AQW 9410/17-22


Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down


Tabled Date: 23/10/2020
Answered On Date: 02/11/2020
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she intends to bring forward a grant scheme to assist Company Directors in Personal Service Contracts experiencing a downturn in trade as a result of COVID-19 public health restrictions.


Answer:
The Localised Restrictions Support Scheme has been introduced to provide financial support to businesses which have been required to close or severely limit operations at their premises under the recent Health Protection Regulations that have been put in place by the NI Executive.
On 22nd October, I announced the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS).
The CRBSS will support businesses which meet the following criteria:
Part A
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;
Or
Part B
The business is within the supply chain of businesses restricted by the Regulations and as a result has been significantly impacted.
The new CRBSS will apply for the four week period of current restrictions.
Applications for Part A of this scheme opened on Wednesday 28th October, and details on Part B covering the supply chains will be published soon.
In addition, businesses who do not occupy a commercial premises and experiencing a significant decline in turnover can apply for a grant of £300 per week.
The Chancellor for the Exchequer has also announced a number of additional support measures, to help businesses and individuals during a time when it is likely that we will still be dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
These measures include improved terms for the Job Support Scheme, additional grants for the Self-Employment Scheme and improved repayment terms for the various coronavirus loan schemes.
Executive Ministers have been asked to bring forward options for additional support for those who may not qualify for these latest schemes, or who may not have been able to avail of previous opportunities.
All of the latest information on the support available can be found on the NI Business Info and UK Government Coronavirus Business Support websites.