4. Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:36 pm on 22 April 2020.

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Photo of Nick Ramsay Nick Ramsay Conservative 4:36, 22 April 2020

[Inaudible.]—Dirprwy Lywydd, and can I concur with previous sentiments that we're thinking of those on the front line at the moment in our public services? And I know that the Minister for economy has stated that as well.

If I could just ask a couple of questions about the economy specifically, then transport, Minister. First of all, a number of speakers, including Russ George, have spoken about the problem of some businesses that feel that they're falling through the gaps, as it were. One of those that I spoke to recently, one business owner, is concerned that, if you qualify for rate relief, that can exclude you from the resilience fund and you can go around in circles. So, I wonder if you could clarify the situation there.

Also, I've been contacted by the owner of a soft play centre in Abergavenny only today, and she's had concerns about the criteria for applying for emergency funding, on the basis that I think you either have to be hospitality or leisure, and her business fits into neither of those. In fact, it probably fits into both and, clearly, a soft play centre, it may be something that isn't seen as important as other facilities at certain points in time, but, of course, parents, children, when we come out of this problem time that we're in, those people will be relying on it; parents will be relying on that sort of educational and play experience for their children. So, I wonder if you could look again at the categories and those businesses that might not fit strictly into one category.

And, finally on the economy, the self-employed—a local businessman, again concerned that, to be eligible for Welsh Government emergency funding, you have to have an average profit, I think, or show an average profit, over three years, and he was concerned that, actually, it's the last year that is most specific to him. So, I don't know whether you could, or ask your officials to, look into whether there could be some exceptions made in terms of the profitability of businesses.

Secondly, the second area I wanted to just mention briefly was transport and PPE availability. Firstly, public transport: a key worker at the Heath hospital who I know waited 75 minutes the other night for a bus home. I just wonder what's being done to support the bus industry at this time, particularly when it comes to our key workers and providing them transport back and forth; they're on the front line. And, of course, the bus drivers themselves and the staff with Transport for Wales—they're on the front line as well, and I wonder whether PPE has been considered for them. I know there are stresses and strains on that at the moment, but that might be something to look at going forward.

And the haulage industry, which some speakers have mentioned, and delivery drivers—Amazon and the like—they're working very hard for companies at the moment, and they are, probably, in many cases, keeping the economy moving in terms of people getting their supplies and people getting their shopping. So, I just wonder what help is being made available to companies like that to provide adequate protection for their drivers and for their staff.

Very finally, Minister, on the issue of social distancing, it's a very difficult thing to achieve on public transport, so I just wonder how you're liaising with Transport for Wales to make sure that, when it does come to this, and, indeed, when we do start coming out of the lockdown, as, hopefully, we will at some point, if there are still any social distancing implications in place, then Transport for Wales and public transport will be given the sort of support and guidance that they need.