Hefin David: As you know, and as I said in the debate last week, Minister, I've had conversations with the National Farmers Union, with the Farmers Union of Wales, and with farmers in my constituency, and there are, undoubtedly, regardless of merits of the regulations, concerns that they have—very deep concerns that they have—about the impact, and particularly in those small farms. And I raised in my...
Hefin David: 2. What support is the Welsh Government offering to farmers who are likely to be affected by the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021? OQ56386
Hefin David: —about activities in their community. So, with that in mind, it's been a difficult decision to take, but in the circumstances in my community, that I have seen at first hand, I have to support these regulations.
Hefin David: I'm not going to engage in any party politics on this, but what I am going to do is express some of the thought that I've given this matter, and some of the views that have been expressed to me by constituents as well. But, first of all, I want to thank the National Farmers Union and the Farmers' Union of Wales for meeting with me last week. We had an hour-long meeting, and we've been in...
Hefin David: With regard to unpaid carers, I've been approached by some in receipt of carers allowance who are concerned that they don't meet all of the three criteria for eligibility for vaccine in priority 6 that were released by the Welsh Government last Wednesday. Can the First Minister therefore provide an assurance that if you are in receipt of carers allowance, you will be called at priority 6?
Hefin David: 6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine in Caerphilly to JCVI priority group 6? OQ56378
Hefin David: Thank you to David Melding. One of the reasons that I asked to contribute today was to pay tribute to the work of my constituent Jo Cozens, who is chair of the Organisation for Anti-Convulsant Syndrome charity, or OACS. For several years, Jo has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of families across the UK touched by foetal anti-convulsant syndromes. Jo does this out of first-hand experience,...
Hefin David: As a parent of a child with a learning disability, I declare an interest and welcome that decision. You've said the guidance, you're going to publish today, but the key issue that unpaid carers are asking me is: how will they be called? And I understand, if you could clarify, that will be in the guidance. Can you give us, here in this Senedd, the chance to explain—? Can I give you the...
Hefin David: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine for priority groups 6 to 9 in Wales as set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation? OQ56312
Hefin David: I've been in contact with constituents who've had the vaccine—both the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca vaccine—and two key questions that have been raised with me have been, first of all, about the timing for the second jab in the Aneurin Bevan health board area. Are we confident that they will be on course to receive that in the time that is designated? Would the First Minister give assurance...
Hefin David: I agree; I think the Aneurin Bevan health board has pulled out all the stops. It's been absolutely incredible to see a vaccine programme start from absolute scratch to what they're producing at the moment, which is 77 per cent of 80-year-olds have been vaccinated. That's probably gone up since the session started today. The concern of a few residents I've been in touch with has been with...
Hefin David: 6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine in Caerphilly? OQ56227
Hefin David: I'd like to thank the Minister for meeting with representatives of businesses in Caerphilly and for the constructive responses that he gave. I just wanted to follow up on a few issues that have come out of that. Over the past few weeks, I've been contacted again by those businesses, who've expressed some concerns about the current financial package. One has said—a dance studio in Ystrad...
Hefin David: 2. Will the Minister provide an update on support for businesses in Caerphilly affected by the coronavirus pandemic? OQ56176
Hefin David: Okay. Sorry, there was a technical issue there. Yesterday, the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board confirmed that all GPs in my constituency will be in receipt of the vaccine today and tomorrow. That's up from 13 in the whole board area last week. The vaccine centre at Ystrad Mynach is open indefinitely to help hit the four priority targets by mid February, and last week, nearly 11,000...
Hefin David: Yesterday, the Aneurin—. Sorry, can you hear me?
Hefin David: Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's flood relief plans for Caerphilly?
Hefin David: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board put out an unprecedented call to citizens of Caerphilly and beyond in their area to not attend health services where they don't need to, and to recognise that they need to make the right choices. And I have to say to the people of Caerphilly who have been in touch with me, on the whole—almost the entire number of people who have been in touch with me...
Hefin David: 8. Will the First Minister provide an update on progress in containing COVID-19 cases in Caerphilly? OQ56069
Hefin David: I'd like to pay tribute again to the people of Caerphilly, many of whom are keeping in touch with me about the issues that they are facing as a result of these very difficult times. And I'm so often in awe of the measures that people in Caerphilly are taking in order to control and contain the virus. Several constituents have been in touch with me with regard to relatives in care homes, many...
