6. What support is the Welsh Government providing to hospitality businesses during the coronavirus pandemic? OQ55629

I can tell the Member today that 672 micro and SME businesses in the hospitality sector in north Wales alone have been awarded funding through the economic resilience fund, and that amounts to more than £12 million. The third phase of the economic resilience fund will include a ring-fenced £20 million for businesses in tourism and hospitality.

Thank you. How do you respond to the hospitality sector representatives in north Wales who have asked me to advocate most strongly on behalf of full-licensed hotels being able to serve alcohol to hotel residents after the 10 p.m. curfew, emphasising the critical distinction be taken into consideration in that the hotel will become the guest's official residence during their stay, effectively their home, that a hotel has every incentive to abide by the curfew for non-residents in order to protect its licence, that although the current guidelines say that alcohol can be served via room service, this creates operational issues with staffing and will dull or destroy the overall ambience hoteliers are attempting to create, that this subtle clarification will help to keep hotels viable during the pandemic and the bleak winter hospitality is facing, and that this may also provide Welsh hotels with a slight competitive advantage?

I am extremely aware of the challenge that the hospitality sector is facing right now, but I have to say that small exceptions in isolation might be one thing, but once you grant an exception to one subsector for one particular area of activity, the door is then blown open for others to demand exceptions as well. In the aggregate, that can have a major impact on our ability to bring down transmission numbers. Of course, we will listen to any calls for exceptions, but there has to be an extraordinarily compelling reason to allow exceptions during these difficult times, because if we don't get transmission rates under control, particularly in those areas where there are restrictions, we will unfortunately see those restrictions last for longer. There is a role for all of us, as Caroline Jones has outlined this afternoon, not just to consider what we can and cannot do by the law, but also what we should and should not do as individuals responsible for one another. That does mean acting responsibly, it does mean taking responsibility not just for one's own life and behaviour but also for one's family and the community in which we live. We have to get through this as a team, as a society, and so whilst I've listened to calls for exceptions like the one that the Member has outlined, as I say, it would have to be a very, very compelling argument to support it.

Can I ask you, Minister, what discussions are you having with the brewery sector in all its diversity in Wales, from microbreweries to the growing independent, indigenous brewers that add to the Wales brand for top-quality local food and drink, like Brecon Brewing of Brecon and—wait for it—of Ogmore, to ensure that everything is being done to ensure the future of these local job-creating businesses as we work through the challenges of COVID? And what discussions have you had with the UK Government to ensure that they play their part in supporting these businesses and jobs too?

Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his question? He makes a very important point—that independent brewers are not just important for the food and drink sector, but actually they're important for our culture and identity. I've visited many independent brewers across Wales, and their contribution to the economy is quite extraordinary. They are creative, they show great resolve as well, when they're up against large international brewers, and so we've listened to them very carefully in terms of what support is required to assist them through this pandemic. Indeed, the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language, and the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, have established and regularly attend a hospitality stakeholder group to consider the impacts on the sector of the pandemic. The views of that group feed into the work that I take forward within my department, and I'm pleased to be able to say that the views of the independent brewery sector informed the decision to ensure that there is that £20 million fund specific to tourism and hospitality businesses. And, of course, independent brewers will be able to apply for business development grants, which could prove to be hugely, hugely helpful in transitioning to the post-COVID reality. But equally, you're right to say that the UK Government has an important role in this, and we've consistently called on the Chancellor to increase the level of support to sectors that are subject to Government restrictions, including hospitality.

Question 7 [OQ55656] has been withdrawn. Finally, therefore, question 8—Paul Davies.