Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Russell George for his question? The sector-specific fund at the outset came under intense demand from businesses, obviously, because there is a desperate need for support for those enterprises that are suffering so dearly right now. I can tell Russell George and Members that, as of today, more than 7,600 applications have been submitted, worth in the region of £70 million...
Ken Skates: I thank Russell George for his further questions and say that, in terms of the overall numbers, there are between 8,500 and 9,000 businesses within the sector that the specific fund has been established to support. So, of those 8,500 to 9,000 businesses, I think 7,600 applications is pretty impressive so far, but obviously we are leaving the fund open to give every opportunity to those...
Ken Skates: I'd agree entirely with Russell George that there is a need for urgency in terms of how we support businesses, get money into business accounts and, I think, between Welsh Government, Business Wales and local authorities, the effort has been really quite remarkable in Wales, in terms of the speed at which we've been able to administer grants and awards. But Russell George is also right that...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Helen Mary Jones for the points that she raises and the very valid questions? And I should begin by saying that, normally, this department would administer something in the region of £20 million to £30 million of business support grants through the business and regions budget line in an average year. And, of course, there would be other grants that would be awarded for...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank Helen Mary Jones for her further contribution? And she's absolutely right, we would not be in a position—we would simply not be able to afford to replace schemes such as the job retention scheme and the self-employment support scheme in Wales. That requires the might of the UK Treasury. But, throughout this pandemic, what we have done is respond swiftly and appropriately...
Ken Skates: Helen Mary Jones raises yet another important point, and that is that no young person should have to move out of their community in order to move up in the world. They simply should not have to move away from home if they do not wish to do so. In support of young people, who we know from previous recessions will find it more difficult to enter the jobs market, we have established the barriers...
Ken Skates: The agreement reached between the UK Government and the European Union on 24 December 2020, following negotiations, makes trading with the EU considerably more complex. We will continue to do everything possible to support businesses, including Holyhead port, as they adjust, whilst working alongside the UK Government.
Ken Skates: Indeed. Llyr Huws Gruffydd is absolutely right; it makes a very significant contribution to the Welsh economy and, I'd argue as well, to the UK economy as a whole, which is why it's vitally important that the UK Government respond favourably to the letter that I sent just yesterday addressed to Grant Shapps. In that letter, I expressed my very deep concern over the significant bureaucratic...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Darren Millar for his question and say that, first and foremost, it's not just through procurement that we can promote more and better local sourcing? What I've been very impressed by is some of the outcomes of the foundational economy challenge fund, where there are examples, particularly in terms of seafood, of businesses within the foundational economy capturing more business...
Ken Skates: Increasing the frequency of services to Maesteg is a key component of the south Wales metro. Transport for Wales are now undertaking stage 2 of the WelTAG process to assess the options for increasing service frequency on this vitally important route.
Ken Skates: I most certainly will, and can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for the campaign that he's mounted on behalf of his constituents regarding this matter? We're now working on phase 2 of the WelTAG process to develop options further, and it's important this work continues to take place with the support and engagement of local stakeholders, and Huw Irranca-Davies has been hugely supportive of our...
Ken Skates: Yes, of course. We'll do all that we possibly can do to make sure that businesses are able to recover from the pandemic and we'll continue to support jobs and our economy. In South Wales Central, the latest restrictions fund has seen more than 4,700 businesses receive in excess of £15.5 million and the sector-specific fund has made 175 payments worth more than £1 million so far.
Ken Skates: I'd first of all say that there's an odd rationale in Gareth Bennett's argument. He says that essentially, public money should be ploughed into privately owned airports, but public money from Westminster should not be invested in a publicly owned airport within Wales. My argument would be that actually, with most passenger airports globally having some form of public ownership, and some form...
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely. On Friday 22 January, we further enhanced our package of support to businesses affected by alert level four restrictions by £200 million, taking its total to £650 million.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for her question, which is so very important to the economy, not just of her constituency, but to north Wales and, indeed, the whole of Wales? Tourism and hospitality are vitally important, supporting thousands upon thousands of people, many of whom are amongst the lowest income earners, and are most likely to be adversely impacted themselves by coronavirus....
Ken Skates: Yes, of course I will. Consultation is about to commence on several minor improvement schemes to address safety concerns in mid Wales. I will also be making an announcement for the start of the new Dyfi bridge scheme shortly having now agreed a revised construction programme.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Russell George for his question? And with regard to the Cefn bridge, I do apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of the work that is required, and I will write to the Member with a full response. With regard to the A458 Welshpool to Shrewsbury road, of course, we're working with counterparts across the border on improvement schemes to routes that cross Wales and...
Ken Skates: We have provided the most generous package of support for businesses anywhere in the UK since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, worth over £2 billion, which includes extensive business rates relief. £1.7 billion of that is now in businesses’ accounts.
Ken Skates: The trade disruption we are now seeing was an inevitable consequence of the UK Government’s approach to trading with the EU. We are pressing UK Ministers to do everything possible to help businesses navigate this new bureaucracy and limit the damage to EU-facing businesses and ports, including the port of Holyhead.
Ken Skates: This last year has been incredibly difficult for everyone—for the business having to close to prevent the spread of the virus, for the young person unable to find their first job, or the family struggling to get by because of a drop in household income. It has been one of the most challenging any of us have ever experienced. Whilst the work to combat the virus obviously goes on, it is...
