The committee took evidence from Welsh Government ministers and officials on the pandemic’s effects on children and young people. They said children were generally less likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, though their role in transmission remained uncertain, and that paediatric critical care had capacity to expand. Ministers urged families to continue using health services and routine vaccinations.

Members questioned the pandemic’s impact on mental health, safeguarding and children’s rights. The Government said the full mental health impact was not yet known, but crisis services remained available and a review of unexpected deaths had been commissioned. Officials reported a fall in safeguarding referrals and low attendance by vulnerable children at school, alongside continued social work and health visiting contact. The Government had not relaxed children’s social care requirements and planned to seek children’s views through a survey.

On care and childcare, ministers reported few placement breakdowns and generally stable residential services, while acknowledging difficulties for foster carers and digitally excluded families. They said some childcare providers had fallen through gaps in financial support and that a tailored package was being considered; free childcare was available for eligible critical workers and vulnerable children. The committee also discussed third-sector and hospice funding, perinatal mental health, young carers and family court arrangements before concluding the public session.