I would like to thank the Deputy Minister for her statement this afternoon and say how much we welcome the steps she has taken in support of the LGBTQ+ community. We need to do more to ensure that Wales is not just a safe place to live, but one where we celebrate diversity in all its forms, so I welcome the financial support that the Welsh Government has today announced, especially for grass-roots initiatives.

As a party, we firmly believe that everyone in the United Kingdom should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential, regardless of their sex or gender identity. One of my biggest concerns is the level of hate crime and abuse that people face. According to a report published by Galop, eight out of 10 respondents had experienced anti-LGBT+ hate crime and hate speech online in the last five years. Furthermore, five in 10 respondents had experienced online abuse 10 or more times. This appalling behaviour must stop. 

It is vital that the Welsh Government work with the LGBTQ+ community to ensure Wales remains a safe place for everyone, regardless of sexuality or gender orientations. It is deeply concerning that, since 2017, hate crime based on sexual orientations have risen by 13 per cent while hate crimes against trans people have more than doubled. Furthermore, almost one in four LGBT people have experienced a hate crime or incident due to their sexual orientations and/or gender identity in the past 12 months. I look forward to seeing more of the Minister's proposals to combat hate crime in particular, as I believe that we as a nation could show real leadership in this vital area.

In your statement, you set out some key areas for delivery as part of the action plan for advancing LGBTQ+ equality in Wales, and I look forward to the results of the consultation exercise once it has been completed. Whilst I welcome the formal creation of the LGBTQ+ expert panel to hold the Government to account on progress, I would also expect the Government to be open to the Senedd in accounting for progress too. Will the Minister commit to an annual debate on the delivery of the plan, to ensure that the whole Senedd can explore what has worked and how progress is being secured? Will the Minister also publish, as part of the plan, a set of key milestones to be reached and how they will be delivered, so that the the LGBTQ+ community can have confidence that you are going in the right direction? Will the Minister also outline what early discussions she has had with our public services, particularly the NHS and local government, about the importance of the workplace? Discrimination takes different forms, and the public sector, as the major employer in Wales, has a key role to play. Thank you.