Therefore, can I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services to move the motions? Vaughan Gething. 

Motion NDM7590 Rebecca Evans

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021 laid in the Table Office on 28 January 2021.

Motion NDM7589 Rebecca Evans

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:

1. Approves The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2021 laid in the Table Office on 29 January 2021.

Motions moved.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm happy to move the motions before us.

There are two sets of amendment regulations today. First, I'll consider those that relate to international travel, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021. Members will be aware that enhanced isolation requirements have been introduced for people arriving into Wales from countries where public health concerns have been identified in relation to variant of concern strains of coronavirus. All travellers arriving into Wales from countries subject to enhanced isolation requirements are now required to isolate for 10 days, and will only be able to leave isolation in very limited circumstances. The same isolation requirements apply to all members of their household.

Following the review of the Joint Biosecurity Centre's assessments, these amendment regulations add Burundi, Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates to the so-called red list of countries. These requirements also apply to people who had already arrived in Wales from these countries, and members of their households, in the 10 days prior to the regulations being made on 29 January. New exceptions were also introduced to the ban on aircraft and vessels travelling directly from a red list country to Wales. Their arrival is now permitted in the following circumstances: aircraft landing for the purpose of refuelling or maintenance where no passengers board or disembark, air ambulances landing for the purpose of transporting a person for medical treatment, and vessels required to moor pursuant to a safety direction.

The latest general review of coronavirus restrictions in Wales took place on 28 January. They concluded, as you know, that the whole country should remain at alert level 4, the highest level of restrictions, for at least a further three weeks. Although we are seeing steady and encouraging falls across Wales, they remain too high to consider a widespread relaxation of restrictions. The second regulations being considered today, however, the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, make small but important changes to the coronavirus restrictions in Wales following this latest review.

Two people from different households can now exercise together, although they should make every effort to maintain social distancing. People must still start and finish exercise from their own home, by foot or cycle, unless the person needs to travel for health reasons. We have also provided for a support bubble to be changed, provided that both households do not see any other households for a period of 10 days before forming the new bubble. Although this amendment recognises that people's circumstances change, guidance is still clear that changing bubbles should be a last resort. Finally, automatic car washes are now listed alongside petrol stations and garages as allowed to open, to help provide legal clarity. I ask Members to support these regulations, which continue to play an important part in adapting the coronavirus rules here in Wales to ensure that they remain both effective and proportionate. Thank you.

I call on the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Mick Antoniw.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I speak in respect of both sets of regulations; we considered these at our meeting yesterday.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2021 amend the 2020 international travel regulations and the No. 5 restrictions regulations. Our report contains two merits points. The first point notes the Welsh Government's justification for any interference with human rights. Our report draws attention to the explanatory memorandum, which confirms that the amendments made by these regulations do not change the engagement, under the international travel regulations or the No. 5 restrictions regulations, of individual rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European convention on human rights. The second merits point is a familiar reporting point we make. We've noted that there's been no formal consultation on the regulations, but for reasons that Members will be aware of.

Turning now to the second set of regulations, the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021. These make changes to the No. 5 restrictions regulations, which are, of course, the principal regulations on coronavirus. In particular, as the Minister has said, they permit a person living in an alert level 4 area, which is currently the whole of Wales, to leave the place where they are living to exercise with one other person. They also permit people to form new extended households, subject to special conditions being met.

Our first two reporting points concern the Welsh Government's justification for any potential interference with human rights. As a consequence of these changes related to exercise and extended households, the explanatory memorandum provides a commentary on how these regulations reduce the extent to which the restrictions and requirements in the principal regulations interfere with individual rights. And our second reporting point again notes that there has been no formal consultation on the regulations.

Taking both items 7 and 8 separately, the first on extending restrictions on international travel. I have no further comment to make on those, other than that the rationale underpinning these regulations is very sensible.

In terms of item 8, there are a number of changes here. I have no particular comment to make on the decision to allow automatic car washes to remain open. I am pleased that there is some flexibility allowed in forming extended households as long as a period of 10 days has passed between one bubble and the next. But, thirdly, I am very pleased that the Government has responded very positively to the appeal made my myself and others to consider all possible ways of encouraging outdoor activities for mental and physical well-being. People do, of course, need to keep a distance in doing that, but it is important that we do keep an overview of all the opportunities here, because as I say, we are bringing mental and physical well-being together through doing this, and I do think that this is a very sensible approach.

Thank you. I call on the Minister to reply to the debate.

Thank you. Once again, I'd like to thank the legislation and justice committee for their consideration of the regulations. I regularly find their scrutiny helpful in making sure the law is in good order and consistent to the aims and objectives that it has.

In terms of Rhun ap Iorwerth, I welcome his support for the measures and, in particular, the point he makes about encouraging people to undertake outdoor activities. As time is changing, I hope that more of us can undertake those activities in the future as well, as we continue to all play our part in helping to keep Wales safe. Thank you.

Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion under item 7. Does any Member object? No, I don't see an objection. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

The proposal is to agree the motion under item 8. Does any Member object? Again, I don't see any objections. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.