Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 2 March 2021.
Can I ask for a statement on the state of the aviation sector in Wales? The Chancellor, in today's budget, has the last opportunity for the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme, to give specific sectoral support for the aviation sector in Wales. The aviation sector in Wales is virtually on the brink of collapse if something doesn't happen—companies like GE Aviation Wales in my constituency, where they're at economic risk of losing hundreds of skilled jobs in Wales, and other parts of the aviation sector. At GE in Nantgarw, a further 180 men have been furloughed until 30 April, leaving at the moment just 350 remaining in employment in Nantgarw, and, as I've said, other plants are at risk. So, we are at risk of losing an entire sector, so this is a crisis situation emerging that will have a massive impact on Wales. So it's vital we look at how the industry can be supported in Wales, and vital that the UK Government actually extends the furlough scheme by at least six months. A couple of months' extension, as has been suggested, is not the specific support that the sector needs to actually survive, compared with the support being given to the aviation sector in other European countries. And I think this matter requires really an urgent statement from Welsh Government.