THE AUTOMOTIVE industry in Torfaen is at 'significant risk' if it does not receive appropriate support during the coronavirus outbreak, the area's AM has warned.

Lynne Neagle raised her concerns after hearing some automotive companies across the world, which are supplied by companies in her constituency, are stopping production - and don't know when they'll be up and running again.

The AM used a question to the minister for the economy Ken Skates to call on the Welsh Government to take specific measures to support the automotive sector in Torfaen.

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"This is a hugely competitive industry and if we lose these companies, there is a very significant risk that there will be no bringing them back from the brink," she said.

"Can I ask what discussions you’ve had with the automotive sector and whether you can look very specifically at their needs because obviously these are not people who can work from home?"

In reply, the minister said a vast number of people in the Welsh workforce could be affected by recent decisions taken by the automotive sector and that he recognised the sector would require assistance.

"We are in daily dialogue with the Welsh Automotive Forum, which is the representative body of the automotive sector, and the message we are receiving from them is the automotive sector, like many business sectors in the Welsh economy, simply cannot continue if they require a huge degree of people to work from home," he said.

"They have to be onsite making things and therefore, hibernation maybe the only option.

"In order to ensure businesses come out of hibernation as soon as possible and get people back to work, rather than fall over during this period, a wage subsidy scheme is required.

"And it’s not just required for the businesses themselves – it’s also required for individuals to guarantee their welfare through this period."