North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today questioned the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates MS, over the timescale for small charities and social businesses to receive essential funding to help them survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
Raising the issue when taking part in today’s virtual Welsh Parliament Plenary meeting, Mr Isherwood said that they desperately need the financial help now, but are being told they can’t yet apply for it.
Speaking this afternoon via ‘Zoom’ from his home in North Wales, Mr Isherwood said:
“A fortnight ago, the Welsh Government announced that small charities within the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors will receive a £10,000 Covid-19 business grant. Today, the Business Wales website is still saying “More details on how to apply will be on the website shortly”.
“What is your response to the charities and social businesses telling me they “have numerous bills to pay and hope this financial help may come sooner rather than later.”
The Minister replied:
“In terms of social businesses, they are also eligible for the Economic Resilience Fund and, indeed, I believe more than 1.5 per cent of awards have been made to social businesses - higher than the proportion of social businesses as a total of the economy as a whole, demonstrating our commitment to that particular sector.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said: “Instead of answering my question, this dodging, diving Minister referred to the currently paused Economic Resilience Fund, which was no consolation to the eligible not-for-profit providers in our communities in desperate need of straight answers and essential funding. Interestingly, however, the message on the Business Wales has been changed since I spoke and it looks like these not-for-profit organisations can now apply. Why didn’t he just say so?”
