Darren Millar: We believe that the decision to impose severe restrictions on the hospitality and entertainment industries across Wales is neither proportionate nor reasonable. The Wales-wide approach taken by the Welsh Government pays no regard to the fact that the virus is circulating at very different rates in different parts of Wales. There's only limited evidence that the hospitality and indoor...
Darren Millar: Can I thank the Counsel General and Brexit Minister for a copy of his statement, which was circulated in advance? Although I have to say, it does remain apparent that the Welsh Government still has not come to terms with the referendum result in June 2016. It seems very clear to me that, as we near the end of this transition period, the UK Government has been working extremely hard to secure...
Darren Millar: I will. And do you also accept that there are a whole host of powers? You asked me for a copy of the list of powers last week. I've got a copy of them in my hand, which I'll be happy to present to you outside of the Chamber. But there are scores of new powers—a big transfer of powers—coming to Wales as a result of our departure from the EU, and I would very much hope that you would...
Darren Millar: While there's a great deal of good in this Bill that I really do welcome, unfortunately I'm afraid that I can't actually vote for it today. That will probably come as no surprise to the Minister, but I'm afraid that, unfortunately, there are aspects of the Bill that I fundamentally disagree with.
Darren Millar: Our education system in Wales is based on the principle that parents, not the state, are the primary educators of their children, and that schools look after children, not on their own terms, but in loco parentis, in the place of parents and with parental permission. It's in recognition of this very important principle that parents have long enjoyed the right to withdraw their children from...
Darren Millar: Minister, people in north Wales are concerned that they're not getting their fair share of the vaccine at the moment. You'll be aware that the Public Health Wales figures that were published for the number of vaccinations that were distributed up to 20 December seem to demonstrate that people in north Wales are less likely, frankly, to get access to the vaccine than people elsewhere in the...
Darren Millar: First Minister, figures are important. It is important that members of the public and Members of this Senedd and members of the Government have the opportunity to scrutinise the pace of the progress of the disease, and also, of course, the pace of the roll-out of the vaccination here in Wales, in terms of the programme. Many people in north Wales have been in touch with me in recent weeks...
Darren Millar: 7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the progress of the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations in north Wales? OQ56127
Darren Millar: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the Betsi Cadwaladr health board, according to a written answer from your own health Minister, received just 17.3 per cent of the vaccine stock distributed by the Welsh Government to 8 January, in spite of having over 22 per cent of the Welsh population to look after. And just last week, GPs in north Wales who were part of the vaccine roll-out programme were...
Darren Millar: What assessment has the Minister made of the capacity of child and adolescent mental health in-patient services in North Wales?
Darren Millar: Can you hear me?
Darren Millar: Apologies for that. Trefnydd, north Wales was hit very hard last week, as were other communities across the country, by storm Christoph. Included in those communities that were hit was Ruthin in my own constituency. Can I call for a statement from the Welsh Government on the impact of those storms and what support is now going to be made available to communities like Ruthin and others across...
Darren Millar: Minister, last week was Farmhouse Breakfast Week, and as you will know, being a representative in north Wales, farming is an important part of the north Wales economy. One of the opportunities presented by Brexit is the opportunity to change public sector procurement rules so that farmers and other producers can get more of their produce purchased by the public sector. What action are you...
Darren Millar: Trefnydd, can I call for a statement on vaccination and its potential to enabling earlier return to the classroom for students and pupils across Wales? I held a briefing last week, in conjunction with the Israeli embassay, from Dr Asher Salmon, who is the director of international relations at the Israeli ministry for health. The Israeli Government has a taken a conscious decision, because it...
Darren Millar: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on flood risk management in Ruthin? OQ56206
Darren Millar: Thank you for that answer, Minister. Minister, I've been contacted by many constituents whose homes were affected by the flooding just a few weeks ago, in terms of storm Christoph, and they've raised concerns with me that the authorities seem to be aware that there were some deficiencies in the flood defences, and in fact the flood defences in Cae Ddol park had been topped up with sandbags up...
Darren Millar: Okay. Thank you.
Darren Millar: Can you hear me now? Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. This afternoon's debate, I think, is of crucial importance. As we've already heard, the impact of the pandemic on health professionals, the individuals they care for, and for those who've lost their loved ones—whether from COVID-19 or from other causes—has been absolutely huge. And, understandably, the risk of spreading the virus...
Darren Millar: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I just wanted to say how pleased I am that this debate is taking place today, and I just wanted to put on record my thanks to the national library for its incredible support for the St David's Day parliamentary prayer breakfast in recent years, at which the library has brought some of the treasures from its archives, including some of the early Welsh...
Darren Millar: Can I thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer? Trefnydd, can I call for two statements, please, from the Minister for economy and transport? The first I'd like to request is an update on the developments in respect of the north Wales metro. I noticed that there was some reference to the south Wales metro in the news this week, and it reminded me of the fact that of course there's going to be...
