John Griffiths: It is important that we find some positives amongst the general suffering and difficulty of COVID-19, and I welcome the work that you are doing, Counsel General, to build back better. One aspect of recent months that people have appreciated is the reduced volume of traffic on our roads, but there are fears, of course, that because of the anxieties about using public transport, as we emerge...
John Griffiths: Okay. Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to take part in this debate today, and it's really good to see that we've got to this stage with such an important campaign as 20's Plenty, and I would like to join Lee Waters in paying tribute to Rod King, who's championed the cause so extensively and widely for so long, and also, of course, thank Phil Jones and the taskforce, and to thank Lee...
John Griffiths: What steps will the Welsh Government take to address concerns of a surge in road traffic journeys as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted?
John Griffiths: First Minister, Newport Live, the leisure services trust, provides a great deal of benefit in Newport in terms of sport and physical activity. Indeed, they've played a very major role in providing rehabilitation for COVID-19 patients. I'm sure you're aware of this. Thankfully, they now are returning to their classes and activities, and that's playing a very major role in increasing quality of...
John Griffiths: 1. What action will the Welsh Government take to protect the most vulnerable in society during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55524
John Griffiths: First Minister, COVID-19 has laid bare the indefensible unfairness in our society. Those on lower incomes, in insecure jobs, living in poor-quality housing and suffering health inequalities are particularly vulnerable to the virus, in terms of their health, economically and socially. Our more deprived communities, black and ethnic minorities, and disabled people are disproportionately...
John Griffiths: 4. How will Welsh Government policies for a more equal Wales evolve following the experience of COVID-19? OQ55525
John Griffiths: Minister, those living in our more deprived communities have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic in terms of their health, economically and socially, and one aspect of this is higher rates of smoking in these communities—those are significant for vulnerability to the virus but also in terms of lower life expectancy generally. Thankfully, smoking is in decline, with restrictions...
John Griffiths: Minister, would you agree with me that reintroductions of species should only take place where there is good ecological evidence and that planning needs to be thorough? There needs to be good engagement with local communities. I'm aware, for example, that Cardiff University has done some research looking at habitats and food availability for eagles in Wales, and they favoured building an...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm pleased to open today's debate on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee report on benefits in Wales. We published a report in October 2019, when the world was a very different place. While the pandemic has played a significant role in delaying this debate, it is not the only reason for that delay. Initially, the Welsh Government did not respond...
John Griffiths: Having waited so long for a substantive response to the recommendations, it was therefore disappointing that the Welsh Government did not provide the detailed response we expected. They stated that, against the background of COVID and the uncertainty around the emergency changes to the benefits system, now is not the time to consider long-term changes to social security. Yet, the pandemic has...
John Griffiths: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank everybody for their contributions. I think there was a great deal of common ground in what we heard in the Chamber and remotely today. Mark Isherwood mentioned the importance of lived experience and I don't think there's any Member who would not agree with that. It is absolutely crucial; it's becoming increasingly common as a feature in the way that...
John Griffiths: I very much welcome what Helen Mary said, particularly in terms of the strong and principled position behind devolution of benefits, and the ability it would give us to look at some innovative ways forward, such as the universal basic income, which I know is very interesting to very many people, and offers all sorts of possibilities. Huw Irranca-Davies, I think, was very strongly saying that...
John Griffiths: 5. How will the Welsh Government adapt its response to COVID-19 given the experience of the virus to date? OQ55577
John Griffiths: First Minister, from 6 o'clock this evening there will be further restrictions in Newport and other local authorities. The length of time involved will depend on the incidence of cases, but are you able to say anything more about how long these measures may be in place? An increasing number of school pupils are self-isolating, further damaging their education after the loss of school time in...
John Griffiths: Minister, the UK Government is talking about a six-month period now, and I guess that's one alternative approach, rather than having lockdowns, easing the lockdowns and then reimposing them, perhaps there could be a consistent level of restriction over a longer period of time, which I think would give greater understanding and certainty to communities, and probably feed through to greater...
John Griffiths: Minister, would you agree with me that if UK Government has funding available for transport infrastructure in south-east Wales it should come to the Welsh Government to decide how it should be spent? And, in line with the M4 commission, it should be spent on public transport infrastructure, for example, a new walkway station in Magor, which is very much supported by the local community.
John Griffiths: Gweinidog, Newport Cricket Club, as I know you are aware, have done a great job over a period of years in building up their activities and improving their ground. They're volunteer run; they produce some really good girls' cricket teams, players for Glamorgan and have hosted Glamorgan matches. They're in some difficulty at the moment, really, around coronavirus because their winter cricket...
John Griffiths: 4. Will the First Minister provide an update on COVID-19 restrictions in Newport? OQ55599
John Griffiths: First Minister, it is important for people to know that complying with restrictions to drive down cases will result in timely easing of those restrictions when it is safe to do so. So, I hear what you say about some indications that matters are moving in the right direction, but is there anything more you can say about compliance and the effectiveness of the local measures and what that might...
