Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:50 pm on 19 May 2021.
Thank you, First Minister, for that update, and I agree with the sentiments in your statement. Whilst we are moving into more sunny climes, it is worth reflecting that there are many families, regrettably, around Wales who have lost loved ones and those loved ones are dearly missed by many and their loss is felt every single day of the week and every month that passes, and also the bravery and the strength of everyone who's been involved in the national effort to face down the virus, and the journey we still have to undertake to obviously get on top of this virus, as you indicated in your statement, with new variants coming before us. Virtually on a monthly basis now, it does seem as if there are variants of concern.
You touched on the Indian variant, and I think you did give us some numbers of the rates in Wales. I think you used the number 25 as being the number of concern in Wales. Are there any other variants that are starting to be fed into the Government's advice that potentially could provide significant problems as we go further into the summer months? Because, with a virus, we fully understand it will mutate and really we will have to start to come to live with the new variants that come before us as and when they present themselves. But the Indian variant seems to have gripped the country at the moment, over the weekend, with the coverage that it received, and I think it's important to consider how that has impacted on some of the thinking around these regulations that the Government is working on with its advisers to bring before the Assembly for approval.
I'd also like to highlight the failure of the Government to actually backdate its business support. Whilst the £66 million that has been made available is very welcome, First Minister, you will be aware, obviously, that during the election campaign there was a window when financial support was not available to businesses. And I know you've indicated that £200 million in total is available for businesses. Once it's finally allocated, will there be an opportunity for the Government to look at requests and claims for backdated support and compensation to businesses that fell in that window when business support dried up on 31 March, because I think that's a very important window to fund because those businesses were affected by the restrictions? And, of course, in Wales, business support hasn't had bounce-back start-up grants made available like in other parts of the United Kingdom. So, if you could give us some more information on the business support where these regulations have stopped businesses trading, it would be helpful.
On testing in particular, in other parts of the United Kingdom it is far easier for testing and test kits to be made available at request or on demand virtually, whereas it's more prescriptive here in Wales. Are there any measures that the Welsh Government are looking to bring forward to make testing kits more available here in Wales, which will facilitate the easing of restrictions in a more timely manner, and that normality that you alluded to in your statement and which we all crave? You're on the record, First Minister, as stating that masks and social distancing most probably, in Wales, would be required until the end of this year. Is it still your assessment that that is still very much the case, as other parts of the United Kingdom are talking about taking measures, obviously, that would relax social distancing and masks, or will we be—[Interruption.] I hear comments. I think it's a perfectly sensible question to ask, in fairness, because obviously people will want to understand the rules that will relate to their lives here in Wales.
And also, on international travel, I've just had an e-mail from a constituent who appreciates that it's merely advice that is available at the moment, which doesn't help them on insurance claims to travel companies. And people do want to adhere to the advice that the Government is giving, but that's no recourse to compensation when they go to the travel companies. So, is the Government in a position to offer any more advice and support to those individuals who find themselves locked into travel commitments but still want to adhere to the advice that the Government is giving, but, financially, they would be severely out of pocket?
And finally, if I could ask, you highlighted the success of the vaccination programme, which I think is a great UK success and has led to an unlocking at a faster rate than in other parts of the world, but there is talk of booster vaccines being required in the autumn. Have you any information that you could put on the Plenary record this afternoon around booster vaccinations that might be required late summer/early autumn, that, again, would hold back the restrictions that might have been imposed on our everyday lives if the vaccination programme hadn't been so successful? Thank you, First Minister.