2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:48 pm on 2 February 2021.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 2:48, 2 February 2021

I raised the issue of the differential economic impact of the coronavirus on deprived communities during First Minister's questions. I would like to ask for a Government debate on this matter. This is something that has been the subject of a number of different studies and reports and analyses over the last few months, and it will set the agenda for the Government's approach, I would hope, over the coming weeks and months to these matters. I think that it is important to have a debate in Government time on the differential economic impact of coronavirus on different communities.

The second issue that I would like to raise, Minister, is the reduction in time available on statements and debates, at present, to 30 minutes. This significantly reduces the opportunity for backbenchers to raise issues on behalf of their constituents. I recognise that we're all working under different constraints at the moment, but it is important that it remains a Parliament, and that means that all of us have an equal opportunity to raise matters that are important to our constituents and our constituencies. The reduction of time available for us to do that significantly impacts our ability to do so, and I would be grateful if that matter could be reviewed.