AQW 7017/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 16/09/2020
Answered On Date: 23/09/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance why Land and Property Services would not process the £10,000 Small Business Grants for businesses who share space within the same property when other businesses in that same property had applied successfully before them; and whether the £10,000 Small Business Grant was only available on a first-come-first-serve basis for businesses in a shared property.

Answer:

The essential eligibility criteria for the £10,000 Small Business Grant were as follows:

The Net Annual Value of the property was £15,000 or less.

The property was in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief at the scheme launch date.

The property was occupied at the scheme launch date.

In addition to eligibility criteria, only one grant could be paid in respect of each qualifying property.

LPS followed policy advice from the Department of Economy in respect of shared spaces. Where the property was occupied by more than one business, LPS was advised to pay the grant to the named ratepayer.