Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 1:44 pm on 23 June 2021.
Well, I'm really pleased we were able to provide that 12-month business rate relief for businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors here in Wales, which, of course, goes further than what's available to businesses across the border, and actually cost us more than what we received from the UK Government in consequential funding, but that's because we put such a premium on supporting businesses in those sectors, which are largely small and medium-sized enterprises.
So, we will obviously look to continue to support businesses in any way that we can, and you're absolutely right that there is significant unallocated resource in the COVID reserve. However, that will need to meet needs across Welsh life. So, I would be expecting in the fairly near future to be making further announcements on support for the NHS and further support for local government, should it be needed through the hardship fund and so forth. There are lots of pressures on that additional funding, but I do want to provide reassurance that there will be announcements in respect of COVID funding in various areas in due course.