Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Experiencing he joy of music, in all its forms, should be at the heart of every school and education setting. But we know that, for too long, learning to play an instrument has been for the few who can afford the tuition costs, and that is not acceptable. No child should ever miss out through a lack of means. Every child, regardless of their background and family income, should be able to benefit from music education.

I am pleased, therefore, to launch our new national plan for music education. The plan states that a national music service will be established, which is one of the main commitments in the programme for government. Some £13.5 million of funding will be provided to local authorities and their music services over the next three years to provide a sustainable future for music education in Wales. The plan sets out how all children and young people, from the ages of three to 16, will have the chance to learn to play an instrument. It ensures that our children and young people from all backgrounds make the most of what our rich culture, heritage and our communities, all over Wales and beyond, have to offer.

Our foundations of the National Music Service have already begun to be laid. Last year, a significant sum was spent—£6.82 million—to purchase musical instruments and adapted musical instruments to support our children and young people with additional learning needs. As part of this package of support, digital music licences were arranged for local authority music services and professional learning to help train our music practitioners and to ensure teaching and experiences are in line with the Curriculum for Wales.

Over recent months, we’ve worked with a wide range of stakeholders across music and education, schools and settings and the creative industry. We've listened to them on what we can do to help our children and young people to learn and experience the joy of music, and to provide them with experiences of that joy. Their enthusiasm on what we can do to help learners and their well-being, and the helpful and honest discussions about the challenges they face in recovering from the pandemic, have all helped shape what should be at the core of a national music service.

With music being one of the disciplines in the expressive arts part of the curriculum and 'what matters' statements that our schools and settings have to follow to develop the skills, experience and knowledge of our learners, the close links with schools and settings that will be delivering in this area will strengthen the service. Its close links with schools and settings will do this by delivering the expressive arts part of the curriculum, an essential part of the curriculum. In order that all children and young people can have lessons and experiences in music within schools and beyond, the National Music Service will nurture stronger links with organisations and work in partnership with our wider music community. Deputy Llywydd, working together, we will ensure that there is a diverse range of opportunities for music making and for enjoying music for life across Wales, no matter where the school or setting is based.