Rebecca Evans: Well, the arrangement was put in place during the pandemic to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, and it's currently time limited for two years or until the pandemic is over, whichever is earliest. But, on 1 December, the Welsh Government did publish a consultation, seeking views on whether to make permanent the current temporary arrangements, and this consultation will run until 23...
Rebecca Evans: Well, the First Minister did answer some questions on this during First Minister's questions this afternoon, but it is the case that the Minister used the negative procedure to lay the regulations, because that is the system set out in law. However, the Business Committee has today agreed a debate on the annulment of the regulations, and that will be debated by the Senedd in due course.
Rebecca Evans: I'll certainly ask the education Minister to provide an update on that specific issue, but I can say that Welsh Government has been very proactive in terms of providing devices for children and young people to use in order to access the online and blended learning. Just before Christmas, we announced a further £11 million to purchase a number of devices—I think, at the time, it was 35,000...
Rebecca Evans: I'm grateful to Mark Isherwood for raising the important issue of the experience of blind and partially sighted people in supermarkets during the current restrictions. I know that it does make situations particularly difficult for them, especially when people don't always understand that blind and partially sighted people might find it more difficult to maintain that social distance, and so...
Rebecca Evans: So, on that second point, that matter is kept under review constantly within the Business Committee and, inevitably, we do have to make some difficult decisions in terms of both the business that we table and also the amount of time which we're able to give to it, given the constrained ways under which we are currently working. But as I said, we do keep this constantly under review because...
Rebecca Evans: Well, I think that the First Minister's response to the question raised during First Minister's questions today was quite clear. However, I will invite you to write to the Minister for Housing and Local Government, setting out your concerns, so that you can receive a written response in respect of that. On the matter of flooding, I completely agree that it is important that individuals...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Andrew R.T. Davies for raising that particular issue, and I will speak to the health Minister to explore what is the best way to keep Members updated in terms of the emergence of new variants and, particularly, the variant of concern to which the Member refers. As we say, we do have a statement on vaccinations next today, but I will explore what further information might be...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's business. The debate on the general principles and financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill has been added as the last item of business before voting today. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which is available to Members electronically.
Rebecca Evans: Yes, formally.
Rebecca Evans: I'm very grateful to Leanne Wood for raising those concerns, and I will be sure to raise them on her behalf with both the education Minister and the Minister for local government to explore the particular point made about the clarity of the guidance and whether or not we need to issue some further clarification to local authorities in terms of aiding their interpretation of the guidance to...
Rebecca Evans: Yes, I'm aware of the significant challenges facing all of those organisations. With regard to the library, for example, the budget reflects the Welsh Government settlement from the UK Government, of course, and must be viewed within the overall context, but our draft budget for the next financial year, which was announced on 21 December, does show that we've maintained the revenue for next...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you very much for raising this issue, and it is a real concern to the Welsh Government—the loss of so many jobs and quite iconic landmark stores in some of our communities as well. Yes, the Welsh Government will work very closely with all of the local authorities affected. We'll also ensure that our support schemes, such as ReAct and so on, are in place for the affected workers. And,...
Rebecca Evans: This is very much an area where I think that the Welsh Government and UK Government need to undertake joint work, very much so, especially given the fact that, as David Rees sets out, Wales is very much disproportionately affected by the issues of the old mine works, as we are naturally—as follows—with the issues of the coal tips and so forth. The work, which has already been undertaken...
Rebecca Evans: I very much share Delyth Jewell's passion for supporting biodiversity, and many of us are species champions and we take a lot of pleasure, I think, in those particular roles as well. The Minister with responsibility for the environment will have listened, but, also, the Minister for Housing and Local Government would have been keen to hear what you've described as well, given her work on the...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you. Welsh Government very much shares the concern that Nick Ramsay has described, about the impact of the pandemic on children, particularly those in more disadvantaged communities. And that's one of the reasons why we've invested so heavily in supporting young people and children to get all the digital help that they need. You'll be aware of the recent announcement of nearly £12...
Rebecca Evans: Absolutely. And as Mick Antoniw is aware, post office matters aren't devolved and they are the responsibility of the UK Government, but nonetheless, as Mick Antoniw sets out, we have a real and direct interest in ensuring that Wales does get its fair share of those UK funds. Post Office Ltd obviously works right across the UK, and it doesn't ring-fence any part of its budget separately; it's...
Rebecca Evans: On the first issue that was raised, which was in regard to the redeployment or otherwise of health visitors, I know that the health Minister will have been listening to that request for a statement, but I'd also encourage you, and I'm sure you've already sought this as well, to take it up directly with the local health board who'll be able to provide you with that more granular local level of...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Darren Millar for raising both of these issues, the first being storm Christoph, which is clearly absolutely awful for the families and the businesses involved. As Darren sets out, it couldn't have come at a worse time, being in the middle of the pandemic and in winter as well. We're very alive to the needs of the people who've been affected by the storms, and that's why the...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to this week's business. Firstly, the Minister for Health and Social Services will make a statement shortly to update Members on the latest position regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Secondly, the title of the statement on promoting the use of Welsh in families—the transmission in families policy—has been updated. Draft business for the next three...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Alun Davies for raising those two issues this afternoon. Both of them, I think, describe areas where the UK Government has absolutely misled, I think, the people who will be on the receiving end of the various forms of support. I know that many working in the fishing industry feel that they had been sold a future that hasn't actually materialised, and we've seen the difficulties...
