Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 1 March 2023.
Well, can I firstly thank you for your comments about my recent visit to Ukraine, and thank you, and also the other Members, for the support that was given? You may have seen from social media that the considerable materials that were taken over were on the front line in Ukraine within 24 hours, and that perhaps highlights the urgency but the importance of support, and also the fact, of course, that I think there are more Welsh flags flying on the Ukrainian front line at the moment than from any other country. But I think the recognition of that connection—. Bearing in mind Donetsk, where much of the fighting is taking place, of course, was developed by a Welshman, and formerly known as Hughesovka, after John Hughes. So, we have a connection there. So, thank you for those particular comments.
In respect of the independent commission, as you say, it has another 12 months' work or so to go. It has to publish a report. So, obviously, a significant amount of expenditure will be involved in completing that, particularly as, when I met with the members of the commission, they were outlining very clearly the work they were going to do, which was to try to get to those aspects of communities, people and individuals that are very, very difficult to engage with. I don't think this is a waste. It was Aneurin Bevan who said that the trouble with the Conservative Party is that they know the price of everything and the value of nothing. I put a very high value on our democracy, and I think there is a challenge over our democracy, in terms of turnouts, in terms of engagement, in terms of the way in which people perceive politics and believe that their voice actually counts. So, I think what is happening at the moment, and at a moment of constitutional instability—that what we are doing is very, very important. It's very important to look to the future of our democracy, our governance, how we engage with our communities, how we're perceived by the communities and how democracy works within Wales. So, I think you will find—. I'm absolutely convinced that, by the end of this, you will stand up and you will say, 'Well, I made all these comments in the past, but I'm satisfied now that this has been real value for money for the future.'