1. What plans does Welsh Government have to build back greener after the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55625

Llywydd, I thank the Member for that question. Across the Welsh Government, we prepare for a green reconstruction post COVID. The actions we are taking will generate a more sustainable and resilient future economy, tackle the climate emergency, and address the decline in biodiversity.

Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Your friends at the Trades Union Congress have said this green recovery must be good for the environment, and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales says that we have a once-in-a-lifetime—

Michelle, can I just stop you there? I think we might have missed the start of your supplementary question. If you can start again.

Okay. Thank you for your answer, First Minister. Your friends at the Trades Union Congress have said that any recovery must benefit the environment and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales says we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come up with visionary ideas and transformative investment to address health, the economy, and the ongoing climate and nature crises, for the sake of Wales's long-term future. She says we need a new definition of prosperity based on well-being and a fairer, greener way of living. So, what's one of your imaginative ideas? Build yet another road—the red route—a road that won't preserve nature and the environment, as the TUC, the future generations commissioner and the Welsh people want, but will destroy it. You scrapped the M4 relief road because it would damage the environment in south Wales. So, it's a shame for the people of north Wales that you don't care as much about us, but instead care more about lorry drivers who want to cross into and out of Ireland. Initially, you said it was chosen because it was the cheapest option, but the cost estimate has already risen by £20 million. We need every penny we have to be spent on recovery projects. When will the Government stop the rhetoric and put the money towards projects that will help our recovery, and do so in a way that does not destroy forever ancient woodlands and farmland?

Well, Llywydd, I have with me here, as Members can see, the stakeholder briefing that was distributed to Members and others about the plans for development of the Flintshire corridor scheme. In case the Member hasn't had an opportunity to see that document, let me just assure her that it makes it clear that the stage we are at with the red route is a preliminary design process, which will look at all the environmental and engineering issues raised during consultation in more detail. The preferred route will be developed further as a result of that consideration, including environmental, traffic and economic appraisals, and, as the stakeholder briefing makes clear, all of that will be designed to minimise the impact of the improvements—the very necessary improvements—on local residents, the landscape, air quality and biodiversity. So, I don't dismiss for a moment the concerns that the Member has raised. They're right and proper ones, but the process that we are embarked upon is designed exactly to explore with local people and with local stakeholders the issues the Member raises and to resolve them in a way that takes account of those important matters. 

First Minister, obviously if we are to build back and build back greener, it's important that businesses can survive the various stages of either regional or local lockdowns, or indeed national lockdowns. What confidence can you give businesses that they will be there at the end of this coronavirus outbreak, and in particular that, once we do suppress it now—the second time of asking—there's not going to be a third lockdown later in the winter, a fourth lockdown, which will have a massive impact on business and business confidence, as well as on liquidity of those businesses to be there to build back better, build back greener?  

Llywydd, the Member makes two points there. He will welcome, I know, the announcement by my colleague Ken Skates of £60 million to help businesses specifically affected by the local health protection restrictions, and my colleague will be making a statement on the floor of the Senedd later this afternoon and will be able to explain more of the detail of that then. 

The second point that Andrew R.T. Davies makes is about events further into the year. And there, what I want to say is this: that will depend, crucially, on the extent to which Welsh citizens continue to observe all the measures that will make a difference to further spikes in coronavirus in the future. So, the Government will do all the things that we can do. The health service, local authorities, public health organisations, the police—all those organisations that are working so hard to try and protect people and keep Wales safe—will play their part. But, in the end, coronavirus spreads when people meet together in circumstances that they shouldn't, when they travel unnecessarily, when they come into contact with others in ways that could be avoided, and the chances we have of avoiding further spikes and further local restrictions depends crucially on every one of us playing our part.