8. & 9. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2021 and The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:48 pm on 26 January 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 4:48, 26 January 2021

(Translated)

I will start with item 8 on international travel. We will support these regulations, as we have done every time as officials respond to the new evidence on risk levels in travelling to Wales from various nations and territories internationally. So, we will be supporting those regulations, and also supporting the regulations under item 9, which place requirements on retailers to strengthen their risk assessment processes and to protect the public. I welcome that, and I welcome the consultation that there was with business representatives but, at the end of the day, it's a matter of promoting the principles of safeguarding public health that drives all of this. 

The regulations also tighten-up the rules to ensure that schools and further education institutions don't allow students to attend. Again, under the circumstances, this is the right step to take, and that it is justified, but may I remind, as others have done—as my fellow Plaid Cymru Member, Siân Gwenllian, has done—these do need to be much clearer and we need greater guidance from Government to local authorities and schools to ensure that remote learning and the provision of remote education is properly supported and facilitated? There are excellent examples of innovation happening among teachers in individual schools, but there is a great lack of consistency also.

More generally, and in looking forward—I'll take this opportunity to look forward—to the next set of regulations and the next set of decisions on restrictions, I don't think people expect any great relaxation, because the situation is still very serious in terms of the virus. But I do make my usual plea on Government to consider what could be done to reflect the pressures on people and the impact that the restrictions have, particularly on their mental health and well-being, and where there are opportunities to allow more socialising or exercise so that people can accompany each other in the open air, then please consider how that could be facilitated.