Angela Burns: 5. What plans does the Welsh Government have to support businesses as lockdown restrictions are eased? OQ56508
Angela Burns: Thank you for that, First Minister. As you are very aware, the tourism and hospitality sectors are incredibly important in my constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, and last week I held a virtual roundtable with representatives of the sector, from the most upmarket of hotels to pubs and clubs trying to survive this pandemic. I heard the gratitude that they offered for the UK...
Angela Burns: 4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve access to cancer treatments following the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56492
Angela Burns: Diolch, Presiding Officer. Thank you. Minister, your recently published COVID-19 forward plan, I think, is a very fair summary of the situation that we face in Wales today. I think it neatly outlines the challenges that are faced by health and social care. But I also feel it is very short on some key solutions that we need to be seeing. So, for example, could you please explain what specific...
Angela Burns: You talk about the importance of operational plans, and I agree with you that it's very important to work with all the stakeholders to draft operational plans that are really deliverable. Of course, to make those operational plans really sound, you've got to have good data and really up-to-date coherent information and I'm really pleased that your COVID-19 forward plan does recognise that...
Angela Burns: I'm afraid this is where I have a slight difference with you, because everybody talks about 'when the pandemic is over', and I actually think we've gone past that—we've gone past the crisis. We're now in a situation where this is endemic. We're going to have a situation where we're going to be in this position for a long, long time to come. We can't keep saying, 'Oh, we're just in a crisis;...
Angela Burns: Thank you very much, Minister. I do appreciate your words. That's very kind of you, and I would reciprocate by saying thank you for your transparency and honesty on some of the occasions that we've had to look at some of the very tough situations that are facing our health and social services. Of course, one of the very tough situations facing us is the provision of cancer treatments to...
Angela Burns: Well, it wasn't supposed to end like this, was it? We were all supposed to be standing in some local hostelry where I could have been standing you all drinks and saying thank you—thank you so much for your companionship, for friendship, for cross-party relationships that we've forged over the years. I'm going to miss a great many of you, and I wish you all well, whatever it is you're going...
