Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:29 pm on 4 October 2022.
Today, Trefnydd, is the start of Libraries Week across Wales and the whole of the United Kingdom, and I'm sure that you'll want to join with me in thanking the staff and everyone who engages in supporting our local libraries across Wales for everything that they do. I visited Colwyn Bay library yesterday; I met with the staff there, Morag Wight and Eunice Roberts, and wanted to extend my thanks to them for all that they do in the community, and, of course, to get across the point that libraries are much more than just books these days. In that particular library, there's a banking hub for Barclays, they help people to make their blue badge application forms and with other things that they need to take up with the local authority, and, of course, they play host to children in the summer with reading activities, and older people in the winter who just need to get out and have some ability to socialise with their clubs. So, can I ask for a statement from the Government on what it's doing to promote the work of libraries across Wales, so that we can have more people take advantage of these wonderful community assets on their doorstep?
Secondly, can I call for an update from the Minister with responsibility for veterans, the Deputy Minister, who's thankfully sat in the Chamber to hear this call? I know that we usually have a statement from the Minister around Remembrance Week, and we're always very grateful for that. But I do think, given the appointment of the Veterans' Commissioner for Wales earlier this year, that, probably, we can take stock earlier than in the middle of November to have a look at the engagement that's been taking place between the office of the veterans' commissioner and indeed, our new veterans' Minister, who is our Welsh MP for Wrexham, Sarah Atherton, a former veteran herself, who's no doubt going to bring some great enthusiasm and experience to that particular role. So, could we have an update from the Minister, in her responsibilities around the veteran community, on the engagement with the UK Government on that important issue?