By Lesley Griffiths

MS for Wrexham

At the latest review of the Covid regulations, the Welsh Government published a plan which sets out how we will live safely with coronavirus in the longer-term.

The public health situation has improved thanks to the rollout of the vaccination programme and the hard work of everyone following the regulations, helping control the spread of the virus.

As a result, all legal measures could be removed from 28 March if the public health situation remains stable.

The routine use of PCR tests for the general public will also end from this date. Lateral flow tests will instead be available to order for free online for anyone with symptoms.

The pandemic is, however, not over and this plan will enable the Welsh Government to respond if there are any new variants or if another wave emerges.

Whereas the UK Government is dismantling all testing capacity in England, Wales will maintain a level of testing for surveillance.

We all welcome the fact we can look to the future with growing confidence.

Those who have been shielding my be feeling anxious about the changes but I hope the Welsh Government’s long-term plan will provide them with reassurance.

Families in Wrexham are facing a cost-of-living crisis, with monthly bills rising and wages being stretched like never before.

To help alleviate some of the pressure, the Welsh Government has announced a £330m package of expanded measures to help address the crisis.

This includes a £150 cost-of-living payment , which will be provided to all households who live in properties in council tax bands A-D, as well as recipients of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, and an extra £200 for low-income households through the Winter Fuel Payment next winter.

More money will also be provided through the Discretionary Assistance Fund.

Last year, Ken Skates MS and I visited the DAF headquarters based on the Wrexham Industrial Estate to hear more about their life-changing work.

The DAF is a Welsh Government initiative that provides urgent grants to people who have nowhere else to turn.

The nationwide service is administered by the team in Wrexham, who work with more than 600 partner organisations.

Although overall responsibility for welfare lies with the UK Government, I am proud the Welsh Government will do everything in its power to support those struggling to make ends meet.

If you are a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please get in touch via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call my office on 01978 355743.