The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement. Rebecca Evans.

Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to today's agenda. Later this afternoon, the Minister for Health and Social Services will make an oral statement—update on coronavirus. The debate on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 8) (Caerphilly) Regulations 2020 has been postponed until next week. And finally, the motion to agree the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Functions of Local Authorities) (Wales) Regulations 2020 has been withdrawn. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.  

Trefnydd, can I call for a statement on public sector procurement advice that the Welsh Government issues? Your response to a recent written question on this matter gives me a great deal of cause for concern in that you've suggested that you might be issuing a new procurement advice notice to the public sector in Wales, and in that answer that you issued, you specifically referred to it being potentially targeted at the nation of Israel, because you referred to it dealing with places where there are territorial disputes.

Now, of course, of the countless places around the world where there are territorial disputes, that answer that you issued specifically mentioned the Jewish state. Now, you'll be aware that the Welsh Government has accepted and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. That refers to not doing anything that could result in double standards being applied to the nation of Israel. But, in singling out Israel in your answer to a question on procurement advice, it suggests that that might well be the case should you issue that particular piece of advice.

So, I'm very concerned about the message that that sends to the Jewish community in Wales. I know that the Welsh Government does not want to send hostile messages to the Jewish community and wants to address the antisemitism that is out there. So, I would urge you to look again at the procurement advice notice that you are preparing, to make sure that your proposals do not impinge on the good work that's been done here in Wales to deal with the rise of antisemitism in our country. 

I'd like to reassure Darren Millar that there's absolutely no intention to single out any nation and the response related to occupied territories anywhere in the world. However, I do understand that there are some significant concerns about this, so we are taking some further legal advice before any further action is taken on that procurement advice note, and I know that the First Minister had a very good meeting with the board of deputies, where this was discussed again. But just to reassure Darren Millar and everybody else, there is no intention to single out any particular nation in terms of the procurement advice note, but we are taking further advice, and nothing will be published until that advice has been received and considered.

Many people are self-isolating, or will be in the coming months, as COVID transmission rates spread throughout the country. I've had many messages from people in the Rhondda, who've already endured significant financial harm from the first lockdown. Some people can work from home, some people are self-employed, some people are entitled to sick pay or statutory sick pay, and others can get nothing at all. Now, I've made representations to Westminster about this with no joy. We have to make it easy for people to abide by the rules. Now, given that we can't rely on Westminster, can we hear from the Welsh Government what it has done to improve the financial support for people who have to self-isolate? What representations or plans have you made?

Now, Plaid Cymru believes that you could be implementing a universal basic income that would both help to stop the spread of COVID and help to alleviate poverty. Do you agree with us on that and will you do it?

I thank Leanne Wood for raising this issue. I do think we have to be realistic as to the extent to which we can stretch the Welsh Government's budget, but, that said, we are currently in discussions with HM Treasury and other parts of the UK Government in relation to the announcements that the UK Government has made in terms of some kind of income support for those individuals who are unable to access other kinds of support. We're trying to, through the course of today, better understand the source of that funding, what it means in terms of Barnett consequentials, and if we're able to say more on that shortly, I know that we will.

During questions, the First Minister indicated that he would seek to bring a statement to this place on the new coronavirus regulations that will be made consequent to this morning's COBRA meeting. I understand, from social media, that he will be making a public statement on this matter this evening at 20:05. It would, therefore, be much preferable, I think, for Members on all sides of this Chamber were he able to come back to the Chamber this afternoon to make a statement so that we can have an opportunity to scrutinise the Welsh Government on these matters before they're made public later this evening.

Secondly, I understand from the business statement that there is a statement next week on the economic resilience plan, and the economy Minister will be giving that statement. He is in his place this afternoon, and I know he can hear my question, so I hope that you will be able to confirm, business manager, that that statement will cover all those sectors that are being affected by the corona regulations, as they're being amended this week, and particularly those areas of Wales, such as Blaenau Gwent, where there are new restrictions in place. This will have a significant impact on our economy and on many people and families within our communities, and it is important that the Government places some significant support and help for those people as part of its response to the continuing coronavirus crisis. I hope that the statement on the economy next week will be a broader statement encompassing all of those different areas.

Finally—

No, there's no 'finally', Alun Davies. You've had two points and you're over time, but thank you. The Trefnydd to respond.

Thank you. So, on the first of those points, I would just refer you to the comments that the First Minister made during First Minister's questions to the leader of Plaid Cymru in terms of needing to spend time this afternoon talking to our partners in local government and in the police, and others, in order to determine the way forward. But, obviously, the First Minister is keen to keep colleagues updated, and, of course, we do have the statement from the health Minister on the update on coronavirus later this afternoon, which will be an opportunity for colleagues to question the health Minister on these matters.

In terms of the statement next week, I know it's the intention of the economy and transport Minister to say more on the economic resilience fund, and particularly phase 3. I don't want to pre-empt anything that the Minister will say next week, but I can say I've had some very good discussions with him and I do know that he's very much alive to the local dimension of the challenges that face us at the moment.

Trefnydd, the issue of mental health has massively moved to the forefront of all our minds over recent years, and particularly during the pandemic with the associated issues of mental health that have been affecting some people. You may be aware that Mind Cymru have launched their Stand For Me campaign, calling on Welsh political parties, current Members of the Senedd and future candidates to stand up for mental health issues. I wonder if we could have a statement or an update from the Welsh Government on what's being done ahead of next year's Senedd election to keep the focus on mental health, both now and after that election.

If I may, Llywydd, on a related issue, 10 September was World Suicide Prevention Day. I know it was mentioned in this Chamber in the business statement last week, I think possibly by Jack Sargeant. I wonder if we could have—again, Jack asked for this—a statement from the Welsh Government on what it's doing to make sure that we all do what we can to help prevent suicide, to see the warning signs ahead of when the awful end transpires for someone so that we can do a little bit more to listen and provide that kinder Wales that we all want to give to our colleagues and friends.

Thank you, Nick Ramsay, for that, and I absolutely will discuss with the health Minister what more we can be doing to promote that day, but also to promote the message that it's absolutely fine to talk to people. It's okay not to be okay, as Jack Sargeant was telling us in the Chamber just last week. I know all colleagues will have received communication from Mind Cymru, setting out their new campaign, encouraging us as Members of the Senedd and all future Members of the Senedd to make that pledge to stand up for mental health, and I know that we'll all be very keen in order to engage with that.

Of course, we've had recently the publication of our new three-year 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan. That's been an important step forward, and especially, I think, in terms of improving access to psychological therapies. I can say that the health Minister has also written to health boards to request proposals for funding for the transformation fund from 2021-22 onwards in order to give that longer sight and that longer line of view to investment in mental health transformation.

Can I ask for two statements, Trefnydd, one from the Minister for the economy and transport regarding his recent announcement on the red route proposal relating, of course, to the A55 along the Flintshire corridor? I've been absolutely inundated by constituents who are very concerned and who actually see legitimate and clear parallels with the decision around the M4 relief road in Newport. Clearly, there are concerns around cost—the projected cost of £210 million in 2016 is now over £300 million. We know that we've declared a climate and biodiversity emergency here in Wales. Well, if that means anything, then it surely means that the Government needs to step back and at least look at alternatives other than just a four-lane highway. And, of course, the COVID pandemic has changed the terms of the debate, in that more people will be working from home, which means there will be less demand on our road infrastructure in years to come. Now, the Welsh Government has said that it wants a coronavirus recovery that, 'Builds back a fairer, greener, more resilient economy'. Well, if that doesn't mean revisiting this proposal, then it's clearly business as usual for Welsh Government and absolutely nothing has changed.

And the Welsh Government also—and this relates to your role as finance Minister—is withdrawing the rates grant scheme for all commercial hydropower generators. I think around 50 will be affected. I appreciate that you're still retaining support for seven community hydro schemes, but, more broadly, the sector is very angry, actually, that it hasn't been able to participate in meaningful discussions that might have influenced your decision. Many of the schemes are now—

Can you ask your question, please, Llyr?

Well, it's basically that we have a statement from the finance Minister explaining why she believes that withdrawing the rates grant scheme for hydropower generators is a good idea, given the Government's ambitions in terms of net-zero carbon.

I thank Llyr for those questions, and, of course, the hydropower non-domestic rates grant scheme does sit in the portfolio of the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, but I know that she will be able to hear your comments on that this afternoon.

In terms of the A55 red route, the intention as I understand it is to continue and review the community and stakeholder engagement activity in order to ensure that all interested parties now are updated regularly as the scheme does move forward. But it will also include improving active travel links, bus travel links and improving the resilience of the existing infrastructure as well as reducing congestion. And I know that they will be carrying out some environmental investigations along the preferred route later this year. These will mainly be non-invasive surveys with a small number of ecologists looking to identify potential areas for further survey. That means that they will be contacting local landowners to discuss land access. So, that's the latest update that I have, but of course I will make sure that the Minister for Economy and Transport is well aware of the concerns that you've raised. 

Minister, I'd like to ask for two statements, the first from the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs on social distancing and other safety measures in supermarkets. Because of the worsening coronavirus situation, some supermarkets have already reintroduced queues, one-way systems et cetera, but it is crucial that the Welsh Government brings whatever pressure is necessary to bear on supermarkets to ensure that they are as safe as they possibly can be.

I'd also like to request a statement from the health Minister on the restrictions that are in place for families expecting babies. At the moment, partners are not allowed to attend scan appointments and are only able to be with their partner during active labour. This is not a minor matter. Pregnancy is not an illness, and I believe that some of these restrictions could have an impact on mental health, going forward. Thank you.

Thank you to Lynne Neagle for raising both of those important issues, and I know that she has been a strong voice, really, in terms of ensuring that supermarkets play their important role in terms of helping to keep people safe. I can provide reassurance that, during the regular meetings that the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs has with the food industry and the supermarkets, she does continue to impress upon them how important it is. I think that there has been recently a much greater effort and a much greater focus on enforcement, and local authorities will issue improvement notices to individual stores and other premises not meeting the required standard. I know that Members of the Senedd are often asked by their constituents to alert the local authorities to stores where they have had those concerns, and the local authorities will undertake inspections and actions where those shortcomings have been identified. But I just want to provide that reassurance that this is a strong topic of conversation between the Welsh Government and the supermarkets.

The second issue again is very important, in terms of support for mothers both before and after giving birth, and I do know that the arrangements are kept constantly under review because we recognise the important role of having the partner there in terms of supporting the individuals. But if they are feeling anxious about anything, the first advice is to speak to the midwife, because the health boards will always take individual circumstances into account, particularly where there might be mental health needs or learning disability or other kinds of support the individual might need. But, as I say, we do keep this under constant review.

I'd like a Government statement on the Westminster Government's report NRPB-M173. I understand it's no longer in the public domain, but it shows quite clearly that plutonium has leaked from Hinkley Point into the estuary for decades. What is of particular concern is that, in 1982, the report and the tests of the UK Government showed that was a huge spike in plutonium discharge through the waste pipe. Therefore, plutonium did enter the estuary at a very high level, scientists say, and they've actually, as I said, presented the evidence. The issue for me is that the Government allowed the mud to be dumped in 2018 because they said there was no need to test for plutonium or alpha emitters, alpha radiation, because there was no corresponding spike in gamma. Now, what report NRPB-M173 shows is that you do not need a peak in gamma radiation when there is a peak in plutonium. So, you've got a huge, huge peak in plutonium leaking into the estuary, and I think it's reasonable, therefore, to assume that it's in the mud. 

Can you ask your question please, Neil McEvoy?

Yes. What I'd like to know is: what is the Government going to do about this?

Well, with respect, Llywydd, this is the business statement, and neither Neil McEvoy nor myself are scientists. So, I would respectfully suggest that he writes to the Minister on that particular issue, although I do understand that the Petitions Committee is also taking an interest and, in due course, there will be the opportunity for the Minister to respond to a committee report on this. 

If I may start by putting on record my support for the contribution made by my colleague Nick Ramsay, with regard to suicide prevention and mental health.

Secondly, Minister, the economic recovery from coronavirus is something we need to start planning for and addressing now. Members may be aware that, at the start of the summer, I wrote a piece on the LabourList website for that to be a green recovery, and I called for a green new deal for Wales. Just yesterday, it was reported that Airbus have revealed the first zero-emission, climate-neutral passenger aircraft. If we are to be serious about a green recovery, the wings for that aircraft need to be made in Deeside. Now, for that to happen, Minister, we need the UK Government to support the aerospace industry with a sector-specific deal to protect jobs and protect skills. Minister, can we have a debate in Government time on what a green recovery should look like for Wales and what support is needed?

I thank Jack Sargeant for raising that and the potentially really exciting news in terms of the future of aviation, and I completely agree with him that Wales has to play its part in any future. He's right that this does require the UK Government to work with Welsh Government in terms of providing support to these strategically important sectors—the aerospace, steel and automotive industries, just to name a few of them. Welsh Government obviously stands ready to play its part. I know that there is a statement on the agenda in the coming weeks that in part deals with the green recovery, but perhaps it won't have the specific focus that Jack Sargeant's looking for. But I'm sure that he will find a creative way to make his interventions in that debate. 

I thank the Trefnydd. There will now be a break and we will reconvene soon. 

Plenary was suspended at 15:03.

The Senedd reconvened at 15:14, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) in the Chair.