Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:24 pm on 21 September 2021.
I'd like a statement explaining the Welsh Government's decision to continue to attend the Defence and Security Equipment International arms fair. The First Minister said in 2019 that he would review the Government's presence at this event, after Leanne Wood called its participation 'abhorrent', but the BBC reported this week that the Welsh Government was attending this year's event. Trefnydd, there is a rather worrying lack of transparency here. People in Wales who object to their tax money being spent on promoting weapons that kill civilians have a right to an explanation from the Government about why it decided to continue to sponsor the arms trade. Did the First Minister follow through with his promise to review his Government's attendance at this event? If not, why not? But if he did, will the Welsh Government publish the findings of this review so that the Senedd and the public can understand the basis on which they decided that sponsoring an arms fair was an appropriate use of public funds? And finally, Trefnydd, will they provide an explanation as to how attending an arms fair, where deals will be done that will result in civilian deaths in places like Yemen, is consistent with their stated aim of establishing our reputation as a nation of sanctuary committed to human rights and promoting peace?