(Leader
of the Brexit Party Group): First Minister, when you put Cardiff
into local lockdown, and through the force of law required people
to work from home if reasonably practicable, did you consider the
potential impact of that on our proceedings in the Senedd? Now, if
you're correct when you say Members are equally able to
participate, whether remotely or in person, doesn't that imply that
it is reasonably practicable for Members to work from home? And if
Members take a different view, given that is law, may they be
receiving a knock on the door from South Wales
Police? You said earlier that, 'My colleague will be
making a statement on the floor of the Chamber later today'. Can I
infer from that that some Ministers will be coming in person to the
Chamber, even if you will not yourself? And you haven't said
whether you're speaking from a well-appointed hut at the rear of
your garden, or whether you're speaking from your office in Cathays
Park. If you are speaking from your office, then presumably you've
determined it's not reasonably practicable to work from home, so
why don't you come to the Chamber? And, overall, when you say
people must work from home by law if reasonable practicable, would
you ask people to do as you say, or to follow the examples set by
our Presiding Officer and the leader of the opposition?
(First Minister of Wales): Well, Llywydd, I can
assure the Member that when the decision is taken to impose local
restrictions in any part of Wales, then all aspects of that
decision are carefully considered. It is for individual Members
to make a judgment about how they stay within the law. It is
reasonably practicable for me to work from my office in Cathays
Park, because in order to be able to answer Members' questions, I
need the support of staff in the Welsh Government, who help me to
make sure that I am as well equipped as I can be to provide
answers that Members have a right to expect. So, it is reasonably
practicable for me to work from here because I live in Cardiff
and need to cross no boundaries to get here. Other Members are
bound by the regulations, just as every member of Welsh society
in areas where local restrictions are in place, and I think
people have an obligation to make sure that they are carefully
considering the legal position they are in. I'm on the floor of
the Senedd, Llywydd. As you made clear, virtual or physical
participation is identical. I'm on the floor of the Senedd now
answering questions. My colleague will answer questions remotely, and he will be on the
floor as well.
