15. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Local Coronavirus Restrictions

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:57 pm on 29 September 2020.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 6:57, 29 September 2020

On your final point, I'll look again at the issue, because we do have regular conversations with faith leaders, but this is about keeping people alive in the first instance and how we then try to keep them well, and these are significant intrusions into how people live their lives. I have recognised that not just today, but on many other occasions. What we want to do is to try to take an approach that balances the harm that we know coronavirus causes and to see how we can suppress the virus to allow a different and a more normal, in these certainly not normal times, way for people to go about living their lives. But the starting point has to be how we keep people alive in the first instance.

Look, I understand the point that you've made, not just today, on data, and I have committed to look at it, and I will and I'll come back, not just to Darren Millar, but it's something that I think will probably get taken up in the health committee tomorrow about the data we have and how that's provided, published and made available, not just to Members, but the wider public as well.

But it is important to point out this is not simply a data-driven exercise. The intelligence and evidence we get from our local test, trace and protect teams always plays a role, and the intelligence and evidence we get from local partners working together in the incident management teams that we set out and described clearly within the coronavirus control plan all have a part to play in the choices that we make. And they are always difficult choices as well. The balance of this is not straightforward in what we choose to do and how we choose to try to protect people now and for the future.

Turning to your point about coastal communities and the rural spread, that is a point that we recognise in other parts of the country as well, and I think parts of south Wales have recognised they've got populations along their coast and a rural hinterland as well. It's worth pointing out, of course, that many of the coastal communities in north Wales are particularly vulnerable, because there is a significant number of people who have retired and live in north Wales coastal communities. So, actually, the harm that a significant upswing in coronavirus could cause potentially has the opportunity to cause even greater harm than in other populations.

On your point about tourism, I recognise that tourism is a significant part of the economy in north Wales. I had the opportunity in better times to visit the Llŷn peninsula with my family this year for a week, and I was very impressed with the measures that were in place in that part of Wales to look after residents and tourists alike. The attractions are very clear, and in better times we would all be encouraging people to sample them. It's not the case, though, that there isn’t the same sort of impact within south Wales. I think your characterisation that tourism isn't a significant part of the decision making we have to take account of in the south simply isn't correct. It's not just the Gower or Barry Island that have a tourism impact, and we've had to think about that in each choice that we've made. As I say, they're not simple or straightforward. Ken Skates's announcement has confirmed a significant amount of support that's available for businesses in these areas of local restrictions and a fund specifically targeted at businesses in the tourism sector. We would want to do more and to go further, but it is the reality of our budget position that we can't spend money that we don't have.

We have engaged with the UK Government and other Governments across the UK to look for a more significant support package, because similar arguments are, of course, played out in those 10 million and more people in England who are also having to live with a measure of local restrictions—the impact on businesses there. I certainly hope that the Chancellor will look again at the measures he is able to take to support parts of the economy that are going to be directly affected because of the efforts that every Government will have to take to keep people safe and well.