Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. The Welsh Government rejects this motion, and I will address each of the four elements of the original motion in turn. 

Firstly, in Wales, we have deliberately taken a careful and evidence-based approach to the easing of lockdown, and our primary objective is always to keep Wales safe. We've explained how we're doing this in 'Leading Wales out of the coronavirus pandemic: a framework for recovery', and in 'Unlocking our society and economy: continuing the conversation'. We are easing restrictions when we are satisfied that changes will not threaten public health. The law in Wales requires those restrictions to be kept under review, to ensure that they're proportionate.

The most recent review was concluded on 18 June, and scientific advice allowed the Welsh Government to seek to significantly ease restrictions over the next three weeks. This includes enabling non-essential retail businesses to reopen this week where they can take reasonable measures to comply with physical distancing duties. Childcare can restart and schools will increase operations from next week. It remains necessary to continue to ask people to stay in their local area unless they have a reasonable excuse to travel further, but we will seek to lift this restriction on 6 July if the conditions permit.

Secondly, we continue to advocate working closely with the UK Government within a four-nations approach. But, let me clear: the four Governments need to operate as equal partners, with mutual respect for each other's responsibilities. The Welsh Government must take actions that reflect the circumstances and requirements in Wales. And, as the First Minister put it, England is not the template for the rest of the UK.

In the early days of the pandemic, we had to rely on emergency response machinery under COBRA. This engagement was largely positive. For example, we worked closely and at incredible pace to produce the Coronavirus Act 2020 and put in place the lockdown. However, the UK Government now, unfortunately, appears to be pulling away from this four-nations approach. We need to jointly agree inter-governmental mechanisms that ensure that we can work together effectively in the next phase of recovery from COVID-19.

In relation to the motion's third element, we recognise the need to get the Welsh economy moving, but only where workplaces are as safe as they can reasonably be. Hence, Wales is the only part of the UK to include 2m social distancing requirements for workplaces in regulations. We have put in place the most generous package of help for businesses anywhere in the UK: a total of £1.7 billion of support equivalent to 2.7 per cent of our gross domestic product. This includes more than 56,000 grant awards across Wales via our rates related package with £680 million of support. In addition, our £500 million economic resilience fund has so far helped nearly 8,000 businesses with more than £200 million of support.

As set out in the first supplementary budget debated earlier today, we moved rapidly to repurpose EU funding to maximise the support offered to businesses based on the needs that exist in Wales. And it simply will not be possible to provide this level of rapid support in the future if the UK Government rolls back our powers on EU successor funds.

A recent poll by Survation indicated that people in Wales would like to see the Welsh Government develop its own economic strategy for recovery, and I think this is a reflection of the trust that people have in this Government to deliver a recovery that works for Wales.

Finally, our manifesto confirmed the intention not to increase income tax during this Assembly term, and I intend to stick to that decision. The rates for this year were, of course, agreed by the Senedd on 3 March, and it will be for a future Welsh Government to consider Welsh tax rates going forward, and for the Senedd to vote on them, and an opposition debate is not the place to be setting future tax policy.

Dirprwy Lywydd, good public health outcomes will form the foundation of an economic recovery that lasts. That is why we will continue to base our approach on the evidence and work in partnership to ease the lockdown and rebuild. Diolch.