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Bonus for NHS & social care staff
A one-off payment equivalent to £735-per-person is set to be paid to all NHS and social care workers in Wales which, after-tax, will equate to £500.
The Welsh Government estimates around 222,000 will be eligible.
Details are yet to be finalised and the bonus is in addition to a previous £500 bonus. Health Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth) said: “This payment expresses our gratitude to our NHS and social care workforce for their extraordinary contribution in keeping Wales safe.”
Plaid Cymru called for salaries and wages for NHS and care staff to be permanently lifted.
Two pandemic commemorative woodlands announced
The First Minister has announced the creation of two commemorative woodlands – one in the north, one in the south – to act as permanent memorials to the more than 5,000 people in Wales who have died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the anniversary of the first pandemic death in Wales on March 16th 2021, he said: “These woodlands will grow into natural spaces of reflection, where families and others can come to remember all those we have lost. The pandemic has cast a long shadow on all our lives over the last year, but we can also look to the future with hope.”
A national commemorative event is due to take place at 5 pm on 23rd March 2021 to mark the one year anniversary of the first UK-wide lockdown.
New Standards Commissioner and Code of Conduct agreed
The Senedd has appointed the previous interim Standards Commissioner, Douglas Bain, permanently.
Additionally, members agreed to a new Code of Conduct which has added “respect” to the principles of public life.
Chair of the Standards Committee, Jayne Bryant MS (Lab, Newport West) said: “I welcome the appointment of Douglas Bain today as the new Commissioner for Standards. Douglas Bain has shown through his work as Acting Commissioner, and his ambitions for the next six years, that he is committed to the reforms needed to make sure the standards regime remains fit for our evolving Parliament.
“The revised Code of Conduct and appointment of a new Commissioner are important steps to embedding the new standards regime in the Sixth Senedd.”
Nick Ramsay withdraws from re-selection process
Nick Ramsay MS (Con, Monmouth) will be the latest sitting member to leave the Senedd at the end of term after withdrawing from the selection process for a new candidate for Monmouth.
He was deselected at the end of 2020 following unsuccessful legal action against his constituency association.
The current leader of Monmouthshire Council, Cllr. Peter Fox, was selected to take his place.
