David Lloyd: Plaid Cymru will vote against giving legislative consent for the internal market Bill today. This Bill essentially takes a sledgehammer to Welsh democracy, totally undermining the devolution settlement by taking back powers in devolved areas and seriously limiting the ability of this Senedd to create any novel legislation in future that does not accord with Westminster's plans. Emboldened by...
David Lloyd: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. In terms of the Welsh Government role in the Brexit deal, obviously there's much feverish activity—we've all seen on our television screens in the last few days, last supper tonight et cetera—can I just ask though, from the Minister's point of view, in these final few days and hours, Minister, could you outline what role you have had on behalf of Welsh Government...
David Lloyd: Thank you for that, and if I just move on now to the shared prosperity fund, which has been touched on on occasions today. You'll be aware, of course, that you've recently announced a new framework for regional investment in Wales, which will be in place by the time EU funds begin to dissipate at the end of this year. Your recent statement regarding this, Minister, concluded that, and I...
David Lloyd: I'm grateful for that answer, Minister. Can I just turn finally to the internal market Bill that we've just discussed? Obviously, the Senedd voted to withhold its consent to this Bill earlier. Westminster is unlikely to listen. It has a track record of not listening to us as a Senedd when we vote down legislative consent. So, the question that arises then is: what next steps are the Welsh...
David Lloyd: Now, the COVID climate has changed a great deal just in the last few days, and the situation is very grave indeed now. There are over 2,000 new cases today, and the situation is very worrying in the Swansea Bay area, with high levels of cases in Neath Port Talbot and also here in Swansea, with the levels increasing quickly and at risk of going out of control, and many of them in schools. So,...
David Lloyd: Don't mix—that's the simple medical advice. It's what we heard from officials yesterday. Don't mix; try and stay at home. The COVID figures are rising again and seemingly out of control. Doctors who I speak to are truly alarmed by the situation; these are people who don't usually get alarmed. I would encourage Welsh Government to go for mass testing, like Slovakia did. For most of its...
David Lloyd: Thank you to the Counsel General for the statement. As we know, with just days to go, the negotiations between the UK and the European Union continue. If a deal is put before Parliament in Westminster, Plaid Cymru will consider the pledges made in 2016 and 2019. Boris Johnson pledged that Wales would not receive a penny less, that we would receive the same benefits, and that our farmers could...
David Lloyd: I'm pleased to take part in this debate. Now, we are talking about legislative consent for the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Bill, not the actual full Trade Bill, because, as we've heard from the Counsel General, events have overtaken and there's a particular timetable with the end of the year approaching, which means that we are debating a Bill here that is largely technical in nature,...
David Lloyd: Let us be clear, this deal represents a hard Brexit. There is no mandate for that in Wales and it's not for the benefit of Wales. No tariffs and no quotas as a measure of success? We don't have tariffs or quotas today. The impact on Wales will be immense. The non-tariff barriers will lead to more bureaucracy and, without doubt, they will hit the competitiveness of Welsh companies. It's a...
David Lloyd: 2. Will the Counsel General provide an update on the legal action taken by the Welsh Government against the UK Government relating to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020? OQ56084
David Lloyd: Thank you for that response, because, after all, this Parliament refused its legislative consent to this Bill. That was ignored by the UK Government. We are losing powers, we are losing funds and losing control over our funds. Rejecting consent hasn't helped at all. So, how will you ensure that we don't lose powers and funds by challenging this internal market Bill? And what discussions have...
David Lloyd: May I thank the Minister for his statement and also congratulate and pay tribute to all of those NHS staff who are providing these crucially important services being provided? The situation is grave, as the Minister has said, and I think we need to push the vaccine out to thousands of people as a matter of urgency. The level of the virus remains very high in our communities and we need urgent...
David Lloyd: I think it's a high-quality debate, this, and can I commend the contributions of two excellent Chairs of the committees that I'm a member of, Mick Antoniw and David Rees? They've set the issues neatly before us, because the UK Trade Bill has many flaws, not least that it asks much of the devolved Parliaments yet fails to recognise our democratic right to approve trade agreements reached on...
David Lloyd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. The LCM on the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill was referred to the health committee in July of last year. The committee ran an open call for written evidence and we heard back from BMA Cymru, the Welsh NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Nursing Wales. We also wrote to the Minister for Health and Social Services for further information...
David Lloyd: Will the First Minister make a statement regarding the supply and roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine in South Wales West?
David Lloyd: My inbox on vaccine roll-out is full of anger, and our wonderful staff are chomping at the bit to deliver the vaccine. Now, we know Welsh Government has bought into the UK Government procurement for various vaccines, as we've heard. Can I ask what flexibility is there in the agreed provision of the Pfizer vaccine versus the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine? Is there flexibility to change as the...
David Lloyd: Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of free school meals in South Wales West?
David Lloyd: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the availability of mental health support in South Wales West? OQ56150
David Lloyd: Thank you for that.
David Lloyd: Following on from Helen Mary Jones's question, and the answer, actually, obviously we know as a result of the many pressures—[Inaudible.]—waiting times are incredibly long and services are stretched. Now, in some areas there is little or no support available. However, we also know that there are independent counsellors across Wales who are prepared to help the NHS in dealing with this...
