A fire-break lockdown for Wales could help save Christmas for businesses - claimed Economy Minister Ken Skates today.
Yesterday Mark Drakeford confirmed the country would spend 17 days under a spring style lockdown with a stay at home message and pubs, restaurants and cafes closed.
This has sparked huge concerns about the economic impact with fears businesses and jobs will be lost.
The last chance for retail and hospitality firms to salvage something from 2020 will be the run up to Christmas and the festive period itself.
For many this period allows firms to survive January and February.
Today Ken Skates said: "Countless businesses have told me in recent weeks how important the pre-Christmas is to their trade.
"We hope through this two week short, sharp, fire break we can give them a clear run at that vitally important economic opportunity."
But Jimmy Williams, from Signatures restaurant in Conwy, said currently it was near impossible for them to plan for Christmas.
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He said: “We are trying to plan for Christmas but it is so difficult as we just don’t know what the restrictions will be.
"Christmas will be the last chance for many of us to save something from 2020, it is so important to get people through January and February.
"But it is hard to take bookings when we just don't know what will be happening."
The Economy minister added: "One of the messages we have received loud and clear is that businesses want certainty so that they can plan and prepare, and that they need a clear package of support to help them through this difficult time.
“This enhanced package of support, which will see us doubling the third phase of our Economic Resilience Fund and quickly getting money out to our businesses to support them through this firebreak and beyond, is designed to provide just that.”
The economic package will see:
- Payments of £1,000 for businesses that are eligible for Small Business Rates relief and occupy a property with a rateable value of £12,000 or less.
- Payments of up to £5,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses that are required to close and which occupy a property with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £50,000.
- A discretionary £2,000 top-up grant for businesses closed or materially affected by the firebreak lockdown.
- A further discretionary £1,000 grant for businesses that were materially affected by local lockdown measures for 21 days or more prior to the start of the firebreak.
- £80m ERF fund announced recently increased to £100m. £20m ringfenced for tourism and hospitality.
Welsh Government has been asked what support will be available for businesses with a rateable value over £50,000.