Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:34 pm on 23 March 2021.
Can I thank the First Minister for that answer, and can I welcome the support given to the thousands of small businesses across Aberavon during the pandemic to ensure that, as the First Minister said, those in business in 2019 can stay in business when we come out of this pandemic? Now, there are still some who may need that support for a little bit longer because of the sectors they work in, such as Sonalyst in my consistency. But most of our small businesses actually depend on our major employer in Port Talbot, and that's steel, and the need for Government to continue its support for steel is critical, particularly in the face of the Tory denial over the future of the steel sector in Wales. It appears that cronyism is rife in the Tory Party, because we're seeing David Cameron lobbying Rishi Sunak for support for an investment company directly, but not for these businesses that the investment currently supports. Therefore, can the First Minister give steelworkers in my constituency, and in the wider region, assurances that this Welsh Labour Government will continue to stand up for our steel sector and support the industry as it moves towards decarbonisation in order to build a strong, sustainable steel industry for the future and for generations to come?