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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:46 pm on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 1:46, 10 June 2020

Can I thank David Rowlands for his question? I repeat the point that I have made to previous speakers—that, in order to ensure that your business is operational, you have to be able to generate an income, and if people are not confident to access services, then they simply won't do so. So, in order to make sure that pubs and cafes and restaurants, when they decide to reopen their doors, can survive and make a profit, we have to ensure that people have confidence to access them. We have to make sure that they are operating in a safe way. We gave non-essential retailers notice at our previous review point that they should prepare for a safe reopening over the next three weeks, and the First Minister will be making a statement at the next review point regarding that work that is taking place, and the progress that's being made in terms of controlling the virus. There will then subsequently be review points at 9 July and also at 30 July. At those review points, we may be able to say more about other parts of the economy that can reopen safely, but ultimately, we have to ensure that the public are with us, because if you have people refusing to leave their homes, we are simply not going to be able to support the reopening of those important businesses in the hospitality sector and many other sectors as well.