Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 26 August 2020.
Llywydd, I agree about the importance of the hospitality and tourism industry. I'm glad the Welsh Government has been able to work closely with the industry in its safe and, I think, on the whole, successful reopening in Wales. I know that there are many businesses who'd had a very, very challenging early part of the year who have been able to take advantage of business that has come their way in the period since the restrictions on the industry were lifted.
I agree with what the leader of the opposition says about the challenges that are yet to come. We look to the UK Government not to bring its furlough scheme to a blunt end. There is a need for continuing support; targeted support, not a continuation of the scheme as originally envisaged, but where there are industries that are unable to resume as they would have previously, then further support from the UK Government is important.
We will go on supporting the industry to extend the season here in Wales. That is one of the ways in which we can help the industry to survive through this very, very difficult year. Having missed out on the early part of the season, anything we can do to persuade people to continue to visit and to continue to take holidays in the United Kingdom, and in Wales specifically, through September and into October, and to extend the season in other ways as well, will, I believe, be part of a formula that the industry will develop alongside the Government, in order to be able to bridge between the very difficult circumstances this year and what we hope will be possible for next year.
Let me say to the Member that he is very mistaken, I think, to criticise what was said by my colleague Vaughan Gething. He was simply pointing to the evidence we have in Wales of coronavirus flare-ups that are being driven by the behaviour of people in settings where their normal restraints and their normal good attention to the way in which coronavirus can be suppressed evaporates. That is not in the interest of the hospitality sector and it's certainly not in the interest of public health in Wales, and the warnings were very well made and would be very well heeded.