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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 12:12 pm on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 12:12, 10 June 2020

First Minister, across all parties, we very much welcomed some weeks ago now the £500 additional payment to be made to our front-line care workers in recognition of the extra contribution and the really important contribution they're making during this coronavirus pandemic. This was very much at the expense of £32 million of Welsh Government money for 64,000 of those workers.

I wonder if you could perhaps update us now as to two things: firstly, when those workers can expect to receive those payments, but, secondly, in respect of the issue of the tax and national insurance that would be chargeable to it. I know that you reported previously that representations had been made to the UK Government to waive the tax and national insurance because of the exceptional circumstances. I think across all parties we would see it as offensive if the UK Government were to have a financial windfall on the backs of our front-line care workers. Could you update us as to what stage the representations are with the UK Government with regard to waiving these deductions from the money that is rightly due to our front-line care workers?