6. Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:39 pm on 6 May 2020.

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Photo of Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay Conservative 5:39, 6 May 2020

I was talking to myself for a while. Diolch, Llywydd. And thank you, Minister, for your statement. I've got to say, it's good to hear a statement—we're in such difficult times, it's good to hear a statement talking about some of the opportunities that we face beyond the current COVID pandemic, rather than just some of the immense challenges that we face.

Minister, you mentioned the future generations commissioner, and the publication of the much-awaited report yesterday. Audit Wales have also done a fair bit of work on that report; I know you said you were still reading through it. Could you tell us a little bit more about what discussions you've had with the future generations commissioner regarding some of the proposals in that report and some of the ideas for the future? Because I think they are going to be key to the new Wales and the world as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You mentioned a four-nations approach. We've often spoken about vis-à-vis a Wales-only approach, and recently the UK Government has said that we could stagger commuting times, for instance, and encourage homeworking to reduce congestion when we do come out of the COVID crisis. Is this something that the Welsh Government is looking at in conjunction with the UK Government, in discussions, or is it something that the Welsh Government is looking at itself? We know that a fair amount of money in the past has been earmarked for infrastructure projects and possibly some of that money could be released if more people are going to be working from home. And, as you said in your statement, this is one way that we can start to get to grips with the climate emergency.

And finally, Llywydd, the approach to COVID recovery. I didn't get a chance really to speak to the economy Minister, but whereas in the past the Government's economic approach has revolved around the economic sectoral approach, it doesn't seem to be that that is factoring into the COVID recovery approach, and there may be very good reasons for that, i.e. wanting to free up resources as much as possible. But could you tell us what discussions you're having with the economy Minister to make sure that key sectors of the economy, such as high-tech manufacturing, for instance, which are going to be very important as we come out of this pandemic and rebuild the economy—what is being done specifically to assist those areas of the economy that are going to drive us forward and make sure that, in the future, the Welsh economy is stronger than it is at the present time? Thank you.