In an urgent letter to the incoming Minister for Economy, Janet Finch-Saunders MS – the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – has made clear the concerns of business owners across the constituency about the latest round of ERF support funding, including the need to backdate to the start of the 2021 financial year to assist with trading restart.
The Member has also made clear the need to urgently review wording contained on the Business Wales website, which is leading to some confusion about the evidence required for any future submitted claim. Janet is worried that this will see a repeat of last October’s firebreak lockdown when claims were rejected due to confusion over the evidence required.
Speaking of her urgent letter, Janet said:
“Whilst businesses across Aberconwy welcome support to bridge the period before a full reopening, it is a fact that the last tranche of finance ran out more than a month ago which has left many adrift and struggling to restart.
“At a pivotal point in our recovery, this simply cannot be allowed. This is why I have used my letter to echo calls by UK Hospitality Cymru to backdate support to the start of the financial year, so that enterprises are compensated for every week of restrictions subjected to.
“If this cannot be achieved, I have asked the Minister to consider implementing a similar scheme to the UK Government’s Restart Grant, which should help to prevent further business closures. To not act on the warnings from stakeholders would be a mistake.
“Local businesses also have concerns about the criteria wording on the Business Wales website. It is essential that we avoid the farce of the firebreak lockdown support, when many legitimate claims were rejected due to confusion over the evidence required.
“Urgent clarity must be forthcoming before the portal opens for applications and assurance given that businesses that have been backed by the Self Employment Income Support Scheme will be eligible for ERF. At present this looks very uncertain, and is causing serious concern to already hard-pressed job creators.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Please find a copy of Janet’s letter to the Minister attached.
Photo by Ibrahim Boran on Unsplash
