PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Manufacturing Industries: Coronavirus (13 July 2020)

I appreciate the huge impact Covid-19 has had on business owners and employees in the Welsh manufacturing sector and have met with stakeholders across the sector to discuss concerns.

The UK Government has taken prompt and decisive action to support the economy during these difficult times. We have implemented unprecedented measures to help businesses through the outbreak, including through the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, VAT deferral and Bounce Back Loans.

Our measures to keep Welsh workers in Jobs have included the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“furlough”) and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Up to 30 June 2020, 378,400 employments were furloughed and 108,000 SEISS claims worth £289m were made in Wales. Via Barnett Consequentials, the Welsh Government has received an additional £2.8bn to support the fight against Covid-19, including an additional £500m as a result of spending announced at the Summer Economic Update by the Chancellor.

The UK Government has also provided a loan directly to Celsa Steel to help support them during these difficult times. This loan secured 800 positions at the company’s main site in South Wales.