WTA Chair Confirmation of Package of Measures for Welsh Tourism Businesses direct from Secretary of State for Wales

Andrew Campbell, WTA Chair gets confirmation of package of measures for Welsh Tourism Businesses direct from Simon Hart MP, Secretary of State for Wales

Andrew Campbell, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance has this morning spoken with the Secretary of State for Wales Rt Hon Simon Hart MP to seek clarity as to what can be done to support tourism businesses through the unspecified period of disruption being caused by COVID-19.
Andrew raised many of the concerns that the industry has with Simon Hart, particularly with regard to the loss of the forthcoming season and the ability of our businesses to meet business costs with little or no income at all for an unspecified period.

In response the Secretary of State has confirmed that:

-       There will be parity for Wales with the suite of measures announced yesterday by the Chancellor. See details below.
-       Clarity will be provided to businesses and much of the access will be via local authorities.
-       That there will be measures put in place to ensure that businesses are able to access the support. The WTA has asked specifically for a helpline to assist.
-       Following the cancellation of the Tourism Cross Party Group meetings, we have requested the establishment of a COBR style group that includes the WTA and other key tourism bodies.

In brief, the Chancellor’s announcement included the following package of measures:

·         a statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs
·         a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses
·         small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
·         grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
·         the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank
·         a new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
·         the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme
 
Full details can be found here: https://gov.wales/ministers-announce-new-14bn-business-support-package
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