Rebecca Evans: Thank you for bringing forward three really important issues this afternoon. The first related to the importance of ensuring that everybody is accessing all of the financial support that they are entitled to, and maximising the take-up of welfare benefits is one of our important strands of action at the moment. Through our own funding, we're certainly making a big difference in this area....
Rebecca Evans: So, on the first issue, of course, the Welsh Government has given significant support to the hydro sector, but you'll be aware, of course, that our support is very much focused on community-led hydro schemes. I do note that you have a question to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs on renewable energy tomorrow, so that might be an opportunity to raise that, or I'm sure that...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Nick Ramsay for raising that concern, and you will have heard the First Minister respond to a very similar issue raised during the course of First Minister's questions this afternoon. Of course, the Grange hospital is a state-of-the-art hospital with facilities that are ideally suited to the safe management of patients with and without COVID, and of course there are many...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for the opportunity just to comment briefly on the work the Welsh Government's been doing in terms of ensuring that people are able to get off the streets during the coronavirus pandemic. The work that has been done by Welsh Government alongside partners in local authorities and the third sector has been absolutely incredible in ensuring that people are able to be off the streets at...
Rebecca Evans: Well, it is indeed an incredibly difficult time for people who have loved ones in care homes and in nursing homes and, indeed, for those people in those settings who are not able to see the family and friends who they love, as well. So, that is absolutely well understood. And the need to balance people's rights and to support their well-being with a desire to protect people living in care...
Rebecca Evans: Well, Leanne Wood would have heard the First Minister, in response to a question from David Melding earlier, talking about the challenges posed by long COVID, particularly indeed in the constituency of the Rhondda, and the need to ensure that the individuals affected have the support that they need. I will definitely ensure that the health Minister is aware of your concern about this and your...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Darren Millar for raising this issue. In the first instance, I think I'll ask the health Minister to ask his officials to liaise with the health board in north Wales to better understand the situation, with a view to providing him with an update in due course.
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. I have one change to this week's business: the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales will make an oral statement on Tata Steel immediately after this business statement and announcement. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Rebecca Evans: As you said, the education Minister has been here to hear your requests for a statement on the regulation and registration of teachers in independent schools and the teachers' induction issues that you've described as well. And the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs will be watching on Zoom, but I'll make a point of also speaking to her and seeking that update for you on...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising this particular issue. Of course, throughout the pandemic, Welsh Government has provided a range of support, which childcare providers have been able to access—from paying for places that children weren't actually using in order to ensure that provision was continuing to be viable, to the provision of grants for parts of the sector as well. But clearly, again, we're...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Huw Irranca-Davies for reminding us that, actually, in this difficult time, we all need something to look forward to. I think that, before the pandemic, Wales was doing a wonderful job in terms of putting itself on the map as a major place to host major events and internationally important events. You'll be aware, of course, that we have hosted stages of the men's and women's...
Rebecca Evans: I do note Andrew R.T. Davies's concerns this afternoon. I just think it's ridiculous to suggest that Welsh Government is sitting on answers. Welsh Government is working literally around the clock to try and address a global pandemic and the implications of it in Wales, and we are doing our best to provide answers in a timely manner. With regard to the two to which you refer, obviously I will...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Mike Hedges for raising both of these important issues this afternoon. As he says, he has been a long-time advocate for the provision of free school meals outside of term time. I'm really pleased that the Welsh Government didn't need to have to respond to a campaign by Marcus Rashford to do the right thing. We did the right thing a long time ago, right at the start of this...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you for raising that issue. The first related specifically to the support and the advice that is being provided to schools, and there were a series of quite detailed questions there, so I will ask the education Minister to write to you with more information about the guidance that is being provided to schools in relation to PPE and other efforts to keep children and their families safe,...
Rebecca Evans: I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for raising that issue. Of course, colleagues will all be aware that the Welsh Government has put in place by far the most generous support package for businesses anywhere in the UK. But we're obviously very aware that not every business has been able to benefit from it. Last week, the Minister for economy and transport answered a topical question for some time on...
Rebecca Evans: Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Rebecca Evans: Thank you. The Minister, I can see, is here to hear your request for details on support for gym clubs in particular, but what I will do in the meantime is ensure that any Q&A that is updated with regard to the post-firebreak regime includes details about the number of people who are able to participate in organised indoor settings, and the way in which children in particular will be factored...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you. Yes, that £40 million package was a really important part of our response to the coronavirus pandemic in terms of the economic crisis. And, as well as looking to support particularly young people, who we know have been very hard hit, into employment, it also seeks to support people who are members of the black, Asian and minority ethnic community, people who are already on low...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you to Mark Isherwood for raising those issues on behalf of his constituents, and, obviously, it's a tremendously difficult time for those and others who have loved ones in care homes who they're not able to see as they would wish. I do recall that the First Minister answered some quite detailed questions on this very recently to the Senedd, and I will speak to my colleague the Deputy...
Rebecca Evans: Thank you. Clearly, the situation you describe is a very distressing one for the residents concerned. Could I suggest, as the best way forward in the first instance, you write to the Minister for housing in order for her to be able to consider the case that you've just made?
