At this still very early stage of the Seventh Senedd, I have been very pleased to see the subject of care-experienced babies, children and young people be debated on the floor of the Chamber as part of a discussion on a proposed corporate parenting bill. Whilst I welcome an exploration of the merits of a statutory approach over a voluntary one, what is more important is that Senedd Members and Welsh Government ministers continue to prioritise and give due attention to the needs of care-experienced babies, children and young people, and most importantly, take action to improve the care and support that they receive and provide opportunities for them to thrive.
Working with stakeholders from the public and voluntary sectors, I have called for the new Welsh Government to ensure that care-experienced babies, children and young people and families who are in contact with social services are a priority in its upcoming Programme for Government. I look forward to working with Ministers and Members of the Senedd to ensure that material change for the better is made to the lives of these babies, children and young people.