Thank you, Llywydd, and I move the Welsh Government amendment in the name of Rebecca Evans. I'd like to thank Plaid Cymru for choosing this topic for a brief debate today, as it allows me to reiterate the clear view of the Welsh Government on NHS pay, and the direct contrast between ourselves and the UK Conservative Government.

As many of you have said, we regularly say how much we value our NHS staff for their dedication and their compassion, especially in the face of this terrible, unforgiving virus. The last year has been relentless. The pandemic continues to have a significant impact on patients and staff. I recognise the incredible physical and emotional demands faced by our workforce as a result. They have put themselves in harm's way to keep all of us safe. We painted rainbows, we gave thanks and we clapped in the streets. And the response from the UK Conservative Government to recognise that extraordinary service is an attempt to limit the NHS pay rise to 1 per cent. It beggars belief. The UK Conservative Government can find taxpayers' money to spray over private consultants on test and trace in England; the unanswered questions on PPE and the VIP lane; a team of photographers for the Prime Minister; and the new media briefing room we've already heard about today. Yet, when it comes to the NHS, the coffers are bare. Nobody should underestimate the sense of anger and betrayal from our NHS staff. It is a kick in the teeth from the Tories. I understand the strength of feeling from staff and their trade union representatives. I met trade unions, as I regularly do, on the Friday after the UK Government's announcement, and I heard first hand their unified dismay, hurt and disappointment.

I have been very clear since that Tory announcement that this Welsh Labour-led Government has not set an arbitrary cap on NHS pay. I wrote to the NHS pay review bodies on 11 March to confirm that we have not set a cap on NHS pay. We want independent advice from pay review bodies on a fair and affordable uplift for NHS workers here in Wales, in line with the remit that I set in January. The pay review bodies are due to report in May, and NHS staff and the public will have to decide if they want to endorse Tory contempt for our NHS at the ballot box. The contrast with Welsh Labour priorities and action could not be clearer. And the bonus payments announced today are in addition to, not instead of, a fair pay award. I was proud to confirm this payment today after weeks of work with our stakeholders, and it is plainly laughable to suggest that the bonus was somehow a last-minute response to this motion.

I'm equally proud that NHS Wales is a living-wage employer, and Dawn Bowden outlined her role as a trade union officer in negotiating that with a Welsh Labour-led Government, and I have recently decided to implement the new real living wage rate of £9.50 an hour for our NHS staff from 1 April. Welsh Government funding to achieve this is an interim measure whilst we wait on the new pay review body recommendations. We have a long-established commitment to the real living wage as the minimum rate of pay for our social care workforce. Yesterday, I set out our work on paying for care and our priority for raising the pay of social care staff. We're committed to bringing about long-term improvements to the sector that includes pay progression and that goes beyond this minimum.

Social care is complex, with over 1,000 employers and services across the private, third and public sector. Introducing long-term improvements means that we do need to work in partnership, and that's why we established the social care fair work forum. Pay is a key consideration for social care, but so too are good contractual arrangements, terms and conditions, in creating a stable sector where people feel valued. We don't want improved pay to be introduced that is then offset by poorer terms and conditions. The majority of care and support is commissioned, and the current arrangements tend to result in low, minimum wages for our front-line workforce. That's why we propose a new approach in our 'Rebalancing care and support' White Paper. And in that we set out how a new national framework will ensure that quality and value, rather than price, should become the key determinants of success in a market of care provision.

I ask Members to support the Government amendment today and to send a clear message of how much we value our staff, and a clear message to the Conservative Party as well.