7. Will the First Minister make a statement on support for businesses in Ynys Môn during the pandemic? OQ56065

I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for the question, Llywydd. The Welsh Government grant support to businesses in Ynys Mon during the pandemic now totals almost £30 million, not including the latest phase of the economic resilience fund. The difficulties faced by businesses on the island, as a result of COVID-19, will be far exceeded by the economic damage of a 'no deal' Brexit.

I would certainly agree with those forecasts, unfortunately. In terms of COVID, one sector that's suffered greatly is tourism and hospitality, which are being hit hard once again by the latest restrictions. Many have decided to close entirely. First of all, can the First Minister tell us when they can expect to receive the latest grant payments? Because although the customers have to stay away, the bills still have to be paid.

There other businesses who haven't been able to operate at all, virtually, since March, and they have no idea when they'll be able to recommence—businesses in events, weddings, outdoor pursuit centres; others are having to remain dormant for the winter. The speedboat company on the Menai, which had sold a great many tickets for Christmas, are now having to repay that money. So, what special consideration is given to such businesses who more or less will have to go into hibernation now, as far as we can see?

And can I also make an appeal on behalf of those businesses who still fall between the cracks in terms of financial support? Not paying salaries through PAYE or not being registered for VAT is still a problem for many. Another failed to show the scale of his losses, although income had collapsed almost entirely this year—that was a boat trip company. So, can I ask how the Government has, or is, going to do more to identify those gaps that businesses are still falling into, and how can we as Senedd Members help to pass information on about those difficulties faced by those businesses?

Well, Llywydd, may I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for that series of supplementary questions? Just to say, in the first place, that support under the most recent scheme has already started to be issued by the local authorities directly to businesses. And as I said in response to other questions this afternoon: hundreds of businesses have received that support already, and millions of pounds have gone directly to them, and the hope is that the sum will increase over this week.

And, of course, we are aware of the challenging times that the hospitality and tourism sectors are facing, and we continue to speak to them; the Minister responsible for them speaks to them every week to try and plan ahead for the future and for the new year. And the hope is that, if we can—we are not in that position today, as we've already been discussing—but in the future, the hope is to reopen those sectors and to support them to work as they would wish to work—not be dependant on Government grants, but to generate income through their own businesses.

And on that final point, we have endeavoured already to be more flexible in the way in which we take information or the evidence of their balance sheets, so that we can help them. Ultimately, Llywydd, the funding is public money, and we as a Government have to be certain, when we do give these businesses financial support, that we must ensure that they are genuine businesses. That is why, sometimes, we ask for evidence from them to demonstrate that they are who they say they are, and that we can then give them the funding in the knowledge that we can explain in the future that we did so in a way that is cautious on one side, but flexible at the same time.

And finally, question 8, Hefin David.