Recap: Welsh Government outlines how funding is helping business and services

Press conference ends

The press conference is now over.

Care homes

Extra £40million was provided to local authority hardship fund to help care homes, she said.

She said they should be able to draw that down, but if there is an issue with speed of care homes getting that money, she will look into it.

Furlough

On the furlough scheme, she said they would not be able to implement their own scheme.

She said they have been clear that UK Government “can’t force Welsh Government’s hand” in making decisions, so they need to be able to continue lockdown, she said.

She said that the UK Government has said they will continue scheme until August.

Welsh Government is seeking to help mould future of scheme.

Asked if Wales could be forced to come out of lockdown at the same time as England, she said it is incumbent of UK government to take decisions which support devolved nations.

Local lockdowns

She is asked if they are considering “local lockdowns” and whether they will consider that in North Wales.

She said they are not considering that, and said one of the strengths of message is that it applies equally.

Smaller lockdowns have potential for confusion, she said.

Testing and tracing work will be important for negating need for lockdown in future, she said.

That will be more useful, she said.

Way forward

She said they are considering next stage of response, in terms of recovery.

They are building on budget from March, which had capital package to “shift game on” in terms of green agenda she said.

She said this type of work will continue.

Care homes

She is now outlining what the Welsh Government has done about trying to help care homes.

She said she will provide figures on how many people have died at care homes.

She is now asked about how North Wales cases seem to be on the rise and what concerns they have.

Ms Evans said that they have been anticipating there will be areas where there are more cases. What is really important was to ensure BCUHB have bed capacity, she said.

She said when there are clusters, they have looked to ensure NHS has capacity.

She is asked about tests being sent to Cardiff from North Wales, and said there is a multitude of reasons why there might be a cluster.

Businesses reopening

She is asked about grants for businesses to get back open.

She said that they have the most generous support package for businesses in the UK.

She said that they will have to continue discussions with interested parties, but when they reopen business they do so with two metre distancing.

She is asked about the potential recession and how she will prepare.

She said all of the evidence said we are in for a “really rough time” for the period ahead. She said we can expect to see a stop-start recovery which is going to take “some time”.

The minister said they were trying to retain as many businesses as possible.

Questions from press

She is asked about what difference people would see if Welsh Government is given greater flexibility over funding rules.

The minister said the magnitude of challenge is huge, so they need to make use of “all possible levers”.

She said flexibilities are “relatively minor” but money could really help.

She said regulations have to be reviewed every three weeks, and Welsh Government cabinet will be meeting shortly on this.

She said she does not underestimate difficulty for people, but said transmission rates are falling and said it makes sacrifices worthwhile.

Press conference underway

The press conference is underway and Finance Minister Rebecca Evans is speaking.

She is talking about the supplementary budget, and how they have used this to change budget to combat coronavirus.

She said the evolving response has required levels of Government investment without rival in postwar era.

Over £2.4bn has been dedicated to Welsh Government’s coronavirus fight. This comes from funding from England, the Wales coronavirus reserve and repurposed EU funding.

Since march, £750million has been provided to NHS and public services response. Including funding for PPE, testing and NHS recruitment.

It has also provided finance for most vulnerable, she said.

Also paid for a £500 bonus for social care workers.

Business support package is “most generous in UK”, she said. More than 52,000 grants have been paid to businesses.

Applications of £10,000 and £25,000 will close on June 30.

The £500,000,000 economic resilience fund has provided money to SMEs.

Rigid financial rules have hampered their efforts, and they are calling for more flexible rules from UK Government so they can get hands on more funds.

They said their test is whether government will learn lessons from last recession, and to not choose austerity again.

Long term fiscal stimulus is needed, she said.

Press conference to take place

The Welsh Government’s finance minister is outlining how £2.4bn in funding is being spent to help businesses and public services hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

Rebecca Evans is holding today’s Welsh Government press conference and is outlining how money is being spent in Wales.

A supplementary budget is being outlined later today following a major funding boost for the Welsh Government from the UK Government to help tackle Covid-19.

We will bring you all the latest updates from the press conference as they happen.