Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last week your Government took the decision to resume non-essential retail activity in Wales but kept its 5-mile travel rule, meaning that many families across Wales are still unable to reunite with their loved ones. As more and more people return to work and interact safely with colleagues and members of the public, last week's announcement was a prime...
Paul Davies: 4. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's relationship with local authorities during the Covid-19 pandemic? OQ55311
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. It's with the heaviest of hearts that I make this contribution today. Mohammad Asghar, or Oscar, as we all knew him, was a man of immense warmth and kindness, a man who embraced us all with such profound respect, a man whose life was dedicated to enriching and supporting those around him, and a man who, so full of life himself, did so much to help people across Wales....
Paul Davies: Well, I hope, First Minister, that as the Welsh Government considers the next major changes to its COVID-19 policies, it will work constructively will opposition parties. And it might be helpful in the future if you could consult opposition politicians before making some of these decisions so that the people of Wales can be sure that we, as politicians, are working together where we can in...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, earlier this week you indicated that you were looking at easing some of the lockdown restrictions in Wales in your next review. The people of Wales will be looking for hope in that statement—hope that they can reunite their families, hope in relation to their businesses and hope that, as the number of new cases is falling, some of the freedoms that have been...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. Our motion is clear: we're calling for an independent, Welsh Parliament-appointed, judge-led inquiry into the Welsh Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The people of Wales will continue to have many questions about what happened throughout this pandemic, how prepared Wales has been for it, and...
Paul Davies: Clearly, First Minister, this is very confusing for people, because you've just said that now this is a rule of thumb, so people will now not know whether they can travel 5, 10, 15 miles. It's a fact that this policy has upset thousands of people across Wales who are watching others reunite with loved ones whilst they have no option but to remain at home. Now, First Minister, yesterday the...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last Friday, as you've just mentioned, you took the decision to start easing the lockdown restrictions in Wales, and introduced the rule to allow people to visit their loved ones within a 5-mile radius while socially distancing. That rule may have been some comfort to those living in some areas, but this has also been met by many with anger and frustration in...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the amendments tabled in the name of my colleague, Darren Millar. Whilst I appreciate that the Welsh Government has now published the steps it is intending to take in order to lead Wales out of the current pandemic period, I have to say from the outset that this has been a missed opportunity for the Welsh Government to provide some much-needed hope to the people...
Paul Davies: Well, I put it to you, First Minister, that it is important in any plan that people are given hope when the restrictions start being lifted, and giving an indication of timescales I don't believe is unreasonable. Now let me turn instead to areas where you have, thankfully, changed your policy. I welcome the news, of course, that the Welsh Government has finally reversed its decision and will...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last week, you published the Welsh Government's road map to lifting Wales out of the lockdown. As well as outlining your Government's plans, you had an opportunity to offer the people of Wales hope—hope that the current crisis will end. Unfortunately, your road map offered no timescales and no milestones in order to track its progress, including much-needed...
Paul Davies: First Minister, I'm asking for a lockdown exit plan because the people of Wales need that clarity, and right now, there's plenty of confusion over the Welsh Government's regulations and guidance. And I'll tell you why there's confusion: because you yourself have said that two people from different households could meet in a park if they adhere to social distancing guidelines, and then we're...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, I'm pleased to see that the Welsh Government has now started publishing the scientific and technical advice that the Welsh Government receives to help inform its policies and respond to COVID-19 here in Wales. As you know, this is something that I've been pushing now for some time, and I think it's important that information is put in the public domain so that...
Paul Davies: Well, First Minister, I think it is important that we do see the evidence, because this policy has indeed changed. It's important that the Welsh Government is open and transparent on these matters because the public have a right to know what evidence has been used when a policy changes. Now, moving on, First Minister, I'm pleased to see that the Isle of Wight is now preparing to trial a phone...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, I'm pleased to see that the Welsh Government has changed its policy on testing in care homes, and that, moving forward, all staff and residents in care homes where there's been a case of COVID-19 will now be tested. Now, last week, you told us that there was no clinical value in extending the tests further and yet, clearly, that clinical value has now been...
Paul Davies: Well, I hope that the measures that you've now introduced will be sufficiently robust enough, because it is important that accurate information is published in order to maintain that public confidence. Now, last week, as you said in your statement today, the Welsh Government published its COVID-19 exit strategy, 'A framework for recovery', which makes it clear that, to further understand the...
Paul Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, can I thank you for your statement this afternoon? Now, at the heart of Government, there needs to be a commitment to openness and transparency, and in that vein I'd like to ask you specifically about the under-reporting of deaths at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which took over a month to be made public, and the subsequent under-reporting of deaths...
Paul Davies: Thank you for those responses, First Minister. As you've said in your statement today, whilst the coronavirus pandemic is an enormous global health challenge, it's also a significant economic challenge too. The financial support that has been available to most sectors has been generous and I'm sure it's greatly received by those recipients, however there are sectors like farming and tourism...
Paul Davies: Thank you, Llywydd. Can I thank the First Minister for his statement this afternoon? And can I echo your comments, First Minister, and convey my condolences to those families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt by families, communities and businesses across the country, it is vital that no stone is left unturned in identifying the...
Paul Davies: First Minister, as the Easter holidays approach us, it is absolutely critical that the Welsh Government redoubles its public messaging to make crystal clear that people must stay at home. Sadly, we are continuing to see and hear reports of people not adhering to the Government advice and whilst the police have some powers now to fine those going against Government guidance, there still...
