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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 12:00 pm on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 12:00, 10 June 2020

Thank you very much, and I'm grateful, Presiding Officer, to the First Minister for the clarity of his statement this morning. I think the clarity with which he's spoken is something of a comparison with the continuing chaos that we're seeing across the border in England, where we see promises made, promises broken. We're seeing poor leadership and collapsing public support in the policies being pursued by the UK Government, and the horrific mortality rates that we're seeing across the border are, I think, the main reason for that, as well as the inability of the UK Government to speak clearly to the needs of their population. 

I'm interested, First Minister, in the way that you are approaching future policy and the approach that you are taking over these coming months. You've spoken already about the decisions that you will be taking in the next week or so, at the next review, but, in the same way as Nick Ramsay spoke about international examples, I would like to understand the sorts of international examples you are looking at and considering in terms of how you approach a continuing lockdown.

Now, we've heard some siren voices and sometimes strident voices from Conservatives and elsewhere saying that you should just follow the disaster in England, but nobody wants that. People in Blaenau Gwent don't want that. What they want is for you to consider their needs, to put people before profit, and they want you to consider their families and their communities. So, I'd be grateful, First Minister, if you could outline to us the approach you're taking, how you're using international examples to inform that approach, and what you expect to be able to do, as we move forward through these summer months.