By Mark Isherwood, MS for North Wales
I challenged the First Minister in the Welsh Parliament over his harsh new Covid restrictions, quoting some of the many messages I had received from constituents objecting to these, such as the family hospitality business which told me "we really can't afford any more restrictions. We have invested so much to make our establishment Covid safe". As I said, "In England, the proposals for pubs and hospitality are not the same with an absolute ban".

Referring to calls by Citizens Advice Cymru and the Bevan Foundation for specific Welsh Government action to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on poverty, I also asked him "What specific consequent action has the Welsh Government taken?". His refusal to answer my question suggests that they have failed to take the action called for.

Questioning the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, I called for long waits for assessment and diagnosis services for autistic people, exacerbated further due to Covid, to be addressed, and emphasised the need to ensure all teachers receive mandatory autism training.

I called on the Health Minister to respond to serious concerns raised with me that non-Covid patients have been placed on wards with Covid patients at Wrexham's Maelor Hospital.

Responding to the Welsh Government Statement 'Marking the International Day of Disabled People', I said it is evident from my casework, and my work as chair of the Cross Party Groups on Disability, Autism and Neurological Conditions, that "too many Welsh public bodies continue to tell disabled people what they can have, rather than work with them to agree their needs and ask them what they want to achieve".

I made the same point when speaking online at both Disability Wales' launch of the Disabled People's Manifesto and Leonard Cheshire Cymru's 'Voice and Vote - Young Disabled Persons Political Engagement Event' on the 2020 UN International Day of Disabled People, and was interviewed online by the Purple Vote Campaign, launched to make politics accessible to disabled people.

Other engagements included visits to the excellent Olive Tree Delicatessen in Mold ahead of Small Business Saturday, and Llangollen Railway's Corwen Station Project to view the impressive development of the platform and facilities since my last visit.

I also discussed Human Trafficking online with Kevin Hyland OBE, who was the UK's first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and Ali Ussery, the director of Haven of Light CIC, and attended an online meeting of Curlew Wales, as Wales Species Champion for the threatened Curlew.

Stay safe. If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.