Llywydd, the broad context for our decision making has been inextricably linked to the consideration of the wider UK science and policy landscape. For example, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advice, the UK Chief Medical Officer's network, Treasury, and UK Government support measures—they all set the parameters within which decisions made in Wales by the Welsh Government have been reached. There have also been decisions taken that affect us here in Wales over which we had little or no control. Just take the delta variant—the UK Government had an opportunity to restrict travel from the moment they heard about the variant in India, but they kept their borders open for weeks, and this remains the dominant variant here in Wales for the time being. But we also warned the UK Government not to move from PCR tests to lateral flow tests for international travel, and had we not moved, we may have picked up the omicron variant sooner. This is soon going to be the dominant variant in Wales, and this proves how interconnected we are with the rest of the UK, and how it would be difficult to totally divorce our experience from that of our neighbours in England, and why, therefore, it makes sense to have a UK inquiry, but with a Welsh focus. 

Now, I'm proud of the way the Welsh Government has responded to COVID, and I'm grateful to people in Wales for their co-operation with the COVID response. Of course there are lessons to be learnt, and of course there'll be areas where we must improve, but there are also areas where our response to the pandemic has shown us new and improved ways of working. We're taking steps within the Welsh Government and the NHS to learn those lessons on a day to day and a week by week basis, as we continue to respond to the ongoing crisis. And it's important that these lessons are learnt now, and we don't wait for the outcome of the inquiry before we look to make improvements. 

There's been a focus this afternoon on hospital-acquired COVID infections in Wales. Now, one of the reasons why we know so much about it is because the NHS in Wales has recorded every incident of infection, but people need to be aware that we're the only part of the UK to have a nationwide IT system capable of capturing and recording such data. Now, this information will help all those families who rightly want and need answers. The NHS has already started investigating every case through the 'Putting Things Right' process, and we're sharing the outcome of that investigation with families.

And of course we recognise the valid concerns about the ability of a UK-wide inquiry to focus equally on all four nations as part of its remit. The First Minister has discussed this with the Prime Minister and Michael Gove. The First Minister set out his expectations about the way people's experience will be considered, and this includes the wider inquiry team having someone with connections to Wales and recent and relevant experience and understanding of its governance. And also an expectation that the inquiry team comes to Wales to take evidence directly from people in Wales. The First Minister has emphasised the importance of producing Welsh chapters as a part of that report, so that people can reflect transparently on what happened in Wales and draw conclusions.

We expect that people will have the opportunity to comment on the terms of reference for the inquiry in the new year, before they're finalised. The First Minister has twice met with Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru to hear directly from them, and a further meeting is going to be held in the new year. He's keen that the group shares their ideas about the best way to ensure that people's experiences of the pandemic are captured as a part of the inquiry. The UK inquiry will start in the spring, at a time when the pandemic is still ongoing, but I'm pleased that the UK Government did consult with the First Minister before today announcing the appointment of Baroness Heather Hallett as chair of the UK's inquiry into COVID. And we know that she's got a track record in terms of being sensitive to devolved Governments in the United Kingdom through her involvement in Northern Ireland.

The emergence of the omicron variant, combined with persistently high case rates, means our focus remains on responding to the current crisis and to keeping Wales safe. I invite Members to support our amendments to the motion. Diolch, Llywydd.