Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:15 pm on 9 November 2021.
There were so many contributions from Members and I'll do my best to try and encapsulate and sum them up. Mark Isherwood talked about the role of those third sector voluntary organisations, and we absolutely recognise that, in Wales, we've been able to do what we have done and we'll be able to continue to build on that work because we work in partnership. I tried to note down all the organisations you did mention, but I'm not going to try and reel any off now because I will definitely forget somebody. All the organisations that you listed in your contribution actually contributed to the scoping exercise that we undertook and we continue to work with them to build on the work and take the points that they made to improve the support that's available for veterans and their families in Wales. And in terms of a resettlement centre, we are in contact with the Ministry of Defence about that to encourage the establishment of a resettlement centre in Wales, and I will continue to take that work forward and I would welcome any support from colleagues on the Conservative benches to also take that further with your colleagues in Westminster as well.
A number of Members touched on the more recent announcement in the UK budget of an armed forces commissioner. I know that we've always been clear on the approach in Wales of putting the resources into front-line services, but we welcome the dialogue with the Office for Veterans' Affairs and we will continue to work with them now and look at the practical implementation of the commissioner to make sure that it fits and aligns and complements the work that's already being done in Wales, and seeks to demonstrate how we can continue to work together to expand and build on that work.
Heledd Fychan, in your contribution you mentioned the importance in terms of remembrance not being about celebrating war, but recognising the commitment and the sacrifice that people made, but also redoubling our efforts to commit to peaceful resolution. You listed the proud commitment and tradition in Wales of a peace movement and our welcome for those who helped us in Afghanistan who've now relocated to Wales. I actually had the privilege on Saturday night to meet some of those 10 Afghan interpreters who've come over here who attended the festival of remembrance as special guests of 160th (Welsh) Brigade in St David's Hall. And actually, in making reference to St David's Hall, the First Minister was also in attendance at the event, and in Sam Kurtz's intervention to Darren Millar's contribution, he mentioned the VC Gallery and the great work of Barry John, and the Welsh Government is very pleased to have been able to support the VC Gallery and is in regular contact with them. And actually, Barry John penned the poem that was read by the First Minister at the festival of remembrance on Saturday night.
We've talked about the personal commitment, the personal connections. I know, Peredur Owen Griffiths, that you talked about your own personal connections and we've all talked about what we will be doing over the coming days and weeks. And on personal connections, I genuinely want to thank Peter Fox for sharing and talking to us about his son who served in Afghanistan and the impact that that has had on him since. I know that I speak on behalf of the Welsh Government and all of us here in thanking him not only for his service, but actually for reminding us of why it is so important that we continue to build on our efforts to do all that we can not just to say 'thank you', but actually to make sure that the support is there for those who need it when they need it as well. And likewise, we've heard about what people will be doing over the coming days to remember, to reflect and to recognise in our own constituencies, and, like many Members, I will, in a constituency like mine, be trying very hard to be in more than one place at the same time. I'm attending a service in Northop Hall on Thursday on Armistice Day itself, and then two services, one in the morning in Holywell and one in the afternoon in Flint on Remembrance Sunday. I know that Jack Sargeant talked much about how he is an honorary member of the local branch of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and I know my constituency colleague Jack is very committed to supporting and to being there at the remembrance service. And I would say, if my great uncle Tommy is there, as I expect he will be, I'm saying from him now that he'd quite like a pint in the Labour club afterwards, Jack, if that's okay with you [Laughter.]