Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:47 pm on 8 July 2020.
Diolch, Llywydd. Much has been made by the bad cop, Russell George—no, the good cop, Russell George—75 per cent of his speech was bad cop—making reference to the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee evidence. Well, point 2, I think, of the motion says that the Conservatives regret the failure of the Welsh Government to provide adequate support for Welsh bus operators. But the evidence from Nigel Winter, the managing director of Stagecoach South Wales, in the committee—. I asked him this question:
'Can I ask about the effectiveness of Welsh Government support, financial support, during the crisis, and how the funding is being allocated and on what basis?'
His reply, if I can just put it on the record:
'If I can answer that, Chair, I think, first of all, to say that, when the pandemic first hit at the end of March/beginning of April, I thought that the reaction by the Minister to support the industry was very much appreciated, very timely, very quick. I think that his decisive action helped to sustain operators, which would otherwise, I think, have been in some serious financial difficulty.'
I think we need that on the record.