6. How is the Welsh Government supporting the hospitality sector during the pandemic? OQ57638

Llywydd, unprecedented levels of financial support have been provided to hospitality and tourism businesses throughout the pandemic, but the greatest support has come through the measures taken to keep staff and customers safe in the face of a global emergency.

I was contacted by many concerned north Wales constituents running legitimate self-catering accommodation businesses regarding the Welsh Government's business support grant, launched following the introduction of alert level 2 restrictions in December. For example, one stated, 'Our farm cottages sleep 22 in a courtyard. The grant is only available to self-catering properties for 30 or more guests. I lost all my bookings over Christmas and the new year as guests chose England over Wales for their festive breaks.' Another said, 'Our cottage holidays business is a bona fide holiday let business with accounts to support it, providing enterprise, employment and value to the area of the Dee Valley.' Another said, 'My only income comes from our self-catering business. We've been impacted by 100 per cent decrease in bookings December to February. We feel discriminated against.' When I referred this to your economy Minister, he replied, 'There are no restrictions in place for indoor household mixing. Therefore self-catering accommodation is not eligible', to which businesses replied, 'We lost bookings because of the Welsh Government decision and because of the restrictions put in place on pubs and restaurants. My guests chose to spend the festive period in parts of the UK where there were no restrictions'—.i.e. not Wales—'Can you please ask the Government to return the funding lost from Welsh businesses?' So, this isn't a question about the restrictions you put in place, this is about the support for the businesses affected. So, how do you respond to the many legitimate Welsh businesses in north Wales who have written to me about this?

Well, I respond in exactly the way that the Member has already heard from the economy Minister: those businesses were able to operate. There were no restrictions on their ability to operate. It is not legitimate to expect the taxpayer to step in in those circumstances.