Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:53 pm on 26 January 2022.
I do take offence that I don't care about the actual future and health of our children. We in Welsh Conservatives do care about the health and well-being of our children and that's why in this place we have called time and time again for actually the mental health of our children and the health of children to be prioritised by this Labour Welsh Government.
And I just want to briefly discuss the Plaid Cymru amendment, Deputy Llywydd. The amendment talks of future impacts, but the negative effects of COVID and Welsh Labour and Plaid's restrictions here are here and now. Children in Wales have already missed more schooling than any other UK nation and the ongoing face-mask requirement continues to stifle children in their learning environments. We're not simply disagreeing with the Welsh Labour Government, we're offering alternatives. The Welsh Conservatives have been very clear in setting out what we believe should be done. The Minister should implement some of our actions, guaranteeing that schools remain open, removing the requirement to wear face coverings, accelerating the roll-out of improved ventilation adaptions in our learning environments, and levelling up school funding across Wales to address the shortfalls between Wales and the other UK nations.
Deputy Llywydd, the Welsh Conservatives have a clear plan, a plan this Welsh Labour Government should adopt, and I urge every colleague in this Chamber today to support the Welsh Conservatives' motion this afternoon. Diolch, Deputy Llywydd.