Russell George MS – the Shadow Minister for Economy, Business, and Infrastructure – has today called for an extension of the Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) to include businesses not currently in localised lockdowns, but that will be affected by the travel ban due to come into force on Friday.
Seventeen of Wales’ 22 local authorities are in some form of lockdown.
Mr George said:
“Across Wales, business owners and their staff have been relying on financial support to see them through the unprecedented effects of the lockdowns.
“Area by area, Wales seems to be creeping into another full lockdown, but rather than be transparent and say this, the Welsh Labour-led Government has instead unilaterally imposed today’s travel ban that will have a significant impact on areas not locked down, such as Pembrokeshire.
“It’s a double whammy of despair for businesses. They will lose vital income and at the same time they won’t be able to access Phase 3 of the ERF unless the First Minister and the Labour Party widens accessibility.
“Businesses, especially those in the hospitality and leisure sectors that by their nature are seasonal, have suffered enough.
“If the administration here doesn’t step up to help by extending Phase 3 of the ERF, then these businesses and their employees will have been condemned to fail.”
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