So much of the economic reality of the Valleys these past 40 years has been the result of the deliberate destruction of the coal and associated industries by Thatcher's Government. That betrayal was like an earthquake and it's given way to many aftershocks. Our community spirit has never dimmed, but our unemployment levels remain stubbornly high and our health outcomes carry the scars of decades of underinvestment. Generation after generation has paid the price of what Thatcher took away.

The latest blow has been the disproportionately harsh impact that COVID-19 is wreaking. The virus has been cruel and relentless in communities across Wales, but in post-industrial areas where housing is close together and employment is so precarious that some can't afford to self-isolate, the virus has been able to spread at a shocking pace. Merthyr has had the highest number of cases per head of population in Wales. I'm glad that, today, the Welsh Government has confirmed that mass testing will be made available for residents of the area, regardless of whether they have symptoms. It's about time. But we need to build on that and provide the extra support that our motion is calling for, so that people living in our communities receive care, not just a diagnosis.

When areas in Wales entered local lockdowns, Caerphilly was first, closely followed by the Rhondda, Merthyr, Blaenau Gwent and Newport, later Torfaen. What do these areas have in common? Well, Llywydd, they are areas with older populations, with more terraced streets, and where family ties are still strong. Our connectedness has had a cruel impact, and, again, we've suffered because of poor planning and decades of underinvestment. I know that communities across Wales have suffered, and, clearly, the additional support that's needed for high-prevalence areas should be available everywhere that is required. But they are underlying reasons why the areas I've referred to have been hit particularly harshly, and we have to put that right.

A report by the Welsh Government's own technical advice cell on health inequalities found the pandemic has compounded existing health inequalities, and that these underlying issues stem from low income, poor housing and insecure employment. How many times do we have to listen to the same findings from yet another report before someone listens and gives our communities what they need? That is why we are calling for this greater support. We want to see accommodation for people who can't self-isolate at home, help for safe and affordable childcare, and protections for schools, like the introduction of mask wearing in classrooms. We need investment to overcome the digital divide to make it easier for people to keep in touch when they can't see one another face to face. And I'd add to that the need for mental health support to help communities with the collective trauma that they're suffering. Many of our proposals could be implemented Wales wide, such as increasing the self-isolation grant for people on low incomes to £800, to provide more childcare and support for people who can't work from home. These steps would help individuals and families all over Wales, but they are especially needed where the virus has been so prevalent.

Getting the confidence of the public is paramount, which is why we want stronger communication campaigns. When Caerphilly entered a local lockdown, no official guidance was given to residents on what to expect for more than 24 hours, leaving people feeling insecure and anxious. We have to learn the lessons of that lockdown. But we also need to understand more about what behaviours facilitate the spread of the virus. It would surely be beneficial for the Government to commission research in this area, because, if some of these behaviours were highlighted, then communities would know what steps to take to protect themselves.

Llywydd, there is hope on the horizon, with promising initial results from two vaccines. But we face difficult dark months in the coming winter, and the Welsh Government needs to plan in a way that is strategic and targets support where it's most needed. These remarkable communities need support. They've been crying out for that support for decades. Maybe now this Government can finally redress the inequalities that have plagued our streets and address all those aftershocks that have echoed down the decades since the mines closed. If not now, then when?