengthening the equality and human rights laws in Wales, and it's those things I wish to address in my remarks today.

Their first aim is to promote equal access to the labour market. The sad fact is that women continue to be under-represented in the workforce. Women are more likely to be working in part-time, low-paid roles, and often have to make difficult decisions about whether to work or take on the responsibility of caring for their children. As a result, poverty rates in Wales remain stubbornly high. Women's risk of poverty is closely linked to their position in the labour market and within households. As second earners or primary carers, many women have limited independent income, leaving them especially vulnerable to falling into poverty in the event of a relationship breakdown. This has a direct impact on pay and progression and contributes to the gender pay gap.

Figures published by the Wales TUC in March reveal gender pay gaps as high as 25 per cent in some parts of Wales. Chwarae Teg has a vision for Wales to become a world leader in gender equality, where all women are able to reach their full potential, and I very much share that vision. To achieve this, we have to address another priority aim—to promote equality in the education system. I'm concerned that, all too often, careers advice tends to guide women towards apprenticeships in sectors where pay is less than in those dominated by men. Apprenticeships are often a route into careers in non-traditional sectors, and the gender imbalance is even more stark here. Women accounted for just 2.4 per cent of apprenticeship starts in construction, engineering and manufacturing in 2017-18. As the London School of Economics found, to stop the perpetuation of gender inequality through schools, as well as to address its existence in society at large, initiatives to promote gender equality in and through schools are imperative. Schools have enormous potential to effect change in gender relations, views and practices. 

Acting Presiding Officer, I want to say a few words about the priority aim of supporting the economic and social inclusion of the disabled and elderly through public transport. While improvements have been made, 21 per cent of Welsh railway stations still have no step-free access, making them inaccessible to elderly and disabled passengers. All trains in the UK were meant to be fully accessible by January 2020, but some carriages still do not conform with the law, and a number of stations have steep steps and no lifts or ramps for people to access platforms. The charity Leonard Cheshire has claimed that disabled people's lives are being blighted by inaccessible local stations, and trains not being fit for purpose. Last week, we marked the international day of disabled people. This provided an opportunity for us to reiterate our commitment to create inclusive, accessible and sustainable communities for the disabled here in Wales. Addressing the problem of accessibility of transport for our disabled and elderly people will enable us to do that. 

Acting Presiding Officer, on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, I welcome this report and the aims it identifies to remove barriers to equal opportunity as we progress to create a fair, just and fully-inclusive Wales. Thank you.