So, there isn't anyone, from any political party, who's disputing the severity of what this country faces, but it is perfectly reasonable to come to this Chamber and debate alternatives and propose alternatives, because when we look at what the Government has brought time and time again to this Chamber—and if I just go through the autumn regulations in the last 12 weeks that have been brought to this Chamber—we've had the council area restrictions that were put in place, with no financial compensation, I might add, for businesses; we've had the travel restrictions between England and Wales; we've had the lockdown/firebreak that was going to make such a massive difference and clearly hasn't done that. After that firebreak, we had unlimited travel then on an all-Wales basis, so it made no difference what the infection rate was in whatever part of Wales you come from; you could travel or whatever you wanted to do. We have now the closure of hospitality, but yet you could jump in your car because last week the travel restrictions were lifted and you could go over to England into a tier 2 or tier 1 area and have a pint of beer and enjoy hospitality in those areas and then return to Wales. And now we have the Christmas easing of the restrictions, and then we're told in pronouncements from the health Minister and from the First Minister, and everyone else advising, that there's going to be dramatic restrictions placed on the country come Christmas time. Is it any wonder that confidence is sapping away from the public in what the politicians are saying?

I do take the health Minister up on his reference to the briefing that Rhun ap Iorwerth and I undertook last week. That is the first direct spokesperson's briefing that I have been offered by the health Minister since I've taken this role up from July. That's the first time. Now, when I compare the interaction politically between the Government in other parts of the United Kingdom and opposition parties to inform them—. If you take the lockdown restrictions that were brought in in England, there was comprehensive discussions between the opposition parties and information shared. There might well have been disagreements, but at least people understood what was happening. Today, here in Wales, we have to tune into the press conference that happens at 12:30 or 12:15 on a Monday, a Wednesday or a Friday, rather than get statements in this Parliament. And it is a Parliament that should have a deciding role in any of the restrictions the Government are bringing forward.

I cannot see why no-one could not vote for the motion that the Conservatives have put on the order paper today, because I think every Member, including Government Members, raise their unease over the restrictions that have been imposed on the hospitality sector. All we are merely calling for is a suspension of the current restrictions and an implementation of more proportionate regulations to be brought in place. I think every single Member—. Mike Hedges from Swansea said he wants the pubs opened as soon as possible, but he wants action taken against abusers of the system. I think we'd all agree with that, and we all want to make sure that where bad practice is being implement, that practice is stamped out, because of the very figures that I talked of in my opening remarks—the highest death rates of anywhere in the United Kingdom, the highest infection rates of anywhere in the United Kingdom. Those are real issues that we have to tackle, and we cannot turn our backs on the dedicated public servants who are working tirelessly in our health and care systems and in our local authorities to make sure people are safe in their communities or as safe as they can be.

And it will rely on people individually stepping up to the mark and taking their responsibilities seriously, because whilst it feels this has been going on forever and a day, we are within touching distance, with the vaccine now, of a brighter future. It was refreshing to leave the house this morning with the breakfast news cycles flowing from around the world pointing out that Britain, the United Kingdom, was the first country to be vaccinating its population with an approved vaccine that had gone through medical trials. That is a positive news story that we should be embracing. But these regulations that the Government have put on the table as of last week that are penalising an important part of our economy—a part of our economy that has raised its game, adopted the restrictions and put the investment in to create a safe environment for people to have that desperately needed comfort of hospitality and interaction in a regulated environment—have gone too far, and that is why we have tabled this motion today.

I was called out by the Member for Torfaen for politicising the situation around COVID. I make no apology for putting an alternative when I think the Government are wrong. I have outlined in my remarks that I think the Government are wrong, and I point to the fact that the health board that serves both you and me, when I took my briefing from them recently, pointed to the fact that there were eight people in an intensive care unit of 88. When I was coming into this Chamber and being told I was doing a disservice to the NHS—. No-one in this Chamber, I would respectfully say, is doing a disservice to the NHS. People can put alternatives, because it's a democracy, and I regret the remarks that she directed at me as shadow health Minister and at the leader of the opposition today. Democracy is good for any country, and that's why we're debating these points, and that's why I hope people will support the motion on the order paper today rather than say people are taking cheap political shots, because they're not, and we know the value of it. And I can see you saying we are, and I'll gladly debate on any platform you want.