Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:13 pm on 9 October 2019.
Can I thank Russell George for his comments and his questions? First of all, the media have reported that the collapse of the company was—in part at least, if not largely—due to the loss or the delay in securing Government contracts. That regards the contract, as far as I'm aware, with the Department for Work and Pensions, as the Welsh Government have no contractual relationship with Triumph Furniture. Again, I would stress that these are questions that need to be directed to the UK Government for answer.
Insofar as connectivity is concerned, Dawn Bowden herself chairs a sub-group of the Valleys taskforce, looking at the Heads of the Valleys road and how we can maximise the economic benefits from improved transportation links within the Valleys communities, and I'm sure that Dawn is making good progress in that regard.
And, insofar as finance and rescue and restructuring support is concerned, I have asked the Development Bank of Wales to utilise as much of the funding that it has available to it for that very purpose. But I'd also say, Dirprwy Lywydd, that we now need the UK Government to step forward with hard cash to back up the Kingfisher programme, which is looking at those businesses that are at risk right now and will be at risk as we leave the European Union.