Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 9 June 2021.
Thank you, Minister. The reality is in Wales, of course, that the one institution that can give the confidence to SMEs is the Government. We know that the SMEs themselves bring the drive and entrepreneurship; they're a vital resource for their drive, their passion and their expertise in their relative fields. However, to secure this drive and investment, SMEs need certainty. Long-term business plans created prior to the pandemic have likely been scrapped, or at least need to be reviewed as a matter of urgency, and it's understandable why. Is the Welsh Government prepared to go further than their current support and be ready to invest in Welsh SMEs to provide that certainty, instil that confidence in the sector and create the conditions necessary for growth that will drive the Welsh economy forward?