Caroline Jones: Minister, as I've said many times before, one of the silver linings to come out of this pandemic has been the Government's impetus to end the scourge of homelessness. And yesterday I attended a virtual meeting with Swansea Council, and I'd like to congratulate the leader and the councillors of Swansea Council for securing accommodation for many people who found themselves without homes, as...
Caroline Jones: Not since 1918 has the world experienced such a threat from a biological agent. The Spanish flu swept the globe, leaving death and destruction in its wake, and long after the dead were buried, the economic impacts were felt. Many believed the Spanish flu led to the Great Depression. The spread of severe, acute respiratory coronavirus too threatened to be another event like the 1918 flu...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd.
Caroline Jones: 1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure Wales is equipped to deal with future pandemics? OQ55394
Caroline Jones: Thank you, First Minister. I'm sure that you will agree that we were woefully unprepared for COVID-19. Despite SARS and MERS, our pandemic planning was still based upon an outbreak of influenza. However, our planning still neglected to prioritise testing capacity. This current pandemic has shown that those countries that had testing capacity early on made it through the initial outbreak...
Caroline Jones: Trefnydd, will you ask the Minister for economy to come forward with a statement to confirm who exactly is entitled to receive a business support package from the economic recovery fund during the pandemic? There is still much confusion as to who qualifies, as in the case of my constituent who has three businesses, is paying three lots of tax for them, but because they're run from the same...
Caroline Jones: 1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of Covid-19 on its local taxation policy? OQ55374
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Minister. Local authorities were already struggling financially pre-pandemic. Services were being cut, yet our constituents found their council tax bills skyrocketing. The coronavirus outbreak has placed an enormous strain on local authorities as they form the front line in the public defence against the pandemic. Councils across Wales have risen to the challenge of supplying food...
Caroline Jones: 2. What plans does the Welsh Government have to review its guidance on the use of face coverings by members of the public? OQ55432
Caroline Jones: Thank you, First Minister. We now know that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be spread not just by coughs and sneezes, but be carried in microdroplets and that it can be spread by asymptomatic carriers. Microdroplets are generated by breathing and talking. We also know that face coverings can help to catch microdroplets and prevent the spread of coronavirus. So, why, then, is Wales one of the only...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our health and care staff, as well as the enormous sacrifices by the Welsh public, we are over the worst of the coronavirus outbreak for now. As the chief medical officer rightly points out, we could be facing a renewed threat from COVID-19 come the autumn. What plans does the Welsh Government have in place to ensure that...
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Minister. Of course, the biggest threat this winter comes from dealing with a bad cold and flu season alongside a COVID outbreak. Minister, will you commit to expanding the availability of the flu vaccine and making it available earlier? Pandemic restrictions will make delivering the flu vaccine much harder than in previous years, so we need to begin roll-out preparation now....
Caroline Jones: Minister, this is yet another devastating blow for my region and it is deeply disappointing. But regarding Ineos's position, the Grenadier had a very short shelf life and as we move to phase out fossil-fuelled engines, and combined with the uncertain economic climate, their future was uncertain. But, nevertheless, it is regrettable for my constituents and region. First Minister, it is clear...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I formally move the amendment tabled in my name, and thank the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this important debate. Wales is one of the few places on earth where the wearing of face masks is not mandated. Just yesterday, the royal society published two reports highlighting the importance of wearing face coverings in public. Face masks can and do stop the...
Caroline Jones: Thank you for your statement, First Minister. I've been contacted by a constituent who's extremely concerned that her son's carers are not being routinely tested. Her son is extremely vulnerable and she's taken every precaution to ensure that he is shielded from the virus, but they need the support of his carers. She's worried that one of them could unwittingly pass on COVID. First Minister,...
Caroline Jones: What plans does the Welsh Government have to expand COVID-19 testing capacity in Wales?
Caroline Jones: 6. How does the Welsh Government plan to ensure local authorities are equipped to enforce local lockdowns? OQ55513
Caroline Jones: Thank you, Minister. The sad truth is that COVID-19 continues to spread, and far too many people are failing to take this disease seriously, leading to unfortunately inevitable local flare-ups of infections. The only way that we can combat this in a fair and balanced way is to impose hyperlocal restrictions. Local government, already stretched thin before this pandemic, are now expected to...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I formally move the amendment tabled in my name. I'd like to thank the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this very important debate, which I will be supporting, along with the Plaid Cymru amendments that I feel seek to strengthen the debate. I've been calling for the wearing of face coverings to be mandatory on public transport particularly from the early days...
Caroline Jones: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your—
