Can I begin by thanking Plaid Cymru for calling this debate and for their motion as well? Right at the top of the motion, in the three points they have, the first one notes this high continued prevalence of COVID-19 across the south Wales Valleys. There are other parts in Wales as well—indeed, in north Wales as well—which have high rates, but it's particularly prevalent across the south Wales Valleys. And in welcoming some of the remarks in Leanne's introduction, it put a focus onto the south Wales Valleys. Just to point out as well that, in addition to the Rhondda valleys, the Neath valley, Merthyr and so on, Cwm Taf also includes Bridgend and Ogmore. And I know she didn't mean to omit that, but, in the top ends of the Ogmore valleys, we've also had some of that very high prevalence of COVID-19, and, of course, we're part of the Cwm Taf area.

And on that very first point, can I also welcome Andrew R.T. Davies's contribution, noting the evidence that is compiled and given to all Senedd Members in the Cwm Taf briefings? But I would simply say to him, very gently, it's that very evidence of the impact on the health service within Cwm Taf, as well as the community spread and the workplace spread, that is exactly why we did need that firebreak and everything that came with it in order to actually take the top, albeit temporarily, off that spread and that massive increase that we had within the area. We desperately needed that firebreak. We now have to put that responsibility onto all of us who live within the Cwm Taf area to make that work as we approach the winter months.

It also noted, in item No. 2, the research carried out in England, which I think has an absolute read-across in Wales in post-industrial communities, as Delyth has rightly said. What we have are structural inequalities within the south Wales Valleys, and other parts of Wales, I have to say, because there are other post-industrial areas, including in north Wales communities as well. They are long and they are deep, and it is undoubtedly the case, as the committee that Delyth and I sit on has shown, that the impacts of COVID have gone deeper into those areas where those structural inequalities already were. So, I entirely agree with that.

Can I say, in terms of point 3 in Plaid Cymru's motion, but also some of the parts of others, including the Conservative ones—there are points there of merit within them. My worry is, however, that it is a bag of things, some of which might well have some real merit and are worthy of consideration and are right to debate today, but some actually may not be the most effective or the efficient targeting of additional support. So, I am happy to support the first two and to support Welsh Government in replacing the third part of the motion with the one that does actually recognise the work that is going on there. But I would add to it, and, within the Welsh Government amendment 4 under the name of Rebecca Evans, it does talk about the broad range of national support measures in place, including those to assist areas with a high prevalence of COVID-19. It does talk about the testing and contact tracing, and we've heard today about Merthyr, with mass testing, with massive resource being put into it and potentially talked about as a prototype for other areas that have high infection. That's welcome. There is additional funding going into local authorities. We need to keep an eye on that and see what more is needed.

I am hopeful that the Minister can tell us that there would be more on the public information campaigns, because it's something that I and others have been calling for: something that really focuses on things that will work for the people of the Valleys that I live with, that really gets to heart of them and wins hearts and souls about how to actually modify your own behaviour and look after your friends and families safely during this difficult period, and so on—their economic recovery. I'm interested from the Minister whether that £500 self-isolation payment, which is very welcome—whether that, for example, would be kept under review.

But let me say, Llywydd, I would have added to that 'to call on the Welsh Government to keep under review any additional support needed for areas experiencing high COVID-19 infection rates to control the infection rates, and'—throughout Wales, by the way—'commit to examining the additional impact of COVID-19 on areas of Wales with those pre-existing structural economic and health inequalities that are also experiencing high COVID-19 infection rates, and also will subsequently identify any additional necessary measures'—and look at what's been suggested today, but look at other things to redress those inequalities, which we know are being exacerbated by COVID-19, including on jobs and the economy, but also the health impacts of long COVID. We're going to be living with that as well. So, I would have added those.

I think there are some good ideas being pitched forward today. Some, I worry, are not the most effective and most efficient, but I would simply urge the Welsh Government, in doing all that it's currently doing, to keep an open mind on what else may need to be done as well, and to keep engaged with all backbenchers as we bring these ideas forward. Diolch yn fawr iawn.