AQW 4036/17-22
Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim
Tabled Date: 07/05/2020
Answered On Date: 09/06/2020
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department is considering potential financial support measures for businesses to assist with implementing social distancing measures going forward.
Answer:
On 28th March 2020, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister announced a series of enhanced containment measures, agreed by the Executive, designed to restrict the spread of the Coronavirus. This included the publication of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020. In addition, the Executive and the UK government have since introduced a number of interventions and packages of financial support to help those who have been affected by the consequences of Covid-19, including a £370m Grant Scheme to support small and large businesses alike. As of the end of May 2020, more than 25,000 business had received payments of either £10k or £25k to help mitigate the financial impacts of Covid-19 on their business, totalling almost £300m of government assistance thus far. The Executive has also established a new and very representative multi-stakeholder NI Engagement Forum (the Forum), to advise on how best to manage the challenge of Covid-19, as it applies to the NI Economy / Labour Market. The Forum have worked collectively and collaboratively in a short space of time to produce a number of documents, including the following: A framework of priority sectors/sub sectors; and An Emergency Code of Practice offering practical assistance to essential businesses and their workforce to comply with the Health Protection Regulations and Public Health Authority (PHA) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance. The Code of Practice offers practical advice and guidance on safe working practices, including social distancing, as it applies to the working environment. The Forum is now taking forward a piece of work, aimed at developing ‘principles’ on restarting the economy. Once again, advice on the importance and specific considerations required, in relation to social distancing measures, are likely to feature prominently. I have raised this issue with the Business Secretary and will continue to make the case for NI businesses in need of support. Also, officials from my Department are working closely with the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as they start to examine in detail, the impacts and challenges facing businesses as they look to implement necessary measures, such as social distancing. This will help to inform future decision making in Northern Ireland. Applying social distancing measures will place an additional financial burden on many employers and businesses. There will be requests for Government financial assistance to mitigate these operational costs, for example, changing/altering layouts, shift allowance payments, procuring Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and increased cleaning of premises. I am not in a position to confirm whether additional financial support will be made available, specifically to support social distancing measures, however, I can confirm that the Executive, along with all stakeholders from across every sector of our society, including those on the aforementioned NI Engagement Forum, share a common goal: “To deliver a strong, competitive and regionally balanced economy with more people working in better jobs through all phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and within the context of EU Exit.” In working towards this goal, the health, safety and well-being of our current and future workforce, will be paramount.
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