AQW 8802/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 15/10/2020
Answered On Date: 29/10/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy how she will ensure that future COVID-19 business support schemes do not unfairly exclude sole traders, and those who have previously been unable to avail of support.

Answer:

In recent months, the NI Executive and UK Government have introduced an unprecedented range of support measures to businesses across all sectors. These packages of financial support were established to mitigate against the worst impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, to prevent businesses from closing and to retain jobs.

To date, my Department has provided over £340 million of support to over 32,000 local businesses through the grant schemes for large, small and micro-sized businesses.

On Friday 17th October 2020, the Finance Minister announced a new support package for businesses and employers throughout Northern Ireland. This will be in place for at least four weeks, with an estimated spend of £35 million during this initial period.

Further to this, on Thursday 22nd October, I announced an additional support package to help businesses affected by the recent restrictions announced by the Executive.

The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS) will support businesses which meet the following criteria:

 The business is restricted within the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 but is not eligible for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS); or

 The business is within the supply chain of businesses restricted by the Regulations and as a result has been significantly impacted; and

 The business is operating in Northern Ireland and was trading immediately prior to 16 October 2020; and

 The business is not included in the scope of funding already allocated to Executive Departments to respond to Covid restrictions.

The new CRBSS, which also applies for the same four week period, will open for applications as soon as possible. My officials are working with colleagues in InvestNI, who will administer the scheme on our behalf.

In addition, I have asked my officials to develop a tourism and hospitality scheme to address issues associated with current restrictions and a scheme to support those recently self-employed

All Executive Ministers have been asked to bring forward options to determine what support options may be considered for those who may not qualify for these latest schemes, or who may not have been able to avail of previous opportunities.