The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Siân Gwenllian.

Item 8 is a debate on support for the armed forces community, and I call on the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership to move the motion. Hannah Blythyn.

Motion NDM8118 Lesley Griffiths, Siân Gwenllian, Darren Millar

Supported by Jane Dodds

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Remembers and recognises the contribution of all those who have served and serve now in our Armed Forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

2. Expresses its gratitude to the Armed Services in Wales for their continued contribution to Welsh Life.

3. Welcomes and pays tribute to the support that third sector organisations provide to our Armed Forces community in Wales.

4. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to honouring the Armed Forces Covenant through the provision of bespoke services and support for our Armed Forces community and ongoing collaboration and engagement with stakeholders.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. This debate falls in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday, when, once again, we will pause our daily lives to reflect and remember all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in past conflicts. We think also of those who have served over the years and those still serving today, their families and their friends.

This year is especially poignant. Remembrance has its focus on past sacrifices made by those from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, but today, we see terrible bloodshed, loss and distress in Ukraine. Our hearts, our support and our solidarity go out to the people of Ukraine, including those who have made their homes here in Wales. This year is also significant as we remember the fortieth anniversary of the Falklands war. Amongst the all-too-many losses of this short but brutal conflict, we remember the 32 Welsh Guards who lost their lives at Bluff Cove. We remember the many wounded, the traumas suffered and the lives changed forever. 

As is right and proper, Welsh Government Ministers will be attending remembrance events across the country, as will many Members of the Senedd. I was able to mark the start of the remembrance period this year by launching the north Wales Royal British Legion poppy appeal in Flint. Slightly further from home, it will be a particular honour for me to join the War Widows Association at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Saturday for their own particular act of remembrance.

In expressing our gratitude to the armed services across Wales, we do so this year in the aftermath of an extraordinary period in our history, with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The arrangements in respect of this were an all-consuming task, delivered with huge professionalism from the services both on parade and those working behind the scenes. The Queen's passing and increasingly that of her generation, adds to the poignancy felt during the remembrance period, as with each year as we gather to reflect, we do so with fewer of that greatest generation that fought fascism in the second world war. Indeed, the funeral is taking place today of Ted Edwards, the last D-Day veteran, from Wrexham. In paying tribute to Ted, the chair of north Wales district British Legion George Rogers said, 'He'll be sorely missed by all concerned, a true and honourable gentlemen. On behalf of the Royal British Legion north Wales district, we thank you, Ted, for your service to your country.'

We have rightly previously expressed our gratitude here for the support that our armed forces provided to COVID operations in communities across the country. This year, though, has seen the armed services return to more ordinary training and operational activity. As part of this, I had the pleasure of seeing 160th (Welsh) Brigade resume its delivery of Exercise Cambrian Patrol last month. I saw how regular and reserve soldiers worked together to deliver an arduous test of patrolling skills that puts Wales very much on the international map. I also learned about how the army works with cadet forces across Wales, supporting safe training and providing opportunities for young people.

My recent visits have also included to a number of veterans' groups, and this debate provides a timely opportunity to highlight the work that Fighting With Pride, the LGBTQ+ veterans' charity, is doing to encourage participation in the independent review of the pre-2000 gay ban within the armed forces. Through meeting Fighting With Pride veterans, I was moved by their shared stories of lives led in secret, careers ruined and legacy issues that remain even now. Whilst the damage done cannot be underestimated, the hurt and harms live on for many. This is an opportunity towards righting a historic wrong. The evidence-gathering phase of the review comes to a close at the end of this month on 1 December, and I would encourage anybody impacted to take the opportunity to submit evidence. I met Ruth Birch from Fighting With Pride at the festival of remembrance on Saturday evening, and I think there's been concern of records being destroyed or lost by the Ministry of Defence, and she really wanted me to put that message today that you can take part in the review, regardless, and to encourage as many people as possible to do so.

We continue to work together in partnership in support of our armed forces and veterans community. Welsh Government meets regularly with the heads of the three armed services in Wales, and I look forward to them providing a briefing session to ministerial colleagues later this month. Likewise, we remain committed to the strength of the collaborative working through our armed forces expert group, which met most recently last month. And also, there is the link that my colleague Darren Millar provides to the cross-party group on armed forces and cadets, which is a positive one, and I am sure that Members will wish to note that.

Our annual report on covenant delivery published on 28 October provides a summary of activity towards the end of March this year, though time has not stood still since then, and progress continues to be made. The report shows the range of areas where delivery of the armed forces covenant is dependent on Welsh Government action. Progress made since our last armed forces debate in the Senedd includes continued investment in Veterans' NHS Wales, which now totals £920,000 a year, following the £235,000 uplift provided last year. This has allowed the service to maintain the provision of therapy across Wales, supporting veterans when they need it. We have also committed to continuing funding for the service children in education programme, and we've been supporting workshops on suicide prevention and delivering mental health first aid training. Most recently, we have funded a study into the experience of women veterans across Wales, as well as supporting and delivering employment events, including preparations for our 2022 veterans employment fair next week.

Our armed forces liaison officers are key in maintaining momentum on the armed forces covenant. This year will present additional challenge, as we anticipate a duty of due regard coming into force very shortly. Working to help local authorities, health boards, schools and other organisations through this change will be key this year, building on their widely recognised work in communities across Wales. That is why the Welsh Government is committed to continuing to fund our armed forces liaison officers.

The last year has also seen the appointment of a veterans commissioner for Wales. Colonel James Phillips is still relatively early into his appointment, but I've met him on a number of occasions already, and have been pleased to welcome him to the armed forces expert group. James has been conducting what I believe is termed intelligence preparation of the battlefield, familiarising himself with the issues in Wales and how he fits into the veteran space. This has included meetings with myself and other Ministers, and we look forward to a positive and probing relationship as he works alongside Welsh Government on behalf of veterans here in Wales. 

In closing, I want to put on record the commitment of the Welsh Government to providing ongoing support to a community that we all owe so much, to express our gratitude to our armed forces community—regular, reservist, veterans, cadets, their families and the dedicated charities and groups that support them. Thank you. Today, this week and throughout the year, we reflect and recognise past service and sacrifice. We will remember them.

I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on Peredur Owen Griffiths to move the amendment, tabled in the name of Siân Gwenllian.

Amendment 1—Siân Gwenllian

Add as new points at end of motion:

Supports the need to strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts and for an end to war.

Remembers all those who have lost their lives in wars and conflicts, including civilian casualties.

Amendment 1 moved.

Thank you. I move the amendment in the name of Siân.

It's a pleasure to have the opportunity to take part in this debate again and champion the cause of veterans in Wales. It's a cause that, despite the improvements in rights and services for veterans in recent years, still needs championing. The housing crisis that exists in Wales disproportionately affects our armed forces community. Research from the Royal British Legion has found that working-age adults in the veteran community are more likely to be sick or disabled than other UK adults. This means that already long social housing waiting lists are made even longer when accessible housing is required. This issue was highlighted by ITV News, who reported on army veteran Tom Weaver from Bridgend, who had to wait a decade for a fully accessible property to become available.

The cost-of-living crisis will also disproportionately affect the armed forces community. On average, disabled households face additional costs of around £584 per month—a figure that will only be exacerbated with skyrocketing energy costs and rising inflation. When you add in the high rates of mental health issues and substance use among veterans, there is a clear need to look out for our former armed service personnel.

There's also a clear need to learn from mistakes of the past and to avoid putting armed service personnel in harm's way in unnecessary conflicts. The first world war is largely seen by historians as an unnecessarily—I couldn't say that—as a unnecessary conflict. The price paid by communities the length and breadth of Wales was heavy indeed. The conflict led to Remembrance Day, and a sombre anti-war mood is encapsulated by the classic book All Quiet on the Western Front. The recent film adaptation of this book has been complemented for its realistic portrayal of the brutality of war, but it inevitability falls short of the source material. Written by German novelist Erich Maria Remarque, who was conscripted into the war at the age of 18, it still remains the ultimate anti-war book. Some of the sabre-rattling leaders around the world would do well to read and understand the unflinching and uncompromising message. As Erich himself wrote:

'This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war.'

These quotes should echo through history as a warning to each new generation about war. This is why I urge you to all support our amendment to strive for peaceful resolutions to conflict.

Unfortunately, the vow of 'never again' that followed the first world war was broken after just two decades by the advent of another world war, which killed more people and saw the dawn of a new terror, the atomic bomb. The one silver lining that emerged from the bloody conflict of the second world war was the desire to create a new society in the UK. Those returning soldiers and their families, my grandparents included, put themselves first and elected an ambitious socialist Government that promised to put the neglected, the maligned and the poorest first. This ambition led to the creation of the NHS, rebuilding the economy and a mass house-building programme that was absolutely essential.

We have not suffered a global conflict in recent years, but, of course, there are still conflicts happening globally at the moment. These come in addition to a global fight against COVID that caused a huge shock to our health services, the economy and our society as a whole. In 1945, the end of the second world war created an opportunity for a progressive, ambitious socialist Government to take action; maybe the COVID pandemic can provide an opportunity for the Welsh Government to find some ambition to reset and rebuild in order to deliver improved services for the people who need them most.

The status quo is not working for many, including veterans. We should take the opportunity to bolster public services and improve the lives of the majority, not the privileged elite. Ambition, with a will to implement change, is needed to protect our most vulnerable and to strive for a more peaceful and prosperous future. Diolch yn fawr. 

Three hundred and thirty-three years after the formation of the first regiments that would later become the Royal Welsh, we commend both this motion and the content of the proposed amendment. In 2022, the Royal British Legion is, in fact, remembering and commemorating military and civilian service. As they state,

'the act of defending and protecting the nation's democratic freedoms and way of life is rarely without cost for those who serve. Physical, mental or emotional injury or trauma; the absence of time with family; or the pressures and dangers that come from serving, highlight why the remembrance of service is so important.'

We also thank active service personnel for their critical work in assisting the emergency services in Wales during the pandemic. 

As we heard, 2022 is the fortieth anniversary of the Falklands conflict, the first military action since the second world war that used all elements of the armed forces, with 255 British personnel losing their lives. As we heard, the Welsh Guards lost more than any other unit—33 soldiers and many casualties, mostly onboard the RFA Sir Galahad when it was attacked by Argentinean aircraft.

It's almost 18 years since I first raised the need for traumatised ex-forces personnel to access mental health care and receive priority treatment, after meeting ex-service personnel with service-related mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, at Tŷ Gwyn in Llandudno, then the only residential respite centre for ex-forces personnel in the UK, whose service had ranged from the Dunkirk retreat to the Falklands. Despite this, it was allowed to close with no alternative provision put in place. 

The Welsh Government did eventually launch Veterans' NHS Wales, providing veterans living in Wales with non-residential assessment and psychological treatment for mental health problems, including PTSD. As Veterans' NHS Wales have told me, they're grateful for their additional recurrent funding, which, of course, we had been calling for. I'm told, however, that there is a need for a peer mentor in each local health board, and I hope the Deputy Minister will commit to additional funding so this can be implemented.

I led a short debate here in January 2008—actually after speaking at the legion in Flint on the same subject—supporting the Royal British Legion's Honour the Covenant campaign, concluding that 'this must be fought until it is won', and welcomed the publication of the UK armed forces covenant in May 2011. The Welsh Government and all local authorities in Wales signed the covenant and subscribed to work with partner organisations to uphold its principles, as have health boards, police and businesses since. October’s Welsh Government armed forces covenant report both thanks the armed forces for their support during the pandemic and looks to the future, including the role of the armed forces in supporting Ukraine through training and materials. Last December’s UK Armed Forces Act 2021 enshrines the armed forces covenant in law for the first time to help prevent service personnel and veterans being disadvantaged when accessing essential services like healthcare, education and housing. The UK ‘Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report 2021’, published last December, also covers actions taken by the UK Government and the devolved Governments. The Royal British Legion has long been a supporter of the armed forces liaison officer or AFLO posts in Wales, and understands that the Welsh Government has the intention to continue funding these posts across Wales, as we heard. However, they urge the Welsh Government to commit to funding these posts for the long term, so the sector can have more certainty and the AFLOs can continue to provide the level of support currently provided to the armed forces community in Wales.

Last year, the legion published their Wales manifesto, with recommendations for the Welsh Government to improve the lives of the armed forces community in Wales, and I call on the Welsh Government to respond to their calls in their manifesto, for example to ensure injured veterans can consistently access chronic pain treatment, to extend priority housing need, and to update the veterans substance misuse treatment framework and deliver better support to veterans with substance misuse issues.

We welcome the UK Government’s £320 million investment in the armed forces estate in Wales, including a new reserve company of the Royal Welsh at Wrexham’s Hightown barracks, and the retention of Brecon barracks. Finally, having hosted the launch event celebrating the launch of the first national veterans awards for Wales here in 2019, I’ll conclude by stating that it was great to receive an update on the awards from their founder, Sean Molino, at the recent Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales annual briefing at HMS Cambria in Cardiff Bay, celebrating the great achievements of so many of these ex-forces personnel. Diolch yn fawr.

I’m grateful to you, Presiding Officer, and at the outset of this contribution I’d like to declare an interest, in that I’ve recently joined the board of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales.

I’m grateful to the Minister for opening this debate, and grateful to her also for reminding us that, when we debate and reflect on these matters in November, we reflect on the sacrifice that has been made, maintaining our freedoms and our way of life, but we’re also aware that, this November, we also meet at a time when there is war in Europe. I think it’s something where we all need to come together to not only support the people of Ukraine in their struggle today, but also to reflect that we have put in place the structures and the pillars of peace in Europe over the last 70 years, and, when we seek to take away those pillars, we lose more than we can ever gain.

The reflection that we make in November is something that is deeply held across the whole of our national communities, and it demonstrates that there is more power in a silence than in almost any speech. The collective bowing of the head and the collective silence pay tribute to all of the sacrifices of servicemen and women through and down the years. Communities gather together in every part of this country for a moment in a busy year or a busy day, and they take that time to say ‘thank you’ to everybody who has paid the ultimate sacrifice, but also everybody who has taken part in the struggle to maintain our freedoms and our ways of life.

We did this year, Presiding Officer, as the Minister recalled, remember the sacrifice of those who died in the Falkland islands, and we took time to think about and to remember the conflict that took place there 40 years ago. I'm grateful to the Welsh Government, and I think all of us are, for the way in which they led the commemoration of those events here in Wales, and co-ordinated events in Wales to ensure that people across this country were able to remember that sacrifice, and particularly, of course, the loss of the Welsh Guards, and it's something that stays with all of us who remember that conflict. 

But we also, Presiding Officer, will remember the loss of Her Majesty the Queen. Throughout all of our lives, Her Majesty the Queen led us in remembrance, and even though in recent years she wasn't able to lay the wreath in London, in Whitehall, her presence there was a constant reminder of that generation. And, Minister, I reflect on how we're losing the generation who fought in world war two, we're losing the people who bore witness to the sacrifice and the fight against Nazism and fascism, the struggle to free our continent from those evils 70 and 80 years ago. I hope the Minister will reflect as well how we can now take care of those veterans as they approach the twilight of their lives. Let us ensure that there isn't a single world war two veteran in this country who doesn't go without the care and treatment that they will need in these years.

I'm grateful to you, Minister, as well for your confirmation that the Welsh Government will continue to support the armed forces liaison officers. They were introduced, of course, to bring together services and to ensure that all of our services, no matter what part of the public sector they're located in, are able to understand and deliver for the needs of the armed forces community, and the armed forces community in its totality. I hope that the liaison officers have been successful in doing so, and I hope that the contribution that we can continue to make to support their work is something that will bear fruit as years go by.

In closing, Presiding Officer, I'd also like to say to the Welsh Government that in supporting the work of the armed forces and reflecting on the sacrifices made, it is also important to ensure that we continue to support our defence industries as well. You cannot guarantee our freedom without the industries and without the capacity to support our armed forces, and it is important that our defence industries are also supported. It is our defence industries that provide us with the means to defend our country. It is our defence industries that enable us to protect the people of Ukraine. It is our defence industries that ensure that we have the ability here today in Wales and the United Kingdom to ensure that our freedoms, the sacrifices made in the past, are freedoms that our children and grandchildren will continue to enjoy in the future. Thank you very much.

Can I also thank the Minister for bringing this debate forward today? It is a privilege to work alongside her and Welsh Government officials, and the other organisations that are represented on the armed forces expert group. And it's a privilege also to chair the cross-party group on the armed forces and cadets here in the Senedd. I too need to put on record the fact that I must declare that I am also a member of the board of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Wales, in taking time to make this short speech. 

Like many in this Chamber, I will be laying a wreath at a local cenotaph in my constituency on Sunday, remembering those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice, and indeed those who survived wars but still paid a very heavy price, and their families, in the communities that I represent this weekend. And we're all very proud, aren't we, in this Chamber to support our armed forces because we know that they are such an important part of the local communities that we represent. From Valley, to Brecon, to Cardiff, serving personnel and their families really are the fabric of our communities, and we've got Welshmen and women who serve in our armed forces literally across the globe at any one time.

We know that our armed forces have been critical to the defence of Ukraine. Whilst not on the ground in Ukraine or flying in the air over Ukraine or in the sea immediately adjacent to Ukraine, they, alongside our intelligence services, are a very important part of preparing people for the battles that are taking place right now in that nation. And, indeed, the 160th (Welsh) Brigade was taking part in exercises, and the Royal Welsh was taking part in exercises in Estonia, with other NATO allies, in order to support the NATO alliance and make sure that it's as strong as possible, given the greater threats that we now see in the world, unfortunately, as a result of Russian aggression.

And I want to pay tribute today, Llywydd, as well to the three heads of the armed forces that we have here in Wales, who I think do an absolutely sterling job of engaging with the Welsh and UK Governments, and, indeed, Members of this Senedd: Brigadier Jock Fraser, Royal Marines, naval regional commander for Wales; Air Commodore Adrian Williams, air officer for Wales; and Brigadier Andrew Dawes, who's been the head of the army in Wales for the past three years and is going to soon be moving on from his position at 160th (Welsh) Brigade in Brecon to the warmer climate of Cyprus, which I'm sure he's very pleased about. They've each been a spectacular support for the armed forces community. They've done a wonderful job in terms of the way that they've engaged, and if you think about the challenges that we have had and seen over recent years, with the pandemic, with the commemorative agenda that we've had, and then, of course, with the death of the sovereign, I think that they really have stepped up to the plate and delivered in a dignified way for all of us in this Chamber and, indeed, for the people of Wales.

We are blessed to have a very active cross-party group that takes a great deal of interest in all sorts of matters pertaining to the armed forces community, and we're very pleased that progress is being made year on year to support that community. We were delighted that one of our long-standing calls for a Veterans' Commissioner for Wales was finally delivered, in the form of Colonel James Phillips from Pembrokeshire, and I think that he's got off to an excellent start. He's taken all of the right steps in terms of introducing himself to the various actors, if you like, on the stage, and we look forward to working very closely with him. He's already attended a meeting of the cross-party group and the expert group, and we want to make sure that we work constructively with him, with his important role, to make sure that we deliver.

Delighted, Minister, to hear you confirm that armed forces liaison officers will now be funded on a permanent basis here in Wales. They are a very important part of the infrastructure that we have now, to support the armed forces family more widely. They do an excellent job in all corners of the country, and I think it's very important that they have that job security that they deserve, given the important role that they play. I would like to see much more engagement from some parts of the public sector in supporting our armed forces community. We've seen the advent, for example, of the guaranteed interview scheme for the armed forces by the Welsh Government; I want to see that trickle down through all parts of our public sector, to make sure that those opportunities for employment are there for our veteran community, when they have the skills, when they have the experience that is needed.

So, in conclusion, I just want to say 'thank you' to all those who are serving and who have served across this great nation of Wales, and we salute you this weekend.

Can I thank the Minister for bringing forward and leading this debate on behalf of the Welsh Government, and also for her personal commitment and long-standing commitment to the armed forces community?

Not a month goes by without a reminder of what we owe those who have served and who serve currently in our armed forces. The service they gave through COVID, the support they give whenever crises hit, and, of course, we remember every single year about the freedoms they have and continue to reserve. When we see the rise of fascism elsewhere in the world and the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the illegal acts of war there, we remember, don't we, that the world can be an extremely dangerous place. Those moments inevitably draw us to our memories, to all those occasions when UK forces have been called upon to protect all of our freedoms. We must remember that many did not return, that many were badly injured, and, of course, at this time of year, we pause to remember and reflect; we wear a poppy, and we importantly keep the history alive.

Llywydd, I would like to take the opportunity in this debate this afternoon to remember all of those from my community in Alyn and Deeside in particular, and to thank all of those who work with the Royal British Legion to go on and sell poppies, to raise money, and to organise events of remembrance and reflection. This weekend, on both Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday, I will be laying my own wreath and paying my own personal tributes across Alyn and Deeside, and I do that as a proud honorary member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades Association, Shotton and Deeside branch.

Presiding Officer, I'm grateful to members of the armed forces, in particular the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the UK army, who have allowed me and other Members of this Senedd Chamber not only to engage with them through meetings and the various engagement events that we have as a cross-party group, but in particular by spending time with us at their training facilities, just giving us a small glimpse of the stresses and strains they go through daily to protect us all and to serve on our behalf. I do pay tribute to the chair, Darren Millar, and the vice-chair, Alun Davies, for their commitment and continued commitment to that.

Llywydd, in closing, I want to thank all those who serve, who have served, and their families for allowing them to do so. We owe them everything. I also pay tribute to those who will go on to serve, to continue to protect our freedoms. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. My constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire has a proud military history dating back over centuries. The town of Pembroke Dock has been home to all three constituent parts of our armed forces. For 113 years, from 1815, it housed a royal dockyard that built five royal yachts and 263 Royal Navy ships. For 120 years in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it was also a garrison town that accommodated regiments from across the services, and for close to 30 years, in the first half of the twentieth century, it was a base for the RAF, and, at one point, was the largest operational base for flying boats in the world—home to the Sunderland. My constituency is also home to the Castlemartin training area, one of only two armoured vehicle training ranges in the United Kingdom; the Pendine firing range; and the Manorbier air defence range—vital sites in ensuring that our armed forces are trained to the highest calibre for the time when they are called up to active service.

With such a strong armed forces presence, my constituency is also home to a number of veterans.—veterans such as Barry John MBE, founder of the VC Gallery, which helps service veterans and those in the wider community by getting them engaged in a variety of art projects. And as we've heard this afternoon, earlier this year we welcomed Pembrokeshire's own Colonel James Phillips as the Veterans' Commissioner for Wales, who is already having a positive impact in supporting our veteran community.

This year has been a perfect example of the important role that our armed forces play both in areas of conflict around the world and also in peacetime and ceremonial duties at home: their role in supporting and training Ukrainian forces prior to and following Russia's invasion, and I also commend the armed forces for their professionalism and the precise execution of their duties in the sombre ceremony that followed the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death.

I'm sure other Members, like myself, have close relatives or friends who have served or continue to serve. Remembrance Day provides us with an opportunity to say thank you: a thank you to them and to those who have laid down their lives in defence of our nation.

In closing, it would be remiss not to recognise the fantastic role that the Royal British Legion play in supporting past and present military personnel and their families. It is not just the commemoration on Remembrance Sunday and the selling of poppies, but also the help that they give to veterans, young and old, transitioning into civilian life. We are a better society for the selfless work the legion undertakes. As someone with relatives who fought on both sides of the second world war divide, when I lay my poppy wreath in the constituency on Sunday, I will take a private moment to think of them and all those who died and suffer during times of conflict. Diolch.

We owe an unmeasurable level of debt to the sacrifices made by our armed forces who safeguarded our future and continue to do so. Quite rightly, as has been said today, we reflect on those soldiers and their families who are fighting to protect the rights of the Ukrainian people, and our thoughts go out to them in Europe as well.

In the days leading up to Remembrance Day we have that opportunity to reflect on the vast contributions made by our armed forces personnel, and it's right that that altruism is preserved for all future generations. As Mark Isherwood stated, Wales in particular has an incredibly long and deep relationship with our armed forces family—it's been more than 300 years since the formation of the first regiment in 1689. As we know, it went on to become the Royal Welsh, making it our oldest and most decorated military regiment. No matter the conflict or situation, as we have seen throughout history, from world war one and two, the Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan, and in many natural disasters, our servicemen and servicewomen always rise to the biggest challenges of the day, with many having also paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Sadly, some of the sacrifices made come at a dreadful cost. We have veterans, as we've heard today already, who bear the physical and mental scars of active service, and they will always be in our thoughts. It is disappointing that we have veterans still who are living with these haunting demons that post-traumatic stress disorder brings. But, fortunately, there are organisations, including the British legion and many others, that provide first-class help and assistance to those most in need. Despite these organisations, though, there are still veterans in society who still require specialist support. Therefore, it's incumbent on us as elected representatives to use all levers within our grasp to find ways to support them. That's why I warmly welcome the Welsh Government's continued commitment to honouring the armed forces covenant, where significant progress has been made in helping our armed forces community. I also welcome the UK Government's appointment of the Welsh veterans' commissioner, whose role is to improve opportunities for veterans in society. I'm pleased to hear of the Welsh Government's commitment to work with the commissioner.

But more should and must be done. Recently, the armed forces expert group has warned that, currently, veterans right across Wales are experiencing significant challenges in accessing dental and orthodontic care, and this can't be right in this day and age. Problems also continue to fester around the MOD childcare scheme, where there needs to be more sufficient childcare providers to ensure the scheme's effectiveness. It would be good to understand what progress the Government is making to work with the UK Government to fulfil commitments set out in the UK armed forces family strategy. These are problems that can be addressed and should be addressed if we pull together and find a way.

To conclude, our armed forces relentlessly make sacrifices on our behalf to keep our country safe, as they always have done. We now owe it to them to show our appreciation by working together to overcome the obstacles facing our veterans. I absolutely support the motion. We must never forget the lessons of the past. We must never forget those who have given so much for our freedom. And we will remember them.

It's a pleasure to take part in this debate today. As we approach Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, it is always important to reflect on the immense debt of gratitude that we owe our armed forces. A 'thank you' will never be enough to repay those who laid down their lives to ensure that we enjoy the freedoms that we do today. Figures show that there are 3,230 military and civilian personnel based in Wales, with two bases in my own region. The data shows there's an estimated 140,000 military veterans living in Wales, an average of 6 per cent of the population. We all saw the best of our armed forces on show this year at the late Queen's funeral. Over the week of the Queen's passing and funeral, nearly 6,000 UK armed forces members were deployed on ceremonial duties, and didn't they do us proud? They were incredible.

Whilst a county councillor, I was proud to serve on a council that signed up to the armed forces covenant that's already been talked about today. As the then armed forces champion at Monmouthshire County Council, I worked with the fantastic armed forces liaison officer Lisa Rawlings, who has done and is doing an incredible job, ensuring all councils across my region are now gold standard and are doing all they can to support veterans and armed forces children, ensuring vital services and concessions such as veteran discounts and free swimming lessons, and also that we use our covenant fund to support great local projects, as well as doing everything possible to support veterans to lead as normal a life as possible, and as well as providing the mental health support that they need. But as a Senedd, we must and can do a lot more across portfolio responsibilities.

Throughout my time in the role as champion for Monmouthshire County Council, working with people like Lisa Rawlings, I saw just how crucial her work was in this area, and I hope that we do everything we can to make her role and others across Wales permanent. It's absolutely essential going forward, as we can't be in a position where we rely on these people for essential work, yet they don't know if they're going to be employed the following year. So, I was delighted when the Deputy Minister today said that there was going to be continued funding for those roles, which are vital in Wales. The liaison officers have been pivotal in creating the successful initiatives that we now see across Wales. The veterans hub in Caerphilly, run by Kelly Farr and Lisa Rawlings, is having evidenced positive outcomes and is truly a one-stop shop for veterans; similarly in Newport, Monmouth and in other areas of Wales. They are examples of best practice. In my region of Gwent, all five local authorities, as I've said, have achieved gold now on the defence employer recognition scheme, and all five are offering the guaranteed interview scheme for the armed forces community. Great strides have been made.

It is not just for veterans that we see much-needed support now being given, thanks to SSCE, Supporting Service Children in Education in Wales, who work hard to co-ordinate research and compile evidence on the experiences of service children in education and to ensure their needs are well understood. We see this service benefiting children of service personnel and armed forces families. However, the lack of data that we have still on service children in Wales is actually very worrying, and the absolute need to compound this evidence is so that we can support them, the families and the children, in the best way that we can, with their unique needs. So, it's vital, and I hope that our new commission will look to address this and ensure there is up-to-date data on the pupil level annual school census going forward. I'm sure the Minister will agree.

Rightly now we're seeing veterans included in the initial shaping of all policies going forward, and at all levels of Government, which is actually how it should be, but there is still more that we can do. I was buoyed by the recent appointment, as we all were, it seems today, of the first ever Veterans' Commissioner for Wales, Colonel James Phillips, a man who recently left the army after serving 33 years, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and the Balkans. The veterans' commissioner, with his experience in the armed forces, will bring knowledge, experience and understanding to the specific issues that veterans face, and I'm sure will represent them to fullest, alongside the Conservative Government being the first to appoint a specific veterans' Minister with a seat at the Cabinet table, which is an extremely positive step.

There is still more we can do for veterans, whether it be better mental health support, support for their children, or stopping historic prosecutions. But we must not and cannot afford to rest up in our campaign to better support the conditions for our veterans. I will proudly be attending services in my region over the next two weeks to pay my respects to those who have made the greatest sacrifice, and I'll be taking time to also think of those who are serving right now in Ukraine. I just want to say, Minister, that the decision made by the police in my area to no longer police the traditional remembrance parades has been extremely disappointing, as it means that local people will now no longer be able to commemorate in the way that they used to in our local towns. That's something that perhaps you could look at.

I'd urge everyone to take a minute this week to reflect on the huge sacrifices made by our armed forces and to support the poppy appeal wherever they can. We will remember them.

It's a pleasure to take part in this debate this afternoon. I thank the Government for tabling this debate today as we embark on the annual period of remembrance to consider those in the armed forces who have sacrificed so much for so many of the freedoms that we hold dear today.

I'd like to use my short contribution to tell the Senedd about the brilliant work that my local British legion do in my constituency to mark this period of remembrance, and particularly in the town of Rhyl, which bestows a proud military history containing many servicemen and servicewomen who have devoted their lives to protecting our country's interest and defending our way of life.

The list of servicemen and servicewomen is far too long to read out today in the allocated time I'm given, Llywydd, but the local British legion are very active in my area in holding poppy stalls in the White Rose centre, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Asda and Aldi, offering not only poppies and badges, but also additional items including rubbers, pencil sharpeners, rulers and other stationery items, hand-knitted toppers, dog collars and many more to add to that. While you may see it as a bit silly that I might say that, what it does give is people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to engage with the annual fundraiser. It raises awareness amongst all people of the tremendous service that people from the local area have given over the years.

Over the half-term recess, I had the pleasure of volunteering in three sessions in Rhyl, in the White Rose centre, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, and what struck me is not only the tremendous generosity of local people, but also the sheer amount of people who have links to the armed forces, whether that be themselves, a grandfather, dad, uncle, friend or other relative who has served their countries, either in world war one, world war two, the Falklands, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other battle our country has engaged in for that matter. So, it shows the amount of people who hold this time of year close to their hearts and how deep the armed forces are embedded in all of our communities across Wales and the UK.

I'd like to just quickly reiterate the point I made in the business statement earlier this afternoon, and as mentioned in the debate, about some of the healthcare provisions that are on offer to veterans. I'd like to see the process speeded up for veterans to be considered in the triage system. I know progress has been made, but I would like to see quicker progress on that, so that veterans are indeed getting the right support for their mental and physical health.

In addition to the fantastic poppy stalls in my constituency, there'll be a series of services over the next few days at Rhyl memorial gardens on the promenade to mark Armistice Day on Friday and Remembrance Sunday, as there will be at every memorial site in the Vale of Clwyd and across the country. I'd urge everyone to head down to their local memorial site this weekend and pay their respects to the many men, women and animals who have given their lives so that we can continue to live in freedom and democracy. Thank you.

Firstly, I'd like to thank the Government for bringing forward this debate. For me and for many, this week is the most important week that we have the whole year. It's a time when we can all come together to reflect in silence on the huge human sacrifice that has been given by so many so we can be in this Chamber in peace, freedom and democracy.

My area of Brecon and Radnor is steeped in military history, and I'm proud to represent the home of the British army in Brecon. My constituency not only is the spiritual home of the army in Wales, but it also plays an ongoing role in the defence of the nation through the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, which trains officers and soldiers to meet the operational requirements of the army, but also the Royal Navy training base in Talybont, and also the Royal Air Force training base in Crickhowell. As a result of these connections, remembrance events in my particular part of the world play a huge, huge part in the community and it gives many people the opportunity to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and family members who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation safe.

Most minds at this time of the year are drawn to the second world war, when British soldiers fought against the evils of Nazi Germany and the axis powers. For a time, the United Kingdom stood alone with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Eventually, fascism was defeated and we remember those brave servicemen and servicewomen of the armed forces who saved the world from tyranny. Of course, there are many other conflicts that we remember and soldiers in modern wars who we commemorate.

As we speak here today, we have veterans of the twenty-first century who have served with great dignity, but who suffer with physical and mental traumas. We rightly remember our glorious dead, but we must also work with our veterans who need our continued support. I commend the work of the Royal British Legion for their work in supporting veterans, and I wear my poppy with pride as a symbol of commemoration for those who have fought and died for our nation, and also for those men and women from Brecon and Radnor and beyond in today's armed forces who serve so honourably, so that we can all go to bed and sleep safe at night. So, I encourage everybody in this Chamber and wider: on Sunday, stop for a moment and think about those people who have given their lives so that we can live in peace. Thank you, Llywydd.

The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership to reply to the debate. Hannah Blythyn.

Diolch, Llywydd. Can I first of all thank Members for their contributions in this debate today, which falls, as we said, in the remembrance period, a time for us all to reflect and recognise those who have served, those who continue to serve and, as we've heard, those who've made the ultimate sacrifice? I think I will struggle very much in the time remaining to refer to each and every point that every Member made, but can I just say that the fact that there were so many contributions is testament to the recognition and service of our armed forces community and veterans by Members from right across this Chamber?

If I first turn to the Plaid Cymru amendment and Peredur's contribution, we very much support that amendment. It's one that, I think, we can all subscribe to, particularly, as you said, in the current, poignant context of the terrible images we're seeing of suffering from Ukraine, and elsewhere in the world for that matter. The awful reality of war is the inevitable suffering of civilians, as well as those who serve in the armed forces. We should all, of course, strive for peace, and our Academi Heddwch, the Peace Academy, which we fund, based in the temple of peace in Cardiff recognises that and builds on that important Welsh tradition, as well as our role and aspirations to be a nation of sanctuary, which is also important, recognising the impact of war on civilians and the role we can play to provide refuge, warmth and hope.

Many Members talked about the need for building on the support that's already there for veterans, and also the challenges that many of our veterans face in common with, perhaps, many members of our communities at the moment, sadly, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. I'm sure that Members should have had this sent around to them, but we've rightly heard reflections of appreciation for the role that the Royal British Legion plays in supporting veterans, and I would very much share that recognition of the role that they play. But the Royal British Legion has recently sent information around about the support that they are providing for veterans, and if Members haven't seen that already, I would urge them to look at their website and to actually share that with their constituents. Obviously, there are many third sector organisations that work with veterans, such as Woody's Lodge and elsewhere, that are making sure that veterans are aware of the benefits and things that they are, rightly, entitled to.

We've heard about the progress made across the years from the Armed Forces Act and the covenant. And Mark Isherwood mentioned the veterans' awards, which I've been very pleased to attend, the past couple of years. It's good to see them going from strength to strength and really paying tribute and recognising how those who have served, our veterans, have gone on to contribute to our communities in very many different ways, making a huge impact and a huge difference.

Darren, just to put—[Interruption.] That wasn't Darren, I don't think [Laughter.] Just to touch, though, on—you referenced those three heads of the armed forces here in Wales, Brigadier Fraser, Commodore Dai Williams and Brigadier Dawes, and I very much want to join you in thanking them for all that they do. I'm genuinely very pleased about the close working relationship that we've been able to build as a Welsh Government with them, with regular meetings, not just seeing each other at the various events, and actually looking forward to them being able to speak to a broad range of Ministers later this month. But I can't understand why Brigadier Dawes wants to swap Brecon for the warmer climates of Cyprus.

Many Members have talked about what they will do, as we all pay tribute this weekend and on Friday, on Remembrance Day itself, attending those services in communities right across the country. We've also heard from Sam Kurtz and James Evans of the importance of the armed forces community to their constituencies, and where they live, not just historically, but in the present day, and the value of that footprint here in communities across Wales, which is why we will always work with our counterparts in the UK Government to maintain and retain that footprint here in Wales. 

Just in closing, we talked about the need—. We've all touched on how, as every year passes in remembrance, those who fought in the second world war, we see few of them there at the cenotaph able to come and pay tribute to those who they served with, most poignantly, as well. And I think, from what my colleagues Jack Sargeant and Alun Davies said, the importance of keeping that history alive—that we pass that onto future generations and we learn from the conflicts of the past in the hope that they are not repeated in the future as well.

A number of Members talked about how—. I welcome the positive comments about the work that the Welsh Government is doing, but, as always, as anything, we should always be ambitious to build on that work and do more. I recognise that, in previous years, this has been a remembrance debate and it's now become an annual debate, but I know that previously, there has been a statement around Armed Forces Day, and I'd perhaps like to commit here today to try and bring back again in the future, to enable us to have an opportunity to perhaps look in more detail at the support for those who are serving now, and our veterans now, as we focus today more on the importance of remembrance. 

So, in closing, I would like just to thank Members once again for their contributions, and just to commit this Welsh Government's support to our veterans and those who continue to serve our country at this very important time of year. Diolch yn fawr.

The proposal is to agree amendment 1. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion NDM8118 as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Remembers and recognises the contribution of all those who have served and serve now in our Armed Forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

2. Expresses its gratitude to the Armed Services in Wales for their continued contribution to Welsh Life.

3. Welcomes and pays tribute to the support that third sector organisations provide to our Armed Forces community in Wales.

4. Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to honouring the Armed Forces Covenant through the provision of bespoke services and support for our Armed Forces community and ongoing collaboration and engagement with stakeholders.

5. Supports the need to strive for peaceful resolutions to all conflicts and for an end to war.

6. Remembers all those who have lost their lives in wars and conflicts, including civilian casualties.

The next proposal is that the motion as amended be agreed. Does any Member object? No, therefore the motion is agreed.

Motion NDM8118 as amended agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.