Mick Antoniw: —setting up a statutory inquiry would be an obstacle to real progress. Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm not prepared to see the urgent work that is ongoing being delayed in this way. Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Mick Antoniw: Minister, this Sunday, Cwm Taf health board completed its vaccination of all the care homes and care home staff, and I think all the staff who contributed to that, in very difficult weather, sometimes, should actually really be congratulated for the effort that's been achieved there. Can I raise just two points with you? One is the issue of home vaccinations. Obviously, there is a concern...
Mick Antoniw: It was about 15 or 16 months ago that I attended the hospital to discuss with the new staff, the new expertise brought in, to look at the new facilities, because at that time, I think all the representatives in the Cwm Taf area had had a lot of very emotive meetings with families, and continued to do so. And it was very clear that despite the investment and expertise, the restoration of...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. In respect of items 6, 7 and 8, we considered these three sets of regulations at our meeting of 11 January and we laid our report on the same day. Our report on the Land Transaction Tax (Specified Amount of Relevant Rent) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 raised no issues of note, so I'll therefore focus on the remaining two instruments for the purpose of this...
Mick Antoniw: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. We considered these regulations at our meeting yesterday morning, and our report has been laid in time for this afternoon’s Plenary session. My contribution to this debate will be brief. Our report contains two merits points. The first point notes the Welsh Government’s justification for any interference with human rights. Our report draws particular attention to a...
Mick Antoniw: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As has been mentioned, we took evidence from the Counsel General on the proposed Order on 14 December 2020, and we published our report on 14 January 2021. By way of background to this draft Order, and providing some context, which has been partly outlined by the Counsel General, Members will know that the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 provided UK Ministers and...
Mick Antoniw: Diolch, Llywydd. We took evidence on the Bill yesterday from the Minister, as has been mentioned. I'm very grateful to the staff of the Commission and the committee for the work they have undertaken to prepare what I think is a very thorough and detailed report on what is a very important piece of electoral, and therefore constitutional, legislation. So, we've paid very close attention to it...
Mick Antoniw: Referring to section 5, this enables the First Minister to propose to the Llywydd that the 2021 election is postponed for a reason relating to coronavirus, if the First Minister considers it necessary or appropriate. Members will be well aware of the concerns the committee has about the use of the term 'appropriate', whether it is included in Welsh legislation, Scottish legislation or any...
Mick Antoniw: 6. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of leaving the EU on the Welsh seafood sector? OQ56223
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for that answer, Minister. The seafood sector is an important part of the Welsh economy, employing many people and contributing significantly to our exports. The industry made very clear, prior to the end of the transition period, that there was a lack of preparation and that the industry would suffer if those preparations were not put in hand, and also called, I think, and...
Mick Antoniw: I'll just declare my membership of the Musicians Union interest. The challenge for us, of course, is what the new normal is actually going to be. And I think we're going to have to be very fleet of foot and flexible in the way in which we adapt and encourage live music during the changing environment that David Melding was referring to. It was a very wide-ranging report and the evidence...
Mick Antoniw: I agree with all those sentiments that have been expressed by David Melding. Of course, we had evidence sessions within the culture committee from the National Library of Wales, and explored with them, I think, the challenges they face and also the tremendous opportunities they have. And just to say, of course, I think it's in the National Library of Wales that we've deposited the Wales...
Mick Antoniw: 6. What have the Welsh Government’s international priorities been during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56291
Mick Antoniw: Thank you for that answer, First Minister. As the UK has left the European Union, I certainly think it is now vital that Wales establishes its own role in the world as a nation as of right. The Welsh Conservative Party have made it clear that they would massively restrict the ability of the Welsh Government to engage with other countries by cutting the funding to those areas that are not...
Mick Antoniw: Minister, what a difference we have within Wales during this commemoration of trade unions during this trade union week, where we actually seek to work in partnership, in contrast to the situation in London, where legislation is being considered as a way of disempowering trade unions still further. So, I very much welcome this very timely statement. Can I also really endorse what you say...
Mick Antoniw: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I speak in respect of both sets of regulations; we considered these at our meeting yesterday. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021 amend the 2020 international travel regulations and the No. 5 restrictions regulations. Our report contains two merits points. The first point notes the...
Mick Antoniw: Dirprwy Lywydd, for 30 years I worked as a lawyer in employment and trade union legislation, and year after year I saw the consequences of Tory reductions in workers' rights and the voice of working people. Nothing has changed since then, other than that when I came into this Senedd, and we had legislative powers, and we started to develop a series of laws and legislation that began to try...
Mick Antoniw: [Inaudible.]—because during this COVID pandemic, what we have seen exposed are the searing inequalities that still exist in our society and the impact that they've had on the quality of life, the health and education of some of the poorest in our society. Can I start by commending those in our communities who've done so much during the pandemic to ensure that, in addition to the financial...
Mick Antoniw: Can I ask for a statement on the state of the aviation sector in Wales? The Chancellor, in today's budget, has the last opportunity for the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme, to give specific sectoral support for the aviation sector in Wales. The aviation sector in Wales is virtually on the brink of collapse if something doesn't happen—companies like GE Aviation Wales in my...
Mick Antoniw: As the Minister said, these regulations amend the No. 5 coronavirus restrictions regulations, which are the principal regulations on COVID, and they came into force on 20 February. Our report identified four merits points. The first identified an incorrect reference in the explanatory note to the regulations; in its response, the Welsh Government has noted the error. Our final three merits...
