Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the first Minister of Wales on financial support for businesses during covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
I have regular discussions with the First Minister of Wales and his Ministerial team on our governments’ responses to Covid-19.
Over the past eight months of this crisis, the UK Government and the Welsh Government have worked together co-operatively on measures to help people in Wales get through the Covid outbreak.
The UK Government has guaranteed £5 billion in further funding to the Welsh Government to support its response to the virus. In addition to the extra funding our Coronavirus Business Loan Scheme has supported over 1,600 Welsh businesses, our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has protected over 401,000 jobs, our Self-Employed Income Support Scheme has helped over 108,000 self-employed people and we have backed 48,000 bounce back loans.
The Government’s extension of CJRS to the end of March further demonstrates that we are taking the steps needed to provide further financial support to protect jobs and businesses in Wales and right across the UK.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Islwyn)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps the Government is taking to help protect employment in the tourism sector in Wales from the effects of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The UK Government has protected jobs in Wales’ tourism sector through a far-reaching range of measures, including cuts to VAT, incentives to keep workers in their jobs and the Enjoy Summer Safely campaign, which encouraged thousands of people to get back out and enjoy the best Wales has to offer.
We recognise the challenging times ahead. We are increasing support for businesses and employees in Wales by extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Both schemes provide invaluable support to the hard-hit tourism and hospitality sectors that are so crucially important in Wales.
Our Plan for Jobs will also make available up to £30 billion to protect jobs, including those in the tourism sector.