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00:00have been agreed for today. The first is from Peredrion Griffiths.
00:03Peredrion Griffiths AM What support is Welsh Government offering
00:06to businesses and individuals affected by the fire in Abergavenny?
00:09Lesley Griffiths AM We sympathise with all those affected by
00:12the fire. WeÃre engaged with policing and community safety partners on any broader issues
00:18impacting on the community relating to the incident, but, in response to the damage and
00:22disruption caused to businesses by the fire, Business Wales can provide post-fire recovery
00:28business support. Diolch am yr ateb yn erb, the fire that broke
00:33out in Abergavenny over the weekend has devastated an historic part of the town centre. IÃd
00:38like to pay tribute to the emergency service response that ensured the safety of local
00:44residents and battled the fire bravely to contain the blaze as much as possible.
00:49Once an investigation into the cause has been completed, attention will be turned to rebuilding
00:54the livelihoods of those affected. IÃm also concerned at the impact the fire has had on
00:59the charity The Magic Cottage, which supports children and young people under the age of
01:0525 with additional needs, chronic and life-limiting illnesses. They work across four countiesóMonmouthshire,
01:11Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Powys. They told the media that they lost absolutely everything
01:16in the fire, but, as a testament to the generosity of the public, The Magic Cottage has been
01:22inundated with more stock since the fire. TheyÃre now looking for new premises to store
01:29this stock. As an idea of scale, the shop in Abergavenny was about 10,000 square feet
01:34of retail space, which is probably the biggest charity shop in Wales.
01:40So, Cabinet Secretary, what expertise, guidance and financial support can this Government
01:45provide to all those affected by the fire in Abergavenny, and what help can you provide
01:53to ensure that the disruption is kept to a minimum and that lives, businesses and the
01:58town centre, and the work of this very important charity, can get back on track as soon as
02:04possible?
02:05Lesley Griffiths AM IÃd very much like to associate myself
02:09with the comments from Llyr Eddir Owen Griffiths in relation to commending the work of South
02:15Wales Fire and Rescue Service and, of course, the other emergency services and agencies
02:21for their very swift and effective response. In relation to the support that can be provided,
02:28the Development Bank of Wales is available to support businesses that have been impacted
02:33and who may be able to benefit from the Wales Micro Loan Fund, which offers fast-tracked
02:39loans from between £1,000 and £50,000. So, IÃd encourage any business in the first instance
02:45to make contact with the Business Wales helpline. TheyÃll be able to provide some practical
02:51information and advice, or they could sign posts on to relevant agencies and organisations
02:58who might be able to provide support. They could also provide some signposting to a specific
03:05Business Wales adviser who can help with some more detailed recovery plans as well. Those
03:10might include cash flow, liquidity and effects from destructive trading, and they might also
03:16be able to help them find alternative business space as well, often that might be offices
03:21or warehouses, for example, to help businesses continue trading and recover from the fire
03:27damage too. So, as I say, in the first instance, the call should be to Business Wales, which
03:32can talk about the recovery support thatÃs available.
03:35Natasha Ashcock. Thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Cabinet
03:38Secretary, like so many others around this Chamber, I was left devastated by the truly
03:42awful scenes that we saw unfold in Abergavenny on Sunday night. Understandably, the community
03:46has been left in complete shock, with homes lost, businesses destroyed, and, obviously,
03:51as my colleague the Member for Prydain and Griffiths said earlier, the Magic Cottage
03:54childrenÃs charity losing absolutely everything. Presiding Officer, IÃm incredibly grateful
03:59and thankful that there were no casualties, and I want to take this opportunity to thank
04:03the over 100-plus firefighters who, in fact, tackled the flames, and each and every single
04:07person whoÃs played a part in supporting those affected. Abergavenny naturally has
04:11an incredible community spirit, and itÃs been a heart-warming exercise, in fact, to
04:15see locals rally around and do what they can to help, including launching online fundraising
04:20efforts left, right and centre. Cabinet Secretary, I do appreciate your previous
04:23answers to my colleague setting out the Welsh GovernmentÃs position, because I believe
04:26we all do sincerely have an opportunity to help. So, IÃd like to know what conversations
04:30have Ministers, particularly yourself, had with Monmouthshire County Council to ensure
04:34that they are in the best possible position to provide that help and support? As you mentioned
04:38previously in your answer, there are various groups and organisations, but it is also imperative
04:42that we support businesses, especially in the run-up to Christmas. So, will the Government
04:46work with the key stakeholders, even the ones that you mentioned in your previous answer,
04:50to see what can be done to help those individuals and businesses truly bounce back? Thank you.
04:54Kirsty Williams AM. I am very grateful for the question and, again, for that recognition
04:59of the bravery of those responders who were at the scene, but also the generosity of spirit
05:04of the community, which has absolutely rallied around as well, which is absolutely wonderful.
05:11The question specifically laid was in relation to business support. So, as I said, the key
05:17point of contact would be through Business Wales to explore, with a Business Wales adviser,
05:22what kind of plan can be put in place in terms of recovery from the incident. But, in terms
05:28of those wider conversations, those would be led with other colleagues who have the
05:32responsibility for local government and also the Fire and Rescue Service. But I just want
05:38to reassure colleagues that, as I said in my initial answer to the question, we are
05:42engaged with policing and community safety partners on those broader impacts in relation
05:48to the wider community.
05:50Laura Ann Jones AM. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Cabinet Secretary, the recent fire
05:55in Abercyfennys has already been said by my colleagues, and I concur with all comments
05:59that have been made at the moment. It had a devastating impact on the local community
06:03and local businesses there, including Cable News, a cherished establishment run by Paul
06:08Cable for over 30 years now, and the Magic Cottage charity shop, whose owners have worked
06:13tirelessly to support young people in need. So, I concur with the comments that have just
06:18been made, and thank you for outlining what support you think can be available to them
06:25and others in rebuilding, particularly in supporting those vulnerable groups in our
06:30communities. I am sure you agree that this is of utmost importance. Do you agree with
06:34me that one thing that we could do now is really work hard together, collectively, to
06:40ensure that people visit Abercyfennys in the run-up to Christmas and support our local
06:43businesses?
06:44Kirsty Williams AM. Absolutely, I would encourage people to visit Abercyfennys in the run-up
06:49to Christmas, but actually all year round, because it is an absolutely beautiful place
06:54to visit. There are so many independent shops that you just would not be able to find elsewhere,
06:59and it is absolutely somewhere that we would encourage people to visit for all kinds of
07:04reasons, but especially so now, to experience some of that wonderful community spirit that
07:08your colleague Natasha mentioned in her contribution.