AQW 9571/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 03/11/2020
Answered On Date: 18/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy for her assessment of whether the recommendation of a letter from a qualified and registered accountant, lawyer or a current bank manager confirming certain details in applying for the COVID-19 Restrictions Business Support Scheme, may place small and micro businesses at a disadvantage in applying.

Answer:

Applicants to the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme may supply a template completed by a registered accountant in order to independently verify the eligibility criteria. The option to provide evidence from a lawyer or bank is no longer available.

A completed template may strengthen an application and quicken the verification process. However, this is not mandatory and is therefore only a recommendation and, where necessary, applicants will be contacted if additional information is required to confirm eligibility. This option allows the application process to be streamlined and for much needed payments to be made to businesses more quickly.