of the challenge. i know the severity of the challenge we face. nicola sturgeon. wales‘s 17 day firebreak ends on monday. members of the seneddons members of the senedd met virtually for first miniter‘s questions in the plaid cymru leader argued that the welsh government's reliance on westminster for funding the furlough scheme was strengthening the argument for independence. if we were able to fund ourselves unfettered as an independent country, we could do so much more, invest in the way that slovakia has been able to do, testing two thirds of its entire population over the weekend. when you compare that to the failing uk lighthouse lab system, which is letting wales down, is it any wonder that people are joining yes cymru in its thousands? i make the case that the member never does for social solidarity across the united kingdom, for us to share our risks and to get our rewards when we need them. i think that has always been to wales‘s advantage. it is for the member to explain to wales why he believes that bereft of everything we obtain from being part of the wider whole, wales would be more successful alone on the high s

of the rules. mark drakeford was answering questions from members of the senedd in cardiff. ing memory for so many of us, i'm sure we all look forward to a happier new year and before then to spending time with friends and family over christmas. a compassionate, but responsible approach to a limited relaxation of restrictions over the holiday period seems sensible. however it's also crucial that we don't lose the hard gotten gains of the last few months for the sake of four orfive days, and people must therefore know that any relaxation also comes with the risks. whatever additional freedom we are able to offer over the christmas period will have to be used responsibly by people. the fact that a relaxation is possible is not an instruction to go and spend the whole of that period doing risky things. and the leader of plaid cymru asked what the impact of any relaxation over christmas would be, and while i don't have a quantifiable answer to that at the moment, the general answer is very clear. it will lead to more spreading of coronavirus because coronavirus thrives when peopl

there is that balance to be struck between what other members of the education sector can do in wales to support them in this work. we believe the seneddxternally set and marked but delivered within the classroom. the situation in england is different where exams will go ahead, but are delayed. that decision there in wales, we will leave the senedd and the education of williams. —— education minister ki rsty of williams. —— education minister kirsty williams. gps have been asked to be on standby from the start of next month to offer the new covid vaccination — if regulators say it's safe and effective. the government's already ordered enough doses of the vaccine for 20 million people. this as the number of weekly registered deaths involving coronavirus in england and wales has exceeded 1000 for the first time sincejune. our health correspondent anna collinson has more. a possible coronavirus vaccine has been likened to a light at the end of a tunnel. approval is still needed and there are questions about how well it will work and how long it will last, but the uk may have its firstjabs by christmas. the logisitics are complex, the unce