Russell George: Thank you, Minister. I appreciate, if this is a misunderstanding, that's positive—perhaps a step forward in terms of making sure that we do have those booster walk-in vaccination centres across Wales, because some health boards are already operating those. So, I think perhaps it would be helpful to provide health boards with clarification in terms of your views in regard to booster walk-in...
Russell George: Thank you for your answer, Minister, and it's a positive reply, I think. I think that it's correct to use every tool in the toolbox and to call upon the army and the volunteer army that you talked about as well. I think it's welcome, and, of course, it's good news that we've got that supply as well. But there's one area I would like to pick up, and this is, again, about walk-in centres for...
Russell George: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, are you confident that everything is being done, in your power, to ensure the speedy roll-out of the booster vaccination in Wales?
Russell George: Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank the Minister for her statement today? I agree with much of what's been said in the Minister's contribution. In the past few years, due to the fantastic work conducted by scientists and healthcare workers, we have seen HIV transmission significantly reduced, which has helped, of course, limit the detrimental impact the virus has had on a person's...
Russell George: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, can I thank you for your advance copy today of the statement, and a very important statement as well? I think the Government is correct to take this new variant seriously. I think we need to be cautious, but also balanced, and the Minister has correctly set out that there is a lot, of course, that we don’t know, which is the current position. I suspect you...
Russell George: Can I thank the First Minister for his answer? I appreciate him mentioning Theatr Hafren in my own constituency as well. The current cultural recovery fund came to an end at the end of September, so I appreciate we’re talking about support that has been available up to the end of September. My question, I suppose, is in regard to the future in terms of supporting theatres, because there are...
Russell George: 6. How is the Welsh Government supporting theatres to recover from the pandemic? OQ57267
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your answer there. My question is particularly in regard to, I suppose, street issues, in terms of the public highway. Often, my inbox is full of constituents concerned about the speeding of vehicles along some of our highways and trunk roads. It remains constantly an issue, and in my whole time as a Member of the Senedd. Obviously, parents are concerned, with young...
Russell George: How can you possibly get me mixed up with Rhys ab Owen? [Laughter.] Thank you, Presiding Officer.
Russell George: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on improving community safety? OQ57222
Russell George: Will you take an intervention?
Russell George: Thank you for giving way. I'm disappointed that you feel that it's irresponsible that we're not supporting these regulations today, but you yourself and the First Minister said that when it came to the introduction of COVID passes, they were finely balanced decisions that needed to be taken in terms of ethical ramifications. So, surely you accept that we're just taking a different judgment...
Russell George: Minister, we thank you for your statement today and the regulations you've set out. We won't be, as Welsh Conservatives, supporting these regulations today. I would point out to the Minister and Members that we've supported approximately 90 per cent of the Welsh Government's COVID regulations because we accept and agree that they're in place for good reasons in terms of keeping the people of...
Russell George: I'm getting to my last question, Deputy Presiding Officer. In regard to the A&E waiting times and many waiting up to 36 hours, can you please give us details about your plan to support our fantastic NHS staff in terms of bringing down those waiting times, and the additional beds that are needed to stop the backlog that we've seen to the extent we have in terms of ambulances waiting outside...
Russell George: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I first of all thank the Minister for the advance copy of the statement, which was greatly appreciated? I share in your pleasure that we're seeing those rates of COVID lower in Wales. That is positive news, albeit from a very, very high case rate, and of course I share your concern as well about the level of those that are sadly dying from COVID. I...
Russell George: Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. I move the amendment this afternoon in the name of my colleague, Darren Millar. Can I thank Heledd and Plaid Cymru for bringing forward this debate this afternoon? Looking at the motion of Plaid's motion, I was a member of the environment committee, actually, which scrutinised the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and a very good piece of legislation...
Russell George: Thank you, Minister, for your answer. In Powys, and indeed across Wales, there are considerable pressures, of course, on both children and adult social services, not only with an increased referral rate, but also with the presentation of more complex cases as well. When I raised this issue with the relevant cabinet member of Powys County Council, they pointed out that referrals had doubled...
Russell George: 5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the financial pressures on local authorities' children and adult social services? OQ57179
Russell George: Thank you. Minister, this will be a huge opportunity for mid Wales, I hope you would agree, as thousands of extra canal boats come into mid Wales, thousands of extra visitors visiting Welshpool, and also with that ultimate aim of the restoration to the canal to Newtown as well. I very much hope, Minister, that, through the mid Wales growth deal, additional funding can be levered in as well. I...
Russell George: Thank you, Minister. Of course, I hope you'll, like me, very much welcome the news of £15.5 million to restore the Montgomery canal, which was announced in the UK Government's budget last week. This will be a huge benefit to the people of mid Wales in terms of thousands of extra—[Interruption.] Sorry, Presiding Officer, I can't hear.
