Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I formally move the legislative consent motion before us today. I am recommending that the Senedd gives legislative consent to the coronavirus Bill before the UK Parliament. I ask Members to agree that the provisions in the coronavirus Bill, insofar as they fall within the Senedd's legislative competence, should be considered by the UK Parliament. 

As Members will be aware, the Welsh Government, together with the other three national Governments across the UK, published our joint coronavirus action plan on 3 March. This set out proposed measures required to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. My officials in the Welsh Government have worked closely with counterparts across the UK to develop the suite of measures set out in that plan. The measures proposed aim to be reasonable, proportionate and based upon the latest scientific advice and evidence. 

The action plan details what we know about the virus and the disease that it causes. It details what we are planning to do next, depending on the course the coronavirus outbreak takes. The plan also includes information on the four-stage strategy: contain, delay, research and mitigate. We are now in the delay phase, which saw us take the difficult decision to close all schools across Wales from 20 March. As Members know, they are now being repurposed to allow critical workers to continue to return to work. 

We want to slow the spread of the virus, which is why the new tighter restrictions announced yesterday are so important. We are requiring people to stay at home and to only go out if absolutely necessary for food and other essentials. All social events and gatherings of more than two people in public should not take place. Whilst local NHS services, including GPs and pharmacies, will remain open, albeit Members will be aware many GPs are no longer doing face-to-face contact, all high street shops will be closed except those selling food, banks and post offices. We all have a responsibility to comply and must do this to save lives and protect our national health service. 

We have also asked certain population groups—those over 70 years old, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women—to self-isolate for their own protection for at least the next 12 weeks. For those showing symptoms of a new persistent cough or a high temperature, we've asked that they self-isolate together with the households that they live with.

The plan also details the changes to the legislation that might be necessary in order to give public bodies across the UK the tools and powers that we need to carry out an effective response to this emergency. That is why we are debating the motion today.

The purpose of the coronavirus Bill is to enable all four Governments across the UK to respond to an emergency situation and to manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The powers being taken are intended to protect life and the nation's public health. A severe pandemic could infect about 80 per cent of the population, leading to a reduced workforce, increased pressure on health services and death management processes.

The Bill contains temporary measures designed to either amend existing legislation or to introduce new statutory powers that are designed to mitigate those impacts. This Bill ensures that the agencies and services involved—schools, hospitals, the police and more—have the tools and powers that they need. However, each of the four nations of the UK have our own set of laws. So, these tools and powers differ to a varying degree in each area. The Bill, therefore, provides a range of tools and powers required to ensure a consistency of outcome across the UK.