Commenting on the number of people being supported through the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament, Paul Davies MS, said:
“It is thanks to the UK Government and their historic action that more than 316,000 jobs have been protected in Wales, along with support for 102,000 people who are self-employed. The financial support for the self-employed has topped more than £200 million and is in addition to the £2.2 billion that the Welsh Government has received from the UK Government to defeat Covid-19.
“This virus has attacked us to our very core. Only by working together are we getting through this. By supporting businesses, big and small, and the independent plumbers, electricians, builders and many other self-employed people that we can make sure that our economy is ready to fire on all cylinders when we can finally push the gas pedal and ease the lockdown. All of which is only possible with Wales being a strong member of a strong United Kingdom.
“But we must think longer-term than just getting through this pandemic. We need to make sure we unleash Wales’ potential for the future, by supporting businesses we can let them flourish and grow creating new jobs across Wales and enabling people to provide for them and their families.”
