Ken Skates: Joyce Watson makes a number of important points, and of course the role of the foundational economies can be crucially important within the community. I'm in no doubt there are small businesses that can identify how the company has been supporting them, whether they're directly in the automotive supply chain or whether they're a local newsagents, butcher or baker. This will have an impact,...
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely, I can offer Helen Mary Jones that assurance. Just recently, I was able to point to something of a success in terms of retaining some employment opportunities, that being at the Laura Ashley plant, again in Powys, where I think we were able to look at a number of opportunities and we were able to ultimately support the opportunity that has led to a number of people being...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Russell George for his questions and for the points that he rightly makes about the importance of this site to the community that it serves and the community that relies on it for well-paid jobs? Our regional team is already working to look at how we can support the community. We do have a good relationship with the company. We've offered a joint meeting with them and the Welsh...
Ken Skates: Well, can I express my sympathy for everybody working at the site? This is understandably devastating news, and my officials are in direct contact with the company, and they're exploring all potential options and available support.
Ken Skates: It sounds a really innovative scheme that that business has developed. I know that cinemas all across the UK are struggling, but hopefully in the case the Member has identified they'll be very successful. The whole purpose of the third phase of the economic resilience fund is to provide support through short periods of restrictions—but also through the business development grant to help...
Ken Skates: Everything possible. We have already awarded £9.5 million through the first two phases of the economic resilience fund, and a further £5.4 million through the Development Bank of Wales. That's gone to more than 700 businesses in Pembrokeshire.
Ken Skates: Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his question? He makes a very important point—that independent brewers are not just important for the food and drink sector, but actually they're important for our culture and identity. I've visited many independent brewers across Wales, and their contribution to the economy is quite extraordinary. They are creative, they show great resolve as well, when...
Ken Skates: I am extremely aware of the challenge that the hospitality sector is facing right now, but I have to say that small exceptions in isolation might be one thing, but once you grant an exception to one subsector for one particular area of activity, the door is then blown open for others to demand exceptions as well. In the aggregate, that can have a major impact on our ability to bring down...
Ken Skates: I can tell the Member today that 672 micro and SME businesses in the hospitality sector in north Wales alone have been awarded funding through the economic resilience fund, and that amounts to more than £12 million. The third phase of the economic resilience fund will include a ring-fenced £20 million for businesses in tourism and hospitality.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question and the important points that she made about the responsibility that we all have as citizens in trying to overcome this challenge? I'm pleased to say, Llywydd, that based on surveys, based on field work, we're seeing an average of 95 per cent compliance of passengers wearing face coverings on both trains and buses. That's quite an impressive figure,...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and say that I'm extremely sympathetic to the point that he makes? Short platform challenges are a problem elsewhere in Wales as well, and TfW, I know, are regularly reviewing not just the figures concerning transmission of COVID, but also how they might be able to produce a novel solution to the challenge faced by stations that are too short to allow...
Ken Skates: Can I thank Nick Ramsay for his question? I think I will write to the Member with comprehensive detail of the rationale behind the measures that have been taken by TfW. But just to highlight briefly that Transport for Wales are currently operating 70 buses, in addition to all of the trains, to support public transport across Wales, and students from the same educational establishments can...
Ken Skates: Yes, absolutely. The safety of customers and staff remains TfW's top priority. I continue to discuss social distancing with Transport for Wales and, indeed, with other industry partners as we work collaboratively to ensure that the safety of passengers on public transport continues.
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his question and assure the Member that the measures are proportionate? As I've already said, they're designed to ensure that the period in which restrictions apply is minimised, taking action early, limiting the amount of time that we have to apply those restrictions. On Monday, I met with members of the north Wales business council, including key representatives...
Ken Skates: Absolutely. The visitor economy is hugely important to the Welsh economy, particularly in north Wales. We have been overwhelmed by the spirit and perseverance of the sector during the crisis. We have recognised this not just by giving the tourism industry support through the first two phases of the economic resilience fund and through the non-domestic rates related grants, but also earmarking...
Ken Skates: Well, I can assure the Member that, if they're able to meet the criteria of the business development grants or the local lockdown grants, they will be able to secure the funding. But it's also worth highlighting the fact that the UK Government has an important role to play in this area, because it's the UK Government that is responsible for the self-employment income support scheme. And the...
Ken Skates: Helen Mary Jones is absolutely right: there is a key role for local authorities to play. I spoke with the spokesperson for WLGA yesterday concerning economic development and discussions have proceeded very well at an official level as well, because local government will be crucial in administering the local lockdown funds to businesses. I can assure the Member today that, unlike in England, a...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for her question and say that the third phase of the economic resilience fund contains £60 million to support businesses in areas that are subject to local restrictions? We'll continue to press the UK Government to take bolder steps in assuring our economic recovery and supporting future prosperity for businesses and people across the UK, including in Wales.
Ken Skates: Well, not just myself but also my colleagues, primarily Kirsty Williams, the education Minister, would I'm sure take a very keen interest in the proposal. We will look at it very carefully, and I can assure the Member that I'm in regular calls with TVR and with Britishvolt. These are significant opportunities for the Welsh economy, and in particular TVR offers an enormous opportunity for the...
Ken Skates: Well, I'd like to thank the Member for his question and, again, stress the importance of our recently published manufacturing plan; that covers those areas of growth in engineering that the Member has asked about. He has until the middle of the month to make his views known on the manufacturing plan, but there are opportunities for growth, of that there is no doubt. Today, I've learnt about...
