Ken Skates: We're doing everything possible to support businesses as they gradually reopen. We're providing comprehensive advice, guidance and support through our Business Wales service and the Welsh Government website. We've also supported almost 2,000 north Wales businesses through the first round of our economic resilience fund, totalling more than £33 million.
Ken Skates: I'd say to the Member that we are acutely aware of the difficulties facing wedding venues, and I'd refer the Member to comments made by the finance Minister, the business Minister, just earlier. But I would also say to the Member that, as a direct result of having a Welsh Government, and having a Wales-only economic resilience fund, tens of millions of pounds—approximately £55 million, to...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. We've previously awarded Bridgend council £300,000 in local transport grants to appraise options in Pencoed. This scheme would contribute greatly towards alleviating road and rail congestion in Pencoed and in the surrounding areas.
Ken Skates: Well, most certainly I will, and I'd like to thank Huw again for the question about this important project, which could make a huge difference in terms of connectivity and speedy transportation between communities in and around his constituency. We're continuing to engage, as I know the Member is aware, with Network Rail on taking forward this scheme. We've encouraged Network Rail to include...
Ken Skates: Well, whilst we recognise that the coronavirus pandemic is both a public health and an economic emergency, public health comes first. The worst thing that could happen to the economy is a second spike, which is why any rational approach has to be cautious. We'll consult with businesses and with trade unions to ensure that our approach is proportionate and fair to businesses and to workers.
Ken Skates: And that's precisely what happened across the border, and we would not wish to see businesses waste valuable resources on installing physical barriers, guides and signs that are not necessarily going to be in place for a significant period of time. The regulations are, of course, continuously under review in Wales, but it is absolutely clear that 2m of social distancing provides for better...
Ken Skates: Whilst the Chancellor's statement included some welcome announcements, it simply does not go far enough to measure up to the scale of the challenges we face. More extensive and far-reaching action is needed to tackle this crisis head on and to build back better.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dawn Bowden for her supplementary question, and say that, first and foremost, regarding some of the statements, the consequentials that the Welsh Government will receive do not amount to £500 million, as announced by the Chancellor, but instead to £12.5 million in consequentials? Now, I do welcome the UK Government's decision to reduce value added tax on the hospitality sector....
Ken Skates: Diolch yn fawr iawn. As we have said before, the economic picture is stark and unstable, and its future path is intrinsically linked to that of the pandemic and, indeed, the end of the EU transition period. As the picture of the economic position emerges, this intricate balance between public health and the economy has been brought into even sharper focus over recent days, with the...
Ken Skates: Finally, I am considering how to use the Development Bank of Wales to consolidate and secure long-term patient capital to small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales as we navigate through the coming months. The business development grants will be open to businesses of all sizes. Microbusinesses, those that are employing between one and nine people, will be able to apply for up to £10,000,...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Russell George for his questions and very constructive and positive response to the statement today? Can I put on record my thanks to Russell George and all opposition spokespeople for the regular opportunity to discuss the economic crisis that we face? I find their contributions, their ideas and their critique very welcome indeed. There were a number of important questions that...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Helen Mary Jones for her questions and her contribution, and can I say that Helen Mary Jones has had a hand in ensuring that the Welsh Government responds correctly and adequately to business needs? The regular conversations that we've had have helped to shape all three phases of the economic resilience fund, and I'm incredibly grateful for not just the support but the...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank David Rowlands for the way that he has endorsed our actions to date? I really am very grateful for the comments that he's made today. And, yes, our actions have led to a very significant number of jobs being secured: more than 106,000 to date through the first two phases of the economic resilience fund and, of course, 16,000 jobs have been secured through the support that...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Dawn Bowden for her question and say that we start from a position of prioritising public health? We have to ensure that we get the virus under control within those areas that are subject to local restrictions. That's crucially important not just to the well-being and welfare and health of people, but also to the well-being of local economies and the economies of communities...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Jenny Rathbone for the important points that she makes about manufacturing? Manufacturing businesses employ 10 per cent of the Welsh workforce. Across the UK, the equivalent percentage is 8 per cent, and so manufacturing is more important to Wales than it is to the UK generally in terms of the value that it adds the economy. Members may be aware that I recently launched a...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Alun Davies for his comments and his questions? Normally, during the course of a recession, inequalities are blown wide open, and we are working tirelessly to make sure that, as we recover from coronavirus, we narrow inequalities within our regions and across the regions. And so, investment in the Tech Valleys initiative and investment in communities that the Member serves will...
Ken Skates: Thank you. With regard to tourism-related businesses, we're obviously in ongoing dialogue with the UK Government. My friend and colleague Dafydd Elis-Thomas is in very, very regular contact with counterparts in the UK Government and has been pressing the case for a tourism and hospitality-related support package from the UK Government. Business development grants will require a business to...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Dai Rees for his questions and assure him that we make the case for the Welsh steel industry every single week that we have contact with the UK Government? It's absolutely vital that support is brought forward for the steel sector and, as I said earlier, for the automotive sector, for aerospace and for aviation. In direct regard to the question that he raised about support through...
Ken Skates: I thank Mick Antoniw for his questions. We'll certainly look at categorisation of coach companies. Coach companies of course will be able to apply for and, if they meet the criteria, will be able to secure economic resilience funding through the third phase, just as they were able to secure it during the first two phases of support. I would also echo the comments that Mick Antoniw made in...
Ken Skates: Diolch, acting Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I begin by thanking Rhun ap Iorwerth for bringing forward this short debate today, and also thank the Member for his participation in last week's round-table discussion concerning the future of the Wylfa site? There's no escaping the severity of the wider economic situation that we face right now across Wales, across the globe, and particularly on...
