Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:17 pm on 15 December 2020.
Thank you, Llywydd, and thank thank you to Members for their contributions in today's debate. I have been struck by the tone from the overwhelming majority of contributors in recognising the seriousness of the situation that we face.
It was unfortunate that the debate started in response with Gareth Bennett calling for fair play and respect, before going on to make a series of unnecessary, personalised and untrue comments. This Government has never acted to pursue a course of politically motivated nonsense. The pandemic that we have faced these last 10 months has tested all of us. People may disagree with the choices we have made. I respect Members' rights to disagree, including to do so in a passionate way. But the choices the First Minister has made, the choices I have made, the choices that every Welsh Government Minister have made, have all been motivated by how we save lives and livelihoods, and that will continue to underpin our approach for the difficult road ahead.
I welcome the fact that both Paul Davies and Adam Price, and many Members, broadly welcomed the publication of the updated coronovirus control plan with the updated alert levels. Paul Davies indicated that there needs to be public confidence in steps that we are taking, and, of course, that underpins why we have always published, from very early days, a regular summary of the scientific advice that we've received.
I think we can take some heart from the fact that the recent survey done by Ipsos MORI showed about 61 per cent support for the measures this Government is taking. And, in First Minister's questions, of course, we heard the comparison between how the public feel about measures taken by the UK Government and a positive mark in favour of the Welsh Government. But none of that is a matter of complacency and, in fact, the Welsh Government's ratings took a fall, because the recent evidence was undertaken over the time of the difficulties around the hospitality measures that we introduced. So, we certainly don't take for granted the continuing support and confidence of the people of Wales. And, in doing so, we have to recognise the impact upon our staff, and the fact that that will have a bearing on choices the public make and how they feel about the measures this Government is prepared to take.
Paul Davies recognised, as did Lynne Neagle and others, that two health boards are already reducing NHS activity. That will have an impact on future harm, and I'm afraid that more health boards will follow over these coming days and weeks, as the pressure mounts.
Now, in terms of the opportunity to continue to share information, we will continue to offer briefings from this Government directly to the leaders of the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru, as we head towards any significant interventions. That courtesy will continue: the regular briefings and also the briefings as we approach particular decision points.