8. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus — December Restrictions

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:57 pm on 1 December 2020.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 5:57, 1 December 2020

Well, Llywydd, I completely understand the seriousness with which Alun Davies approaches this, because he represents Blaenau Gwent, where the seven-day incidence is 431 and rising, the area in Wales where the need for action is greatest of all. So, I entirely understand the seriousness with which he takes all of this, and why he plays his part in explaining and convincing, as we all have to do. And his wish to see further action in enforcement, and for us to learn the lessons that we are learning from the mass testing at Merthyr Tydfil, and see what we could do elsewhere in Wales—those are ambitions that we all share. 

I believe that the Welsh Government puts more information into the public domain than in any other part of the United Kingdom, that we share that information on the basis not of what we think of it, but on the basis of the expert advice that we get. It's their responsibility, it's their documents; we share them with you. I believe that they provide a compelling case for the actions that we are taking, and I think, when the Member has a chance to study what SAGE has already said, what the TAC reports will tell him, what the figures of positivity, transmission, hospitalisation and death in his part of Wales tell him, that he will see very plainly why the actions we are taking are necessary, and necessary now.