Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Why are we here as Senedd Members if not to get this right? After all, politicians have been here before. I'm sure many of us remember that target of eradicating child poverty by 2020—something that was at the core of the 1997 election campaign for the Labour Government, and that was reinforced then by Tony Blair in 2002 and adopted also by this Senedd as a target. I remember in 2008, when I was working for a Welsh Government sponsored body, that that was a focus and priority of our work, and yet here we are, with a situation that is worsening. This is not about point scoring, but if we are to do anything in this Senedd term, then let's work together to ensure that these are not empty words and that they are repeated again in a decade, as the statistics continue to fail children, generation after generation.

I would like to thank everyone that contributed to the debate and shared some deeply personal stories as well. I think it's very easy sometimes for people to look at us as elected representatives and assume that we have a certain background. So, thank you, Luke, and Mike as well, for sharing your own personal experiences, because it is important that this Senedd also reflects the diversity of Wales, and we know that people are not able to have that fair start in life and have equity of access to all the opportunities at present.

Sioned Williams, in her opening remarks—. It was very emotional listening to the things that you were saying. I think one of the things that resonated with me was the key one—that the reason is never within the control of the child, and yet, too often, the repeated instances we had throughout this debate were about making that child feel that responsibility. Mike, when you spoke about not taking those notes in, of not putting your parents in that position—. Because often it's perceived as poverty being a choice or that people are at blame, but they're not, and I think we need to be realistic here about the fact that it is a political choice. We do have levers. I know we're frustrated here in Wales at times that we don't have all the levers to change this, but we can change things if we are determined to make those changes.

In terms of Laura Anne Jones's contribution—a reference again that a cost-of-living crisis in other countries exists. That may be the case, but we have amongst the worst child poverty rates in Europe, and I think just to say that there's a cost-of-living crisis elsewhere doesn't make right the fact that it exists here, and I think we need to do everything within our power, not just accept that there is a cost-of-living crisis, but accept responsibility for political decisions that lead to that. Because, after all, we have the statistics, we know the impact of not having that £20-a-week uplift maintained, and I think we need to be clear as well that even if that had been maintained, it doesn't mean that people wouldn't be living in a crisis. It would have made things a bit better, as it did during the pandemic, but it wouldn't have solved people from getting into debt, or from child poverty worsening, but not having it is making the situation even worse. So, we do need to be clear here, just because other countries may have a cost-of-living crisis does not negate the fact that there is a responsibility on the UK Government, and there are things we could change. The fact that the universal credit is not rising in line with inflation even—those are political decisions.

In terms of the inconsistency, that's something that's come through clearly in the debate—the inconsistency in terms of costs, in terms of how the guidance is implemented by schools. And I think, Mike, you mentioned in terms of it being morally wrong to shame any child. Of course it is, and it's incomprehensible that anybody would think that is acceptable. But yet, it is happening, time and time again. And I would like to echo the calls of my colleague Luke Fletcher in terms of the EMA—the fact that it hasn't changed since 2004. And yet, you ask anybody, transport costs have increased, the cost of textbooks—everything has increased, and I think that is something we need to look into as a matter of urgency. I think the fact that you're able to say, Luke, in terms of that impact personally there—it's right, we do need to think about making that opportunity available for everybody.

John Griffiths mentioned the cost of activities and experiences, and the fact of community-focused schools, and also mentioning the inconsistency across Wales and even within local authorities in terms of that equity of access to participation. And, Delyth, incredibly moving to have that portrait of Sam showing stereotypical manifestations of poverty. That's just heartbreaking, and the fact if that doesn't move us into acting together on this, what will? Because you're right, we need to ensure that everybody has that equity of opportunity and people aren't made to feel different. I remember my own school, seeing some of my friends being in a separate line for lunch because of having free schools, and immediately, the fact that that still can happen now, that differentiation, is just despicable.

In terms of the Government response, I am grateful to the Minister for outlining the support of the Government on this. Obviously, we do have a number of things in the co-operation agreement between both Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government that will make a real difference, including free-school-meal provision. But as I mentioned right at the beginning, if we are serious about eradicating child poverty and giving everybody a fair start in life, it does require each of us committing to that. Empty words have been said before. We are a new Senedd here, there's a renewed commitment. Let's take that responsibility, let's make sure that we're not saying the same thing in a decade and letting down another generation of children. Diolch.