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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:37 pm on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 1:37, 10 June 2020

Thank you, Russell. First of all, I'd say with regard to businesses in borderland areas, we've got the benefit in Wales of having the regular review points, and so the dates are known to businesses. At the last review point, the First Minister said that, over the next three weeks, non-essential retail could begin a process of looking at how they may be able to reopen after the subsequent review point, if infection levels are sufficiently low. That next review point is coming on 18 June—just next week—so there's only a tiny time lag of a matter of days between what's happening in England and what's happening in Wales. But, obviously, it would've been desirable if we could've had those regular review points adhered to on both sides of the border, and ideally if the review points could have been at exactly the same time. That's not happened, but here in Wales we have stuck to what the First Minister has called that regular rhythm of three-week review points, giving some certainty and clarity to the business community of Wales.

Our confidence is absolutely key to the competitiveness of businesses. Still, around 60 per cent of people in Wales are too nervous to leave their own homes. So, quite frankly, if a business opens but two thirds of people are too scared to leave their own homes, they are going to struggle to make ends meet, they are going to struggle to be viable. So, as well as opening businesses, we have to ensure that people have confidence in order to access them. To do that, we've got to see the R number fall sufficiently for people to regain confidence, and we have to make sure that workplaces are safe for people to access. That's why the guidance that we're publishing on that is so very, very important.

If we can bring forward the application date, we clearly will do. We need to close off any existing applications for ERF round 1 funds to ensure that there is no duplication of applications and that we have completed all of the processing that needs to take place. There are a large number of businesses that we are now finding who are saying that they're ineligible for various support schemes, but we are subsequently finding actually are eligible, and this is why it's so important that businesses visit the Business Wales website, that they run through the eligibility checker and that they submit accurate details as well, because businesses such as—. The examples of B&Bs and market traders have been used. They should be eligible for the self-employment income support scheme, or, if they employ, they should be eligible for furlough. When they're not eligible for those, then, obviously, there could be the potential of the ERF being open to them. But if there are any businesses, once we have run through the process of establishing the start-up bursary, as well as ERF phase 2, then we would be able to look at supporting them through, potentially, a discretionary hardship bursary that could be administered by local authorities, and work is taking place with local authorities in that regard.

And then, to the final point regarding fair play across businesses, I would agree with Russell George that all businesses should adhere to the rules that have clearly been set out. Where they do not, then we will seek to take enforcement action against them. We are all in this endeavour together, and we must all abide by the rules and the guidance if we are to maintain social cohesion and if we are to maintain the best possible prospects for businesses to emerge from this virus intact.