It's a sad fact, isn't it, that it took a global pandemic and a movement ignited by a horrific murder in the United States, that of George Floyd, to open the eyes of many in Wales to the blatant truth of race inequality and its devastating and too often deadly consequences—a truth lived by thousands of Welsh black, Asian and minority ethnic people, an everyday experience of living with prejudice, with disadvantage, with fear. So many reports, so much research, which many of us have quoted here in numerous debates, has demonstrated this truth and has shown why the approach and implementation of previous strategies were not sufficient.

The aims of the anti-racist action plan are without question welcome, and Plaid Cymru is proud to have been part of the work of forging the plan through our co-operation agreement with the Government. Hearing Professor Ogbonna speak about the groundbreaking approach of the plan at the launch this morning was a moment I won't forget. It made clear the potential of Wales as a nation to take an independent lead such as this in social justice. The sharpened focus within the plan on the need to actively tackle structural and institutional racism is vital if we are to see real and long-standing change—the institutional racism​ within organisations and overarching societal systems that results in inequitable outcomes and extends beyond the prejudice that can be more easily identified and rooted out.

I welcome the acknowledgement in the plan that we must do things differently if we want to see different results, and the need for goals to be set, be reviewed and monitored better to ensure agile, robust, tangible actions that will have a real effect on people's lives. Given that implementation has been identified as a major failing in past strategies, what will ensure accountability and transparency around the plan's measures and goals? Will the Minister ensure that the feedback of the external accountability group, for example, is made public in regular reports to the Senedd? How will the voices of ordinary people, ordinary communities, continue to be heard now that this plan has been published?

By 2030 the plan aims for our nation to be free of that hatred that scars, oppresses and defers dreams. We must recognise that it is not enough to ensure that the structural racism that exists in our society is eliminated; we must stop it from taking root in the first place. And it starts, I think, with our youngest citizens, who represent our future.

The requiring of reporting of racist incidents and harassment in schools and colleges through strengthened data collection is most welcome, therefore. But I'd like to understand why this will take until a year next September to change. The recent terrible and terrifying case of racist bullying of Raheem Bailey has shown the urgent need for the tackling of this problem in our schools, and without adequate reporting we are tackling this issue blind. So, what does the plan say to young people who could be maimed and scarred for life by these terrible experiences, who cannot wait for the effects of the new curriculum to educate and enlighten their peers, and with over a year to pass before the whole-school systems are put in place to begin the process that can effect real systemic change?

One of the measures to ensure that high-quality, consistent further education and adult learning is in place to meet the needs of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers is to commission a review of the English for speakers of other languages policy. Given the plan's recognition of the need to remove the barriers to Welsh-medium education for minority ethnic people, should this also include free Welsh language lessons?

The aim of increasing the number of minority ethnic people in public positions and elected office is also one that is vital to achieve anti-racist institutions and systems. The plan includes a measure to expand the access to elected office fund for the next local government elections in 2027. So, why doesn't the plan include measures to increase ethnic diversity and representation as part of the forthcoming Senedd reform measures, and will the Government advocate for doing this for the next Senedd elections?

Finally, the plan rightly places a firm focus on the criminal justice system as an area in which there is racial injustice as regards its treatment of, and the outcomes for, people from ethnic minorities. We know this in part due to the research of the Wales Governance Centre and others. So, can the Minister provide an update on what additional research work is required to ensure the plan delivers the required actions that should be taken in line with the aims of the plan and the commitment in the co-operation agreement?

The plan states that

'it is only when we have full oversight of the justice system in Wales that we will be able to fully align its delivery with the needs and priorities of minority ethnic communities of Wales...devolution of the police and the justice system is the most sustainable way of creating a justice system that is anti-racist and fully meets the diverse needs of people in Wales.'

This surely must be the ultimate aim of the plan. In the words of Coretta Scott King,

'It doesn't matter how strong your opinion are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem.'

To truly tackle the hate and injustice that plagues, hampers and shames our society, and the systems that permit this, we must be united in using the power we have to take the power we need. Diolch.