Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:25 pm on 19 May 2021.
Llywydd, can I congratulate you on your reappointment? It's very much a privilege for me to join the Welsh Parliament, and I hope I can add some value to the work of the Senedd and the people of Wales. First Minister, can I congratulate you also on being returned as First Minister? I look forward to working with you and your colleagues here, as I have for many, many months, but, obviously, in the role as a council leader. It's been an extremely challenging period in all of our lives, and I'm hopeful we are heading to some normality, and the steps we are taking are welcome.
I'm sure, First Minister, you would agree that Wales's economic recovery is fundamental to this country and the people of Wales, and our businesses have been through the most awful of times and need our continued support like never before. I'm sorry to labour this financial support question again, but, First Minister, the March NDR-linked grants package was designed to support businesses through to the election on 6 May, so as to ensure Ministers did not have to make announcements of further grants during the pre-election period, and many businesses now are very much dismayed and probably angry that the Government has said that the financial support they were expecting for April will not be honoured. Can I ask you, First Minister, that you review the Government's position in regard to that so that the businesses can perhaps get the support they were hoping to have? Thank you very much, First Minister.