Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I didn't expect to be called so soon, but I'm delighted to contribute right at the outset. First of all, can I thank Russell and the committee members—
Huw Irranca-Davies: No, don't do that; don't think twice about this. Delighted with the report and the wide-ranging recommendations, some of which I'll turn to in a moment, but I also want to go a bit further as well and see what the committee thinks, what Russell thinks, and also the Minister on some other proposals as well to do with decarbonisation in Wales. First of all, delighted to see the proposals...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Can I say what a pleasure it is to take part in this debate? I think the contributions preceding mine have been excellent; I hope I can add something to it. But there's something that I've agreed with in everybody's contribution so far. There are some areas of disagreement, and I'll pick up on the point that's just been made. There are some good parts of my Conservative colleague's...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Trefnydd, could I ask you for one statement? It could be a statement after the health Minister meets with the community pharmacy sector next week. It could be a written statement if it's good news. If it's an oral statement, perhaps we could have it on the floor so we could question it. It's to do with the role of community pharmacies in stepping up to the mark during this coronavirus...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer Members to my interest in the non-remunerated role in chairing the regional investment Wales steering group, but my question lies outwith the work of that group. I've received representations, Minister, from higher education sector representatives in Wales, with their concerns over the UK shared prosperity fund and the UK Government's proposals. And they note that the UK shared...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I want to address the issues facing the hospitality sector, specifically the 6 p.m. closure and the prohibition of sales of alcohol in pubs and clubs and restaurants, knowing, quite frankly, that they've been to hell and back this year. They were closed in the first lockdown, then they reopened and they worked to new regulations, they invested in COVID safety measures and personal protective...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 3. How does the Deputy Minister engage with young people in Wales in relation to equality and human rights matters? OQ56030
Huw Irranca-Davies: First Minister, could I ask what efforts you have made to reach out to the main party leaders in order to keep them informed of the medical and scientific advice and the data and the difficult choices to be made? At this time of a continuing national crisis, facing a continuing pandemic, the people of Wales would hope that all political leaders and spokespeople would seek every opportunity to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Deputy Minister, that's really good to hear, and can I draw attention to our local Bridgend Youth Council, which has got some excellent representatives, including the recently elected youth mayor Megan Stone, and the deputy youth mayor Tino Kaseke, whose three main priorities for this term this year are youth mental health awareness and supporting schools, ending racism and injustice through...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Trefnydd, I wonder if we could have a statement—and a written statement would do—giving clarity on what the arrangements are after the Christmas period for priority slots for people who were previously shielding, that have been made a priority by retailers, whether those are going to continue. Now, the reason I ask for this is that I know that the Minister for Environment, Energy and...
Huw Irranca-Davies: What is the Welsh Government doing to support small and medium-scale local builders to be part of the expansion in house building in Wales?
Huw Irranca-Davies: COVID-19 is clearly affecting our rural economy and will continue to do so for some time to come, but could I ask the Minister what assessment she has made of the additional impact of EU withdrawal on the rural economy and communities through the loss of agricultural support and rural development support, the loss of EU-funded social programmes and infrastructure programmes, like broadband,...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and a happy new year to you all.
Huw Irranca-Davies: Could I ask, Trefnydd, for a statement from the environment Minister on any implications for Wales of the decision by the UK Government over the weekend to allow a temporary licence for neonicotinoid use in parts of the UK? Within days of the end of the transition out of the EU, the UK Government has allowed a measure that smacks of that deregulatory approach that we were all fearful of. It's...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'm not a member of the Finance Committee, so what I'm going to say is very much to do with the impact on my constituents and how I think this budget is going to work. It is a very difficult budget, as Mike Hedges said to us in his very good contribution, as Mike always does. He said, 'This is as good as you're going to get with the money that you've got', and I agree with him entirely. This...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Let me simply conclude then with saying I really welcome the additional investment that we're seeing within mental health and well-being this year. It is critical, not simply because of the juncture that we're at with COVID and the impacts that is having on our communities, but because of the legacy issues with mental health and well-being as well, and also the additional spend on COVID-19....
Huw Irranca-Davies: Minister, can I just begin by commending the work that's been going on within schools, both with the teaching staff but also with the heads and deputy heads as well to get the progress that we have? I don't want to labour the point, but the Hwb guidance is very, very good but it does give total discretion to the headteacher and school staff based on the conditions in the school, based on the...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I really welcome the innovations that have been done for the provision online in these difficult circumstances, and I think that it's commendable. I just wonder whether we are missing a trick here for the future—although it's probably too late for this one. I wonder if I could ask your views on whether the Commission would be willing to explore a concept that I strongly support—which they...
Huw Irranca-Davies: 1. What representations has the First Minister made to the UK Government regarding the provision of additional financial support to assist jobs affected by COVID-19 in Wales? OQ56126
Huw Irranca-Davies: First Minister, I'm glad to hear about the frequency of those meetings, because when I first laid this question, I thought to ask you to push the UK Government to provide more support for the self-employed and others who still fall outside the job support schemes available, and to push them to guarantee to protect, which they shamefully failed to do in a vote in the House of Commons this...
