Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, I'm pleased to see that the Welsh Government has changed its policy on testing in care homes, and that, moving forward, all staff and residents in care homes where there's been a case of COVID-19 will now be tested. Now, last week, you told us that there was no clinical value in extending the tests further and yet, clearly, that clinical value has now been...
Paul Davies: Well, First Minister, I think it is important that we do see the evidence, because this policy has indeed changed. It's important that the Welsh Government is open and transparent on these matters because the public have a right to know what evidence has been used when a policy changes. Now, moving on, First Minister, I'm pleased to see that the Isle of Wight is now preparing to trial a phone...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, I'm pleased to see that the Welsh Government has now started publishing the scientific and technical advice that the Welsh Government receives to help inform its policies and respond to COVID-19 here in Wales. As you know, this is something that I've been pushing now for some time, and I think it's important that information is put in the public domain so that...
Paul Davies: First Minister, I'm asking for a lockdown exit plan because the people of Wales need that clarity, and right now, there's plenty of confusion over the Welsh Government's regulations and guidance. And I'll tell you why there's confusion: because you yourself have said that two people from different households could meet in a park if they adhere to social distancing guidelines, and then we're...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last week, you published the Welsh Government's road map to lifting Wales out of the lockdown. As well as outlining your Government's plans, you had an opportunity to offer the people of Wales hope—hope that the current crisis will end. Unfortunately, your road map offered no timescales and no milestones in order to track its progress, including much-needed...
Paul Davies: Well, I put it to you, First Minister, that it is important in any plan that people are given hope when the restrictions start being lifted, and giving an indication of timescales I don't believe is unreasonable. Now let me turn instead to areas where you have, thankfully, changed your policy. I welcome the news, of course, that the Welsh Government has finally reversed its decision and will...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the amendments tabled in the name of my colleague, Darren Millar. Whilst I appreciate that the Welsh Government has now published the steps it is intending to take in order to lead Wales out of the current pandemic period, I have to say from the outset that this has been a missed opportunity for the Welsh Government to provide some much-needed hope to the people...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last Friday, as you've just mentioned, you took the decision to start easing the lockdown restrictions in Wales, and introduced the rule to allow people to visit their loved ones within a 5-mile radius while socially distancing. That rule may have been some comfort to those living in some areas, but this has also been met by many with anger and frustration in...
Paul Davies: Clearly, First Minister, this is very confusing for people, because you've just said that now this is a rule of thumb, so people will now not know whether they can travel 5, 10, 15 miles. It's a fact that this policy has upset thousands of people across Wales who are watching others reunite with loved ones whilst they have no option but to remain at home. Now, First Minister, yesterday the...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. Our motion is clear: we're calling for an independent, Welsh Parliament-appointed, judge-led inquiry into the Welsh Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The people of Wales will continue to have many questions about what happened throughout this pandemic, how prepared Wales has been for it, and...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, earlier this week you indicated that you were looking at easing some of the lockdown restrictions in Wales in your next review. The people of Wales will be looking for hope in that statement—hope that they can reunite their families, hope in relation to their businesses and hope that, as the number of new cases is falling, some of the freedoms that have been...
Paul Davies: Well, I hope, First Minister, that as the Welsh Government considers the next major changes to its COVID-19 policies, it will work constructively will opposition parties. And it might be helpful in the future if you could consult opposition politicians before making some of these decisions so that the people of Wales can be sure that we, as politicians, are working together where we can in...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. It's with the heaviest of hearts that I make this contribution today. Mohammad Asghar, or Oscar, as we all knew him, was a man of immense warmth and kindness, a man who embraced us all with such profound respect, a man whose life was dedicated to enriching and supporting those around him, and a man who, so full of life himself, did so much to help people across Wales....
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last week your Government took the decision to resume non-essential retail activity in Wales but kept its 5-mile travel rule, meaning that many families across Wales are still unable to reunite with their loved ones. As more and more people return to work and interact safely with colleagues and members of the public, last week's announcement was a prime...
Paul Davies: First Minister, you can dress this up as much as you want, and you've just said there isn't a 5-mile rule—if that is the case, why on earth include 5 miles in the guidance in the first place? It's quite clear your 5-mile rule continues to cause immeasurable anguish to so many families across Wales. You had an opportunity last week to give families some hope that they could start to see...
Paul Davies: Well, First Minister, one sector that certainly needs some relaxation in its regulations is the tourism and hospitality sector. Now, last week's statement was, of course, welcomed, but it has resulted in more questions than answers, given the correspondence I've received from people with tourism businesses. The tourism and hospitality industry needs clarity, in my view in the form of a...
Paul Davies: Minister, the UK Agriculture Bill, going through the UK Parliament, will of course have implications for farmers across the UK, and I understand that you intend to publish a White Paper towards the end of the year, which will set out the context for the future of Welsh farming and pave the way for an agriculture Wales Bill. Can you therefore update us on the progress of that White Paper, and...
Paul Davies: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's relationship with local authorities during the Covid-19 pandemic? OQ55311
Paul Davies: I'm grateful for that response, Minister. I recently had a meeting with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, and they made it clear that some very good progress has been made in administering grant funding through local authorities to voluntary organisations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand that funding has reached...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. The impact of COVID-19 on communities and sectors across Wales has been unlike anything we've seen, and whilst we must accept that the pandemic has been a public health crisis, it's also been an economic crisis too. The very nature of the virus has completely halted the normal...
