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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:30 pm on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Helen Mary Jones Helen Mary Jones Plaid Cymru 1:30, 10 June 2020

I'm grateful to the Minister for his answer to my questions. Thinking of safe return to work and the Minister talking about need for such a return to be done with compassion and understanding from businesses, can the Minister confirm this afternoon that those who are shielding at home, not because they are vulnerable themselves but because their family members are vulnerable, can he confirm that he does not expect businesses in Wales to be pressurising those people to return to work until the shielding rules change?

I'd associate myself with what he said about the need for the UK Government to make continued investment in the Welsh economy. The Minister will be aware of the report that showed that, out of the 20 towns likely to be worst hit in England and Wales, 10 of those were in Wales, and, of course, that's greatly out of proportion with our population. Will the Minister consider making representations to the UK Government that any further business support should be on a base of the scale of need in Wales for that support, rather than on what has become the traditional Barnett formula?

And will he continue to make representations to the UK Government particularly around the furlough scheme for those who have been left behind? Many of the people who were changing jobs at the time when the furlough scheme begun have now been 10 weeks without any income, and, for some of them, they're not eligible for other kinds of support. So, can I ask the Minister today to make representations again to the UK Government on their behalf and to consider further whether there is anything more that could be done for them by the Welsh Government, fully understanding of course the limits on his budget?