Welsh Government has fast-tracked over 50 new laws due to Covid-19

The Welsh Government has fast-tracked more than 50 new Welsh laws to deal swiftly with the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking from the Senedd in Cardiff, First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) outlined the "monumental" shift in government resources to limit the damage of coronavirus in his legislative statement.

The measures include the lockdown restrictions to keep people and businesses safe, to protect public health and enable public services to continue to operate in unprecedented circumstances.

Changes to planning systems have enabled the field hospitals to be built in a matter of weeks and supported the continued provision of healthcare; schools and the entire education system have been adapted; and protections have been put in place for people and businesses who are struggling to pay their rent.

With priorities having to be quickly shifted the First Minister has said difficult decisions have had to be taken about what legislation the Welsh Government will be introduce during the remainder of this Senedd term.

Bills and regulations will be focused on the response to coronavirus and EU transition.

Mr Drakeford sais the challenging deadline for a significant amount of EU-related secondary legislation remains as the transition period is due to end in December. 

This includes work to implement new regimes being established by UK bills and the Withdrawal Agreement Act, along with those arising from the negotiations with the EU.

The legislation which will continue alongside the coronavirus response in the autumn term are:

• The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, which will extend the franchise in local government elections to 16 and 17-year-olds, to be in place by their next elections.
• The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, introduced last week to support the new curriculum and assessment arrangements as part of a wider programme of education reform to raise standards and tackle the attainment gap.
• The Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill, will improve the rights and position of tenants in the private rented sector.

Bills which have been paused include:

• The Bus Services (Wales) Bill – to continue collaboration with the sector that has been hit hard by the pandemic to establish the best approach for the future and support recovery.
• The Tertiary Education and Research Bill has been issued as a draft Bill for consultation.
• A similar approach will be taken with the Social Partnership Bill.

The Welsh Government says it will also target resources to:

• Extend the smoking ban to outdoor areas of hospital grounds, school grounds, and local authority playgrounds;
• Implement the socio-economic duty and the new additional learning needs system;
• Ending commercial third party sales of puppies and kittens;
• Working with local authorities to extend 20 mph zones.

The First Minister said: “In Wales we have championed a careful and cautious approach to tackling coronavirus, but this by no means, means slow. Behind the scenes, the government has worked rapidly to reorganise and redeploy its resources, to save lives and protect our NHS.

“Thanks to the immense sacrifices by the people of Wales in following the legislation we have introduced in recent months, Wales is at its lowest ebb of coronavirus infections since the crisis began.

“Refocusing our resources to deal with the pandemic has led to some difficult decisions being taken but we will continue to prioritise progressive change, which will make the biggest difference to the lives of the people of Wales.”

Driving lessons can resume from July 27, says government

The Welsh Government has conformed that driving lessons will be able to take place in Wales from July 27.

Theory tests will restart on Monday August 3, along with vocational, motorcycle, car and trailer tests, and tractor driving tests.

Driving tests will start from Monday August 17, as well as the restarting of driving instructor testing and standards checks.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will update guidance shortly to facilitate the safe return.

Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport, said: "Driving lessons and tests are vital in helping people get to work and visit loved ones, and provide the skills for a lifetime of safe driving.

"As Wales recovers from COVID-19 we can now open-up our services to help get the country moving again and I am very pleased to announce the restart of driving lessons and tests in a Covid secure way."

DVSA Chief Executive Gareth Llewellyn said: "It has been vital that lessons and tests only resume when safe to do so and in line with the Welsh Government’s advice. 

"We know this has been a tough time for the whole country including learners and driving instructors but I am pleased to announce the restart of lessons and tests in Wales.

"Tests for critical workers have continued during the lockdown and I would like to thank all those instructors and examiners who have continued to work to help deliver tests for those who have done so much to help us during this terrible pandemic."

Open-air dance class goes through its paces in the square

* Dancers fill the square for the open-air session.

* Julie Kirk Thomas (centre) leads the dance class.

* Dancers stay socially distanced across the square.

Julie Kirk Thomas staged the second of her DisDANCING open-air dance classes in Centenary Square this morning.
She said: "It's being held in accordance with the Welsh Government guidelines, with low-impact. easy-to-follow moves set to Latin music."

* For details, go to: Croeso mawr. danceworkshops@yahoo.co.uk

Steam train makes test run ahead of railway re-opening

* Engine No.3802 on its test run to Glyndyfrdwy yesterday. 

The picture shows how the vegetation has sprung 
up along the line. 

This is one of the things that will need attention 

before passenger trains can run.

A steam train has made its first run on Llangollen Railway for the first time in month.

Services on the heritage line were suspended as the lockdown began  although some essential track maintenance has continued where social distancing rules have allowed.

Yesterday (Tuesday) steam was raised in engine No.3802 as it made a test run to Glyndyfrdwy ahead of the line's planned re-opening on August 1.

This is a further step in the process of re-opening the railway in accordance with the regulations set out by the Office of Road and Rail for all the heritage railways to follow after lockdown.


Railway general manager Liz McGuinness said: "It’s great to see our preparations for opening on August 1 are well under way. 

"Our volunteers tested loco 3802 to ensure it was ready for service. 

"We are all excited at reopening and cannot wait to welcome everyone back. 

"Please check our website and social media for full details of the travel arrangements when they are announced."

More good news about re-opening from Llangollen businesses

* Gales horse box is at the centre of their new outdoors way of operating.

More Llangollen businesses have taken to Facebook to let people know they are either open or will be opening soon.

Gales Wine Bar posted: “We're open from Thursday in our new outside area!

“We've spent a lot of time over the lockdown getting things ready to open again.

Our decking area has had a complete overhaul and our horsebox has found a permanent home as out new outside bar.

“Bookings will be open online from 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday). We'll be open from 5pm Thursday evening for food and drinks then from midday going onwards.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming you back to Gales.

“Numbers will be limited and bookings will be restricted into timed blocks. All the details will follow tomorrow.”

Phoenix Bistro posted: “We’ve still got a few more finishing touches to add to it - but we’ll be ready to welcome guests to our little courtyard this weekend.

“We’ll be open from 12pm until 8pm this Friday and Saturday, serving tiki-style tapas and cocktails.

“As you can see, we have limited space available, so booking is advisable if you wish to come and dine with us or enjoy some drinks.

“We will also be providing takeaway for collection only, however slots for this will need to be booked in advance.

“As per government guidelines, we will not be allowing customers inside the premises - however, we will allow access to our toilet upon request, providing that guests use the provided sanitation products first.

“Please feel free to send us a message if you have any questions or would like to make a reservation. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!”

And Verve Health, Fitness & Wellbeing posted: “Very happy to say after nearly 4 months of closure the clinic area in Verve is now open for PHYSIOTHERAPY, OSTEOPATHY and COUNSELLING with ACUPUNCTURE back at the end of July.

“After a deep clean and sanitise, a little bit of furniture re-arranging and testing out all the new procedures and protocols we're welcoming clients back for necessary treatment.

“Please contact individual therapists directly for more information on how their practice has been affected by COVID rules and to make appointments.”

Finance Minister sets out Homebuyers’ tax holiday for Wales

* Finance Minister Rebecca Evans.

People buying their main homes in Wales costing less than £250,000 will not pay any tax under temporary measures announced by the Finance Minister today. 

The starting threshold for land transaction tax will increase from £180,000 to £250,000 for the residential main rates when this new measure is introduced on Monday 27 July. This is a tax reduction that will last until 31st March 2021.

The new threshold will further reduce the tax burden in Wales. Around 80% of homebuyers liable to the main rates of land transaction tax will not pay any tax. This will be a tax reduction of £2,450 per transaction.

These changes reflect the nature of the housing market in Wales, where house prices on average are considerably lower in Wales (£162,000) than in England (£248,000). For first time buyers the average price paid is £139,000 in Wales, and £208,000 in England.

This tax reduction will not apply to purchases on additional properties including buy to let and second homes.

The Finance Minister will also confirm that the savings made by adopting these temporary rates in Wales will release £30 million in new funding to support the construction of new, energy efficient social housing in Wales.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: "This tax holiday will help first time buyers as well as those selling to move on, but we are taking a different direction to support jobs and house building in Wales.

"While eliminating taxes for those that need extra help, the tax holiday rate also reduces the tax paid on more expensive properties to help the wider housing market.

"Under these changes more than three quarters of homebuyers will pay no tax at all, an increase of 20% under our current measures.

"By setting these rates for Wales I am also able to confirm £30 million to support the construction of new social housing and the much needed jobs they can deliver."

MP welcomes easing of lockdown rules on hospitality and tourism

* Among the local hospitality businesses now trading again is The Hand where people are just allowed to use the new outside seating area. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed the news that restrictions on hospitality and tourism businesses in Wales are being eased this week. 

Tourism bookings can be made for stays after July 11. This will be at people’s own risk and the official advice is that they should check with the accommodation provider before they book. 

This includes any accommodation that is entirely self-contained, e.g. holiday cottages, holiday caravans including touring caravans, motorhomes, boats and some glamping accommodation with their own kitchens and bathrooms that no other guests use.

The proposed guidance also allows hotels and other serviced accommodation - B&Bs, hostels, etc - that do provide en-suite rooms and can provide room service meals to re-open.

Caravan parks where accommodation is entirely self-contained may be allowed to re-open – but shared facilities on the premises will remain closed, such as swimming pools, leisure facilities, shared shower and toilets blocks, shared laundry, etc, and public areas in other accommodation types.  

This means any caravan or touring site where individual accommodation has its own supply of water for on board shower, WC and cooking with strict application of guidance on shared waste disposal and water points.

Simon Baynes MP, who is a Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism, said: “Tourism and hospitality businesses are the lifeblood of many of our local economies in rural Wales, contributing around £509 million a year in Denbighshire alone. Many people locally are hugely reliant on the industry for income and jobs.

“Many Clwyd South businesses will have had a really hard time over the past few months. So it’s right that as cases remain low, we look towards safely opening up to visitors to get our economy going again, providing the warm welcome our tourism and hospitality business are known for.”