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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:28 pm on 22 April 2020.

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Photo of David Rowlands David Rowlands UKIP 4:28, 22 April 2020

Okay, I've done it myself. Fine.

Thank you very much, Minister, for your statement this afternoon, but also can I thank you for the regular weekly updates we get as spokespersons, which are very comprehensive and, in fact, leave very little wriggle room for questions, if I could say that?

Can I also say that I think that many of the agencies you're using for the interventions, particularly local authorities, and the Development Bank of Wales in particular—can we all thank them for the tremendous work they are doing? It's without doubt that they are stepping up to the plate.

I would like to reiterate quite a few things that Helen Mary Jones and Russell George said with regard to the ability of certain sectors to access funds. It's very difficult to know exactly where the gaps are, and we appreciate that, and also the fact that we have to remember that this is public money and there must be safeguards with regard to the scrutiny of people applying for those funds. So, we realise that there may be delays in those funds coming through.

One of the areas that I want to specifically ask about is the construction industry, where there seems to be a very mixed bag of what's going on in the construction industry. For instance, what is happening on the A465 at this moment? Is there still progress going on there or are the works closed down? What's coming back to you from the construction industry with regard to what's happening with the COVID-19 crisis?