The next item is the 90-second statements, and the first of those is from Llyr Gruffydd.

Diolch, Llywydd. My friend Abdul Khan is something of an institution. For the past 17 years, he has been a county councillor in the town of Colwyn Bay in the North Wales region, and this year he has become the first Bangladeshi ever in Wales to chair a county council, when he was appointed chair of Conwy County Borough Council. He is also a successful businessman, a long-standing restaurant owner in the town, who is a very generous host to local community organisations and charities. Donations to food banks are commonplace, NHS staff have been given free meals from his restaurant during the pandemic, and he has been a tireless advocate for community cohesion in his locality. It's no surprise therefore that everyone knows Abdul. He is known by everyone by his first name, and he is at the heart of his community. 

Abdul was also the first Bangladeshi mayor in Wales, so he has consistently broken new ground and he's a pioneering spirit, and that's why I wanted to pay tribute to this warm and modest man who has enriched his community so much. In fact, the most difficult thing about this 90-second statement was persuading Abdul to allow me to make it about him. He's a great role model and he's a real community champion. Diolch, Abdul, am dy holl waith.

Ninety-five years ago, Penrhiwceiber's war memorial was completed. The bronze plaque commemorating those who lost their lives in the first world war was sited at the base of a castellated tower that would also serve as the village clock. It was designed by Mountain Ash architect W.H. William, paid for by public subscription, and built with stone from the old Aberdare canal.

It's a striking landmark, literally at the heart of its close-knit Valleys community, with a Welsh dragon weather vane that can be seen at a distance. The clock tower makes the memorial a memorable one. Later, names of the fallen from the second world war were added, and also another unique feature, a memorial to the Korean war. The tower is now grade II listed, but sadly in recent years its condition has deteriorated and the clock no longer works. But, plans are afoot to change this. The clock will be repaired and the street scene improved. The brass panels have already been cleaned, and new lighting fitted. My thanks to RCT council for doing this as part of its ongoing commitment to the armed forces community. The village holds its remembrance service a week after Remembrance Sunday, a third unique feature. So, I will be joining the community at the war memorial this Sunday to pay my respects to those who gave their lives.

And finally today, Rhys ab Owen. 

Thank you very much, Llywydd. I want to congratulate cymanfa ganu Westminster on its centenary celebrations this year. The gymanfa was established in 1920 by the Prime Minister at the time, David Lloyd George, to commemorate those who lost their lives in the first world war. Of course, they're celebrating the centenary this year because they were unable to meet last year, for obvious reasons.

It was a great privilege to preside at this year’s gymanfa at the beautiful Castle Street chapel in Oxford Circus in London, joining hundreds of London Welsh in song. And Llywydd, a great number of them were Cardis, as with all other London Welsh events, and I was singing next to your fellow Member for Ceredigion, Ben Lake. I don't know who was keeping who in tune. The gymanfa was ably led by the Plaid Cymru councillor, Trystan Lewis—Janet will remember him well, of course. And under his baton, the singing was even more rapturous and the remembrance even more heartfelt when remembering those loved ones who've passed away during the COVID period since the last meeting in 2019, of course.

Whatever the constitutional future of these islands, and only a fool would claim that they know what that might be, one thing is certain, people from Wales will continue to move, to live, to work and worship in London. London Welsh have played a prominent role throughout the centuries, for over 1,000 years indeed, and a number of them have taken the opportunity to promote the Welsh language, our culture and Wales’s status as a nation in that major city. So, congratulations to the Reverend Rob Nicholls and the gymanfa committee, and I look forward to another 100 years of singing Wales’s venerable hymns in England’s capital. Thank you very much. 

Thank you very much. That brings us to a short break to allow for some changeovers in the Chamber. The bell will be rung before we restart.

Plenary was suspended at 15:19.

The Senedd reconvened at 15:26, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.