2. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 13 May 2020.

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Photo of Leanne Wood Leanne Wood Plaid Cymru 2:16, 13 May 2020

Carers have been woefully underpaid and underappreciated for a long time, and your policy to give £500 to carers is welcome, but it doesn't go far enough. All care home workers, including cooks and cleaners, should be entitled to that payment because they are at risk as well. Unpaid carers deserve to be recognised, in my view, too. So, will you commit to recognising everyone who's a carer, or who works in a care home setting, with this one-off payment? And, as this one-off payment doesn't address the ongoing low pay of carers, will you agree to do the same as the SNP Government has done in Scotland, and give all social care staff an immediate 3.3 per cent pay increase?