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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:35 pm on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 1:35, 10 June 2020

Can I thank the Minister for his statement? I think much of it I also heard at the Welsh Government's 12:30 briefing today, which you led.

Minister, retail businesses in England will be reopening on Monday, and Welsh businesses, specifically those on the border, such as in your constituency and mine, will be disadvantaged. I wonder what you can say to these businesses in terms of giving them some hope that they'll be able to open at the earliest opportunity possible, and how would you address their concerns about being disadvantaged with perhaps a competitor opening just a few miles away from them?

I'm not only concerned about businesses across the border, but there are some retail businesses in Wales that are opening against Welsh Government guidance, and as much as I would like them to open, and believe they should, it's the law that they should not. I gave you one example yesterday, when we met privately. I wonder what you would say in terms of enforcement action against these kinds of businesses, and ensuring that local authorities are given the correct advice to these kinds of businesses, because it's absolutely unfair for retail businesses that are abiding by the law.

With regard to the next phase of the economic resilience fund, I'm very pleased that you've brought forward the date for the criteria. I'm very pleased that you widened the criteria, as you have. But I wonder if you could commit, Minister, to bringing forward the date from which businesses will begin receiving payments under phase 2 of the fund. I think it would be extremely disappointing and frustrating if businesses could not apply for assistance until the end of the month. I think, in many cases, and sadly, in some cases, that will just be too late. And there's also some massive concern, of course, as Helen Mary pointed out as well, that there are still some businesses that will not be eligible for support at all—B&Bs are one example—and I wonder if you could tell us more about the bursary. What can we tell our constituents when a business contacts us and we've told them to wait for phase 2, they've put all their hopes on that, they've checked the criteria and they still are not eligible for support, and they've had no Government support at all for businesses?