TRANSGENDER people “feel under siege”, Wales’ Deputy First Minister has said.

Sioned Williams faced questions on gender identity guidance in schools, and the implementation of single-sex spaces, during her first appearance at Questions to the Deputy First Minister.

Serving as both Deputy First Minister and cabinet secretary for social justice and equality, Ms Williams was questioned by opposition politicians on Wednesday June 10, about the Welsh Government’s response to the Cass Review, and the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on single-sex spaces.

The session opened with questions from Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni’s Reform MS Catherine Cullen, who asked how the Welsh Government would work with education ministers to prioritise “objective, evidence-based safeguarding standards” in schools.

She said: “We sit here today with one non-negotiable duty: the absolute safety of Welsh children in schools.

“When the Cass review explicitly warned that social transition – that is, changing a child’s name, pronouns or uniform at school – is not a neutral act and carries severe psychological risks, Plaid Cymru voted against these recommendations.”

She continued: “[Plaid’s] manifesto demands a demedicalised self-declaration system that actively pushes gender identity theories through the school system.”

In response, Ms Williams said the Welsh Government remained committed to improving literacy and numeracy standards, and stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment in which all children can fulfil their potential.

She told members that education officials had developed draft guidance for schools on supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-questioning learners, and said the education minister recognised the need to proceed with “leadership and sensitivity”.

Questions then turned to the implementation of single-sex spaces following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of sex under the Equality Act.

Reform UK MS Art Wright, of Casnewydd Islwyn, asked about the Welsh Government’s plans to implement single-sex spaces across Wales, while Conservative MS Natasha Asghar, of the same constituency, accused the previous Labour administration of “dragging its heels” in responding to the judgment.

Ms Asghar said she had received correspondence from a Welsh Government employee claiming staff were still working under policies that allowed “men who identify as women to use women’s single-sex spaces from the first day of self-identification”.

Reading from the email that was sent to her, she said: “A government cannot pick and choose which laws it follows, yet that is exactly what seems to be happening within the Welsh Government itself.”

Responding, Ms Williams said the Welsh Government respected the Supreme Court ruling and was working to ensure devolved policies and practices complied with the law.

“This work has to be done carefully and consistently, and across a range of devolved areas,” she said.

However, the Deputy First Minister also emphasised that the Equality Act continues to protect people with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment from discrimination and harassment.

She added: “This is a community that feels under siege at the moment, and we must be sensitive to that.

“We need to look at the practical steps that we can take whilst complying with the Supreme Court ruling, and then, in seeing the code of practice that will come forward, if it is passed in Westminster, we will need to consider how we do that.”

Ms Williams said work was continuing across government departments to ensure Welsh Government policies comply with the law while maintaining protections for transgender people.

Ms Williams, who represents the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency, also reaffirmed her support for universal free school meals during the session, after Senedd Members raised concerns about food poverty and access to nutritious food for children.

Huw Thomas, Labour MS for Caerdydd Penarth, drew attention to the work of the previous Labour government in introducing universal free school meals for primary school children across Wales.

Mr Thomas said: “For too many of our pupils, this is the only proper meal of the day that they have every day – hugely important – and yet we know that food costs have risen dramatically in recent years.

“So, my question is: when councils tell Welsh Government what the cost of supplying these meals are, will you accept and respect their advice and fund it, or else risk affecting the quality and provenance of the food served to our young people?”

Ms Williams agreed that free school meals play a vital role in supporting children and families.

She said the scheme “really does help”, allowing children to receive the “nutritious hot meal that they so desperately need”.

While noting that responsibility for free school meals sits within the education portfolio, the Deputy First Minister said she would ensure the concerns raised within government.

The discussion also turned to nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said access to nutritious food in a child’s earliest years is critical to healthy development.

She said: “We know how important nutritious food is in brain development in babies, both in pregnancy and in those first 1,000 days.

“Key nutrients such as vitamin D are absolutely essential, and if you are poor and you are not able to afford a full range of nutritious food, then that hampers that child’s development from the very, very early point.”

Ms Dodds asked what steps the Welsh Government was taking to ensure babies and young children have access to healthy food during their first 1,000 days.

Responding, Ms Williams said she “wholeheartedly” agreed about the importance of nutrition in the early years.

She pointed to the Healthy Start scheme, which provides support for low-income pregnant women and families with young children, describing pregnancy as a “crucial part” of ensuring lifelong health.

The Deputy First Minister also highlighted the nursery milk scheme, which provides children under the age of five in approved childcare settings with a free daily portion of milk.

Ms Williams said ensuring children have access to nutritious food from pregnancy through early childhood remains an important part of tackling inequality and improving long-term health outcomes in Wales.

A PEMBROKESHIRE town bowls club’s call on planners to let it keep advertising signs for local businesses which help support its operations has been turned down.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Fishguard & Goodwick Bowls Club, Wern Road, Goodwick sought retrospective permission for up to 36 signs on land close to the town’s Phoenix Centre.

The signs had been in place for some 18 months, being removed ahead of the formal planning application.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says: “This application seeks retrospective consent for the display of up to 36 non-illuminated, single-sided advertisement panels mounted to an existing timber boundary fence.

It said the advertisements are modest in scale, facing an existing large car park rather than nearby residential properties and does not project over any public highway or footpath.

It added: “The advertisement signs have been temporarily removed while planning permission is sought. The advertisements and fence had been in place for approximately 18 months prior to their temporary removal, during which time no complaints were received.

“The total number of advertisements has been consciously limited, and not all fence bays display signage, ensuring that the proposal does not result in harm to visual amenity or public safety.

“The income generated from the advertisements provides an important source of revenue for the Fishguard and Goodwick Bowls Club, supporting the ongoing operation and maintenance of local community sporting facilities.

“The advertising panels also offer local businesses an affordable and accessible means of promotion within the community.”

An officer report recommending refusal said two objections to the scheme were received, raising issues over discrepancies in the application and the scheme having no merit, being “at odds with the established character and appearance of the area”.

The report added: “While it is acknowledged that businesses have a reasonable need to advertise their presence and services, such advertisements must be appropriately sited and designed to ensure they do not detract from the visual amenity of the area.”

It went on to say: “It is considered that the proposed advertisements are inappropriately sited relative to their functional purpose. The cumulative impact arising from the proliferation of signage in close proximity, extending along the entirety of the boundary fencing, results in a visually cluttered and intrusive form of development.

“Furthermore, the scale and number of the proposed 36 advertisement boards is considered excessive and not reasonably necessary, giving rise to a harmful impact on the visual amenity of the surrounding area.”

The application was refused by planners on the grounds it was “an excessive concentration of signage within the locality, creating visual clutter that would harm the visual amenity and undermine the character and appearance of the site and its surroundings”.

A TENBY lifeguard is hoping to inspire the next generation through art and lifesaving after creating original artwork to celebrate 25 years of the RNLI’s lifeguard service.

Gwen Evans, 23, a senior beach lifeguard with the South Pembrokeshire team, has produced two pieces marking the milestone and encouraging people to join or support the charity’s lifesaving work.

The artwork has been installed at the RNLI Beach Lifeguard Unit on Tenby South Beach.

Gwen said: “I’ve always lived by the sea and grew up watching the RNLI beach lifeguards in Pembrokeshire. After being a keen swimmer my whole life, I wanted a job that would allow me to be active and use my strength in the water.

“My favourite part about being an RNLI lifeguard is interacting with the public, offering helpful safety advice and educating people so they can enjoy their time on the beaches I’ve grown up on.”

Gwen has worked as a lifeguard for five years and has progressed to become one of the senior lifeguards in the team.

Senior lifeguards are responsible for the team working on the beach, running patrols and co-ordinating rescues and casualty care when required.

She said: “It can sometimes feel daunting being a senior, as you are responsible for all the guards working that day, not to mention the whole beach.

“It is a great opportunity though and has definitely helped to boost my confidence, making me progress and develop my leadership and lifeguarding skills.

“After working for the service for the past five years, it’s always nice to see returning beachgoers each season, especially the people we’ve helped who often recognise and support us year after year.”

Art inspired by the coast

Away from lifeguarding, Gwen is an illustration student at Arts University Plymouth and hopes to pursue a career in art.

She said her work is inspired by marine life, the coast, local places and personal experiences.

Gwen added: “Growing up by the coast I’ve always been inspired by the RNLI, and I wanted to create something to support our lifesaving efforts as a charity that relies on the generous support of the public.

“I want to use my art to support charity causes and educate people while showcasing a fun, eye-catching experience.”

The RNLI beach lifeguard service was rolled out in Pembrokeshire in 2008. Since then, lifeguards in the county have saved 164 lives, the highest number recorded in Wales.

New figures also show that RNLI lifeguards in Pembrokeshire have aided a further 15,513 people and carried out 1,799 rescues since the service began.

With Tenby remaining one of Wales’ busiest seaside destinations, lifeguards are expecting another busy summer season.

Gwen said: “As RNLI lifeguards we encourage you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and come and talk to us, even when the beach is busy. We’re here to answer questions and are always happy to help.

“I wanted to use my art as a way to give back to the charity that saves lives every day.

“If my art can spark conversation, inspire future lifeguards or simply raise more awareness of our safety advice, then it has achieved exactly what I intended.”

Gwen will return to lifeguarding on the South Pembrokeshire beaches at the end of June.

Her artistic work can be followed on Instagram at @saltandinkstudio.

RNLI safety advice

The RNLI’s Float to Live advice is:

• Tilt your head back with your ears submerged.
• Relax and try to breathe normally.
• Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat.
• It is okay if your legs sink, as everyone floats differently.
• Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.
• Anyone who sees someone in difficulty in the water should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

To find your nearest lifeguarded beach, visit the RNLI website.