But we do have one remaining item, the short debate, and today's short debate is to be presented by Paul Davies. Paul Davies.

Diolch, Llywydd, and I've agreed that Peter Fox and James Evans may have a minute—

Sorry, Paul. If Members could leave quietly.

If Members can leave very quietly, that would be polite to do so.

So, start again. Paul Davies.

Diolch, Llywydd, and I've agreed that Peter Fox and James Evans may have a minute of my time in this debate. Today's debate is particularly poignant as it's Battle of Britain Day and we honour the legacy of the brave aircrews who defended Britain against tyranny. Now, the campaign to protect war memorials across Wales has been one that I've been proud to lead for several years now, and whilst it gives me great pleasure to highlight this issue again, this will be the third time that I've held a debate on this subject, so I hope the Deputy Minister will understand that it's very frustrating to see that little action has been taken by successive Governments on this issue. Members may be aware that I've also submitted a legislative proposal to protect war memorials in Wales and if successful in that ballot, I do hope Members will support that legislation.

I want to reiterate from the outset that this campaign isn't party political, and politicians from all parties right across the UK have campaigned for war memorials to be better protected. They are an essential part of our cultural and social fabric, and it's important that we honour the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. I'm pleased to hear the Prime Minister himself confirm that the UK Government will be looking to bring forward legislation to protect war memorials, and I look forward to hearing more about that legislation when those details emerge.

In Scotland, Highlands and Islands Scottish Labour MSPs Rhoda Grant and David Stewart supported calls for greater war memorial protection. Scottish Green Party MSP Gillian Mackay has also spoken about the protection of war memorials recently after a war memorial in Motherwell was vandalised for a second time in just a matter of weeks. And here in Wales, Ministers have repeatedly committed to doing more to protect our war memorials.

It's crucial that future generations remember those who died for our freedoms and learn from previous wars so that they are never repeated again. Therefore, I truly urge the Deputy Minister to prioritise this issue and commit to doing all that can be done to protect and cultivate these memorials as they come under increasing threat.

Now according to the Welsh Government, there are around 5,000 war memorials in Wales and they come in all shapes and sizes, from parks and gardens to statues and cenotaphs. And we know that each war memorial is unique in its own way; in some cases, the names listed on a memorial may be the only record of that individual's sacrifice. They're also important focal points of our local communities that are cared for and supported. However, despite the good intentions and hard work of many, it remains the case that war memorials continue to be vulnerable to the weather and time, and even worse than that, some have been vandalised and desecrated.

Members may remember back in February when a war memorial in Rhyl was vandalised with swastikas and antisemitic graffiti. That vandalism showed the utmost contempt for those that gave their lives for our freedoms and it's in that vein that I hope the Welsh Government will today give the strongest commitment it can to protecting and safeguarding our memorials for the future. Back in 2012 and again in 2019 I put forward many of the same arguments that I will today to the Welsh Government. At the time, whilst each response to the debate was sincere and understanding, war memorials in Wales today are no more protected than they were back then.

The first part of my legislative proposal is for the Welsh Government, via local authorities, to undertake a nationwide, up-to-date inventory of war memorials in Wales. I know that some work has been done by Cadw on this front via the Cymru'n Cofio Wales Remembers programme, but it's so important that up-to-date data is recorded and regularly monitored to confirm the number and locations of war memorials in Wales. I believe that this could be best done via local authorities, who should be better placed to identify and draw up a list of the war memorials in each of their areas. As I've said in previous debates, there will be occasions where some memorials may be on private land or, for example, located at a school or church, and as such, the responsibility for maintaining those memorials would lie with the owner of that land. However, key to protecting Wales's war memorials is knowing exactly where they are and what condition they are in. 

Secondly, the Deputy Minister will not be surprised to hear that I believe there should be a statutory duty on local authorities to protect war memorials in their own areas, which would mean that there is a legal duty to ensure that war memorials in their areas are maintained. I've long called for legislation to place a statutory duty on local authorities to protect war memorials in their areas, and whilst the Welsh Government continues to consider the idea, no strong commitment to legislation has yet been given. Of course, we know that the War Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act 1923 permits local authorities to use public money for the maintenance of memorials, but councils are under no obligation to do so. Placing a statutory duty on local authorities would ensure that every public war memorial is safeguarded and preserved. This would involve ensuring that each local authority had a specific custodian whose job it would be to identify and preserve war memorials in their areas. In this capacity, that individual would work closely with community groups and organisations to gather as much information as possible about the memorials and the people whose names are on them. Sadly, in many local authorities there isn't a point of contact for people to find out more about the memorials in the area, and that is something that I believe really needs to change. 

To my mind, it's only through collaboration between the Welsh Government, local authorities and local communities that we can ensure that war memorials are being protected properly. Some war memorials may be of special architectural or historic interest, and could also be representative of a particular type of work, and so often local communities are able to tell you facts about memorials that aren't always public knowledge. Therefore it's vital that there is a genuine partnership between local authorities and community groups so that local culture and history can be fully explored and appreciated for the future. Of course, some community groups already do a fantastic job of protecting war memorials, and they should be encouraged to continue to do so. However, the support of someone within the local authority would help strengthen the work already done by many community groups and offer them practical advice and assistance on everything from historical tracking to maintenance and conservation. 

As I've said in previous debates, there's also an opportunity for this role to include some outreach educational work, for example, by visiting schools and talking to children and young people. This is so important in educating our children and young people about previous conflicts and the sacrifices made by people in their local community. I seriously believe that the creation of this role would send a strong message that the Welsh Government is doing what it can to honour its heroes and preserve its military heritage. At the same time, it also shows the Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that our future generations never forget the sacrifices that were made by so many for our freedoms. Appointing a conservation custodian or a war memorial officer in communities would be the best way to establish a point of contact for the public, develop partnerships with local community groups, and build stronger community links with schools to educate children and young people about the importance of war memorials and to tell the stories of our fallen heroes.

I'm sure the Deputy Minister will agree that the maintenance and preservation of war memorials is no easy feat. Each memorial is different and, as such, it should be repaired and preserved in response to its individual needs. Many memorials will require professional specialist advice to correctly assess the memorial's condition and establish the right way to repair or preserve the memorial, and that costs money. A conservation custodian or war memorial officer could support community groups in their bid to attract grant funding for particular projects, and make the case to a council for them to intervene and support a project. 

Finally, I believe it's crucial that the Welsh Government works with local authorities to ascertain where our war memorials are located and under whose stewardship. It's so important that the Welsh Government ensures that councils have adequate support and funding to address incidents of vandalism, and to also combat those who target war memorials for scrap metal. I cannot make it any clearer: these are not victimless crimes at all. They are crimes against society, and we should leave no stone unturned in identifying ways to stop those who attempt to remove war memorials.

The Deputy Minister will, of course, be aware of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which was brought in to strengthen the regulations around scrap metal dealers, and to tighten up the current regime. That legislation, which was brought in in 2013, means that all individuals and businesses must complete a rigorous application process to obtain a scrap metal dealer licence, and also gives local authorities the power to reject unsuitable applicants and revoke licences. It's really a positive step forward, but there's always more that can be done.

I'm also campaigning for the Welsh Government to provide local authorities with the state-of-the-art SmartWater signature. SmartWater is a crime prevention fluid that makes war memorials uniquely identifiable, and offers robust traceability should a theft occur. It's only visible under ultraviolet light, which can help police to trace stolen memorials, and, once applied, it's virtually impossible to remove, withstanding burning, sand blasting and long-term exposure to ultraviolet light. This is one way of protecting war memorials, and I hope the Welsh Government would agree to developing a wider partnership with the SmartWater Foundation and, indeed, the War Memorials Trust to use this powerful deterrent and ensure our local authorities have access to it.

That's not to say that some work hasn't been done to protect memorials in Wales, and I'm very grateful to those at Cadw who've worked with local communities and individuals to create conservation maintenance plans. However, the reality is that there are many war memorials without custodians, and those memorials deserve our time and respect too. And so, above all else today, I sincerely hope the Deputy Minister will confirm that she will review the legislation around the protection of war memorials, and work with stakeholders like the War Memorials Trust and Cadw to tighten up that legislation and bring it into the twenty-first century.

Llywydd, in closing I sincerely hope the Welsh Government will give these proposals the time and attention that they deserve, and I'd be happy to work with any Member in this Chamber to better protect Wales's war memorials. This debate is titled 'We will remember them', and protecting and preserving war memorials is one way to honour our fallen heroes. And it's more than that. It's also about creating opportunities for our children and young people to learn more about them, and the ultimate price they paid for our freedom. Therefore, I do call on the Welsh Government to prioritise the protection of our military heritage in this Parliament, and commit to doing more to protect war memorials here in Wales. Thank you. 

I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to take part in this debate, and I extend my sincere thanks to Paul Davies for giving me the time. I know Paul is very passionate about this, as many of us are. It's an important issue, one that transcends all party lines. We must never forget those people who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice for us. War memorials play a central role in our society and remind us of the immense role Britain has played in protecting our freedoms and liberty that we enjoy to this day. But for too long, many of our war memorials have suffered dereliction and vandalism, as Paul pointed out, and this is just totally unacceptable. Ensuring a statutory duty for their protection, which would include the appointing of a war memorial officer, is something every Member of the Senedd should get behind and back. I will join my colleagues here today and call on the Welsh Government Ministers to heed our calls. It is so important that we never forget those people who've served so bravely for us. Thank you, Llywydd. 

I'd like to pay tribute and thanks to my colleague Paul Davies, for allowing me to take part in this important debate. I pay tribute to the work and dedication that you have taken to enhance and protect our war memorials and our fallen heroes. 

Protection of our war memorials must not be overlooked by the Welsh Government or any Government, and I support calls for a cross-party consensus on ensuring our war memorials receive statutory recognition and protection in law. Memorials across Brecon and Radnorshire serve as a poignant reminder to the ultimate sacrifice made by those brave servicemen and women who gave their lives for our freedoms, so we can come here to represent our communities and our democracy.

Our fallen heroes must not be forgotten, and those who choose to deface and dishonour our war memorials must face the full force of the law. The Welsh Government must ensure specific funding is made available to local authorities so they can adequately maintain our war memorials and repair those memorials if they are vandalised, as we must remember and honour our past if we are ever going to change the future. Therefore, I join calls for the Welsh Government to prioritise the protection of our war memorials and commit to doing more in the term of this Parliament. Thank you very much. Diolch.

I now call on the Deputy Minister for arts and sport to reply to the debate. Dawn Bowden.

Diolch, Llywydd. I'm certainly very grateful to Paul Davies for instigating this debate today about the importance of protecting our memorials. I know he's raised this matter in the Senedd on several occasions and feels passionately about it, and I agree that Wales's memorials are important parts of our heritage. I don't think there's anyone who can deny the emotional power of these monuments, and their importance both to local communities and in the bigger picture of our national history.

A few weeks ago, I visited Llangollen Railway, and while I was there I had a very poignant experience. In the underpass at Berwyn station, I saw handwritten graffiti on the walls, left there by soldiers departing for the front in world war one. Some never came back, and their names are listed on the war memorial in the town. But seeing those messages and signatures is a powerful reminder of the terrible sacrifices that were made—sacrifices so great that we must never forget. All war is terrible, but there is something particularly horrific about the carnage of the first world war, where 35,000 Welsh men were killed. That drives home to us the need to remember.

Between 2014 and 2019, the Cymru'n Cofio Wales Remembers initiative provided an opportunity for us to work with organisations and individuals, throughout Wales and internationally, to commemorate and reflect on the impact of war. Through that initiative, the Welsh Government and its partners supported a great number of activities, commemorative events, cultural and educational programmes, as well as conservation of war memorials and other historic sites associated with the war. Projects included the renovation of Yr Ysgwrn, the home of Hedd Wyn, where £2.8 million of National Lottery money has created a cultural centre that will ensure an enduring public awareness of the significance of the war. We also supported the creation of new war memorials: the Welsh memorial park at Langemark, and, in November 2019, a new memorial unveiled in Alexandra Gardens here in Cardiff, near to our national memorial, to recognise the outstanding contribution of men and women from diverse ethnic and commonwealth communities. Partnership working was the key to the success of Cymru'n Cofio Wales Remembers, and, in my view, it should remain at the heart of how we work going forward. I'm grateful to all of those who engaged in the initiative and continue to do such important work on our behalf to keep alive the memory of the sacrifices of those who fought for us.

The Welsh Government has always acknowledged the importance of war memorials as visible and poignant pieces of heritage, and focal points for commemoration for communities and families. They are both a physical record of those who died for their country and a visual reminder of the impact of war. Many war memorials are also important to our architectural and artistic heritage. After the first world war, the raising of so many new memorials across the United Kingdom was, in effect, a unique public art project, which helped local communities experiencing a heartbreaking mix of emotions from sorrow to relief at the victory. The impact of war has been so widespread that it has resulted in an extraordinary number of commemorative war memorials—over 90,000 across the United Kingdom and over 3,700 here in Wales, ranging from town memorials designed by leading artists to small village plaques.

The Imperial War Museum maintains a register of war memorials and the Welsh Government has provided financial support to the War Memorials Trust to make information about those memorials more accessible to the public through War Memorials Online. This includes thousands of records and provides a platform for members of the public to get involved by contributing their own photographs and details of memorials. Other sources of information include Cadw's online database Cof Cymru, which details over 230 listed memorials, and the statutory historic environment records maintained by the four Welsh archaeological trusts. Besides war memorials, of course, these also include information on hundreds of historic buildings and structures associated with the defence of Britain and life on the home front, including anti-invasion defences, air fields, hospitals and munitions factories, which have all been investigated by the archaeological trusts with funding from Cadw over the past 10 years.

Now, as Paul Davies said, the range of war memorials in Wales is remarkable, from commemorative statues, obelisks and plaques to windows, gardens, community halls, hospitals, chapels and bridges. The range of ownership is similarly diverse, but these are all important community assets. Often, they're paid for by subscriptions with personal ties to families and individuals. While there are some that have fallen into disrepair, we shouldn't overlook the success of so many community initiatives that continue to care for these memorials. The Welsh Government provides help with this. The guidance document, 'Caring for War Memorials in Wales', produced by Cadw in association with the War Memorials Trust, provides guidance specifically aimed at helping communities to care for their war memorials. It includes practical advice for conservation and repair and is beautifully illustrated with photographs of monuments from across Wales, and examples of successful conservation projects. I encourage all Members to read it. It can be downloaded free through the Cadw website.

The Welsh Government has also given generous financial support to protect war memorials from decay. Cadw provides grants to help conserve historic monuments and, in recent years, has included nearly £240,000 for repairs to war memorials. Under the war memorial grant scheme, it gave out funds to 45 projects in communities throughout Wales. Cadw will shortly be announcing a new community heritage grant scheme that will offer grants of up to £15,000 to support the maintenance and repair of community assets, and listed war memorials will be eligible to apply for support. Now, I know that Cadw is always keen to support historic assets across Wales that have particular significance to their communities, and the last thing we want to see is important historic structures and buildings being lost, especially those with such meaning to local people.

The National Lottery heritage fund has also been extremely generous in its support for projects. As well as providing the £2.8 million to funding the restoration of Yr Ysgwrn, as I mentioned earlier, it provided over £1 million of grant aid to 126 community-led commemorative projects reflecting the heritage of conflict. And it's currently working with Cadw to deliver a new 15-minute heritage grant scheme that encourages community engagement with local heritage. 

But as well as funding activities within Wales, we have also funded memorials in France and Belgium, and I'm proud that we supported the refurbishment of the memorial to the 38th (Welsh) Division at Mametz Wood, which was one of the focal points for the Cymru'n Cofio Wales Remembers national commemoration service, which the First Minister attended in 2016. We've also funded the national monument at Pilkem Ridge in Langemark in Belgium. I think it's important to acknowledge that while war memorials in towns and villages across Wales are there for local communities, memorials actually at the battle sites provide another important focus for commemoration in the places where so many lives were lost.

A concern that I'm sure we all share—and I know that Paul has touched on this, as have other speakers this evening—is the criminal damage such as vandalism that affects those memorials. Sadly relevant to our debate today is the shocking recent news of the defacement of the memorial dedicated to the poet Hedd Wyn that stands in the centre of Trawsfynydd. I join with the local community in condemning this despicable act of disregard for a memorial that represents all the men from Trawsfynydd who lost their lives in the first world war. I'm sure that we all hope that the police will soon be able to identify and bring those perpetrators to justice.

Sadly, I also have experience of an example of vandalism that took place in my own constituency not so long ago. There is a beautiful memorial in Troedyrhiw park in Merthyr Tydfil in the form of a statue of a serviceman. A couple of years ago, the soldier's rifle, which was actually made of marble, not metal, was stolen. The monument had been paid for by public subscription, and this act of vandalism not only disrespects the memories of 73 local men whose names are listed on it and who died in the first and second world wars, but it also disrespects the local people who gave their hard-earned money to build that memorial in the first place. I'm pleased to say that work is now under way to replace and repair it, with support from the War Memorials Trust.

The actions of a minority of vandals do not represent the views of the majority and must not be tolerated. The police already have powers to tackle vandalism, and perpetrators can be prosecuted under the offence of criminal damage, which can carry a hefty prison sentence. Heritage crime is something that is being taken very seriously in Wales, and Cadw is working closely with local police forces to investigate and prevent this type of crime, to encourage the use of deterrents such as SmartWater, which Paul referred to, to protect memorials at risk of theft. I understand that anyone responsible for a war memorial can apply to the SmartWater Foundation for the use of this product for free.

Of course, local authorities do play an important role in caring for war memorials, specifically those that have been given statutory protection, and also have powers under current legislation to undertake works to repair monuments. Many have carried out initiatives to support community engagement with memorials. So, I don't believe that it is necessary to use additional legislation to push them into action, but instead prefer to engage in the spirit of co-operative partnership.

The importance of war memorials is widely accepted, and local authorities all over Wales are already carrying out important repair work. I do, however, recognise that there is always room for improvement, and I fully support the calls for local authorities to remain proactive in their support for war memorials, and to ensure that they seek opportunities to support communities to engage at all levels. This can be facilitated by individual officers within local authorities working to encourage partnerships, and also by encouraging the uptake of the many resources in this area, such as the bilingual education packages that have been produced to support primary and secondary schools on Hwb.

Commemoration remains as important today as it did when our memorials were first built, so I thank Paul Davies once again for raising this subject today and recognising the role that memorials play in the lives of our communities today and will play in the future. Thank you.

Thank you to the Deputy Minister, and that brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you very much, and good afternoon, everyone.

The meeting ended at 18:07.