Russell George: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like to formally move the motion in the name of my colleague Darren Millar, and I can also indicate today that we will be supporting the amendment in the name of Caroline Jones this afternoon as well. Presiding Officer, the UK Government has provided in excess of £4 billion to the Welsh Government to combat the virus. To date, the Welsh Government, I'm...
Russell George: 2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's support for GP practices during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55721
Russell George: Thank you, First Minister, for your reply. I know you'll agree with me that GPs have reacted quickly and flexibly during the pandemic, which we all thank them for. Now, in spite of that, what I'm told by GPs in my constituency is that, despite a number of requests via the appropriate channels, GPs have stood alone—this is what they're telling me—in planning and organising this year's flu...
Russell George: Can I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement this afternoon and also for his advance copy of the statement as well, which I'm grateful for? Deputy Minister, I have to say, I am disappointed by the statement this afternoon, only because I was expecting more detail this afternoon. There isn't much concrete detail in what you've outlined this afternoon. This is an area where you've been...
Russell George: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the opening of outdoor education centres during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55739
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your answer, and I'm grateful that you are sympathetic, as you've outlined. Two outdoor centres, as it happens, have been in touch with me, based in Powys in my own constituency; I know, Minister, you'll have similar outdoor centres in your own constituency in Powys as well. They are keen that Welsh Government do provide guidance that will allow them to reopen on the...
Russell George: First Minister, you've mentioned the need to support those on lower incomes. It's been 42 days now since your Government announced that it would roll out payments of £500 per week for those on low incomes who are asked to self-isolate, but the payments are yet to be received. Now, people in England and Scotland have been entitled to payments of £500 since 28 September, with grants being...
Russell George: Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon, and for the advance copy as well, which was appreciated? I am a bit disappointed, Minister, that you haven't brought forward a statement on the last Wednesday before half-term. Instead, I and Members had to read about it later that day in the media. But it would be useful if you could set out why you weren't able to bring forward a...
Russell George: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of the national lockdown on the mental health and well-being of people in mid Wales? OQ55773
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Minister. I also noted the funding that you announced this morning. I read the Welsh Government press release in regards to an additional £3 million of funding. I'd like to think that perhaps my question submitted last week, and asked today, helped prompt that funding announcement. Can I ask how, Minister, you've reached that figure of £3 million? Do you think—?...
Russell George: Can I thank the Minister for his answer just now? It was very comprehensive and it's what I think I and many other Members need in terms of answering queries from constituents. And can I thank Helen Mary Jones for putting in the question that she has done? I also think it's very disappointing that there are people being abusive to Business Wales staff. I understand people's frustrations, but...
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. I have to say, Minister, you look well-suited in that particular seat in the Chamber this afternoon.
Russell George: Minister, I would welcome the additional £600 million that was announced by the Chancellor last week in guaranteed consequentials to the Welsh Government, and that's, of course, on top of the £1.1 billion guaranteed earlier this year. That brings the total amount of additional funding by the UK Government to £5 billion to fight the pandemic here in Wales. Now, I realise the announcement...
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Minister. I align myself to your views as well. I think it's better that parties work together, where that can happen. It was a question I did raise last week, and perhaps you are right to say this is a question for the finance Minister, but Cardiff University has estimated more than £1 billion remains unallocated from existing Welsh Government budgets, so I'm...
Russell George: Thank you for your answer. I'll perhaps move on from this point to my final point or question today. When we refer to supporting businesses, we're of course talking not so much about big businesses with mountains of reserves, we're talking about those small family firms, those small businesses, that are run by individuals. Businesses need clarity with urgency. Now, I know, Minister, you were...
Russell George: 3. Will the Minister provide an update on road improvement schemes in Montgomeryshire? OQ55811
Russell George: Thank you for that, Minister. So, I did put a written question in on this last week and you did provide me with an answer, so it would be good to know when you expect to make that revised consultation programme public in terms of—. There has been some delay on the Dyfi bridge due to the pandemic, so it would be good to know when we can expect to see further progress in that regard. And if I...
Russell George: So, at that roundabout, we're waiting for a further consultation to take place as well, so perhaps you could update us on that as well.
Russell George: Diolch. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion in my name. We issued this report in February, however the Government's response was understandably delayed due to the pandemic, and we received this in July. Our inquiry focused on how the Welsh Government would fulfil its long-term commitments to increase local procurement as part of the drive to create stronger local supply...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I only blame myself, because I agreed to the request of the Business Committee to reduce the time for this debate, so I blame myself—I've only 50 seconds, or 45, now. Helen Mary was focused on recycling the public pound in Wales. Jenny Rathbone argued that—well, was concerned that the policy is still developing at this stage. David Rowlands was...
