Can I also thank Plaid Cymru for submitting what will hopefully be a very productive debate, which I'm happy to say on these sides of the benches, as has already been mentioned, we will be supporting? Of course, I also find this an extremely timely debate with the hydrogen sector, as a whole, advancing rapidly all around the world, and my own region, North Wales, has already been highlighted as having really unique opportunities when it comes to hydrogen. 

But just before I get into the meat of what I want to contribute, I was reminded this morning, because the Local Government and Housing Committee had a visit to a homeless organisation in Cardiff city earlier on today, and we were reminded there of a really important plaque, called 'the Pioneer plaque'. Some Members may be aware of this. This was placed on the Pioneer 10 space probe that was thrust into space in 1972. There's a reason for this story, everyone. This plaque was put on the probe in case the probe was intercepted by some extraterrestrial life of some sort, and they wanted to put on this plaque some symbols of where the probe had come from. So, they chose five symbols for this probe, and the first one was an image of a man and a woman; the second was an image of the sun; the third was an image of the solar system and our place as Earth within the solar system; the fourth image was an outline of the probe itself; and the final image, a fifth image, was the hyperfine structure of hydrogen. So, of all the things they could have chosen to symbolise life on Earth and the important things that are here on Earth and our place in the universe, they decided to put the structure of hydrogen on there, which shows the importance of hydrogen, not just as the most common element in the universe, but the importance of hydrogen and what it can mean to us as people, and its place in the universe, but of course also the importance, perhaps, to alien life forms.

In responding to the specifics of today's debate, there are three items that I would just like to contribute. The first, just being a bit more parochial, is around the unique opportunities that north Wales has, because we're seeing in north Wales in particular a significant number of renewable energy projects popping up all over the place, and we have already some opportunities around supply change and mechanisms to support hydrogen production. And as outlined in today's debate already, moving towards more renewable energy and hydrogen production is a great way of bouncing through a greener recovery, and also seeing really well-paid jobs, especially in my region up in north Wales.

Secondly, I'd like to focus and contribute and comment in particular on the role of collaboration between Governments at all levels, so Welsh Government working with the UK Government, and also the role local authorities can play in supporting a strategy and plan around hydrogen. A real good example of this—and I've mentioned this a few times in the Chamber—is the role of the Mersey Dee Alliance, which is a great partnership of local authorities across north-east Wales, but also into west Cheshire onto the Wirral as well. The Mersey Dee Alliance are currently working with HyNet, who have already been mentioned here today, to look at those cross-border opportunities in north Wales into the north-west of England around decarbonisation plans as well. I'll quote from HyNet's own words; they say they will 

'unlock a low carbon future for the North Wales and North West England, creating routes for industry to rapidly decarbonise their production. Transport, such as trains and lorries, will use clean fuel and homes will blend hydrogen in to their gas supply to heat their homes with a low carbon fuel, without the need for new appliances.'

So, these collaborations across Governments at UK, Welsh and local government are really important to allow these businesses and industries to work successfully. Another example of collaboration that needs to be encouraged, and in particular around hydrogen, is that of the north Wales growth deal, which the North Wales Economic Ambition Board manages, as it were. Again, that's an opportunity for local government to work with Welsh Government. I know the Minister is already keen to make that happen and support that work and those green businesses coming through those growth deals.

A third point that I'd like Members just to consider is actually through our amendment today, which is the importance of having some pilots in place so we can see in practice how this technology and this hydrogen production could and should work. As outlined in our amendment today, we want to see a hydrogen neighbourhood trial delivered by 2023, followed by a large hydrogen village trial by 2025, and a town pilot by the end of this decade as well. There's a real ambitious set of dates and ideas there, but I think we need to have that ambition if we're going to see this work successfully and work soon.

In closing, Llywydd, I'd like to thank Plaid Cymru again for bringing forwards today's important and timely debate, but also reiterate my point that for this strategy to be a success, it's crucial that we work further on schemes that are a success, such as the Mersey Dee Alliance, such as working with the economic ambition board, and working across Governments as well as seeing trials in place and making the most of opportunities we have here in Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn.