Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 16 March 2021.
Thank you for that response, First Minister. Now, the Welsh Government's announcement on Friday was met with particular frustration from non-essential local businesses in Pembrokeshire, some of whom had planned for potential reopening this week and incurred costs to do so. You previously suggested that businesses selling non-essential products should look to reopen from next Monday, and now that's been put back until 12 April. In light of this change in direction from the Welsh Government, can you confirm exactly what scientific evidence was used to continue to prohibit the reopening of non-essential retail outlets until 12 April, and can you confirm that the Welsh Government will recoup the costs that have been made by businesses, so that, at the very least, those businesses are not further disadvantaged financially as a result of the delay in reopening non-essential retail outlets?