AQW 9572/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 03/11/2020
Answered On Date: 04/02/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy for her assessment as to whether businesses such as market stall traders, which normally trade at now cancelled public events, would be included in Part B of the COVID-19 Restrictions Business Support Scheme.

Answer:

Part B of the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme is for businesses which supply goods or services to a business named in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020. The business must be a supplier of goods or services, to a business named in the Health Protection Regulations either directly or via an intermediary supplier or subcontractor; or the business is dependent on a business named in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 being open and fully operational in order for it to operate. For example, businesses that supply services for weddings or events that have been cancelled/postponed due to a business named in the regulations having to close, cease or restrict trading. Each application is assessed on a case by case basis. I would therefore ask businesses to review the full eligibility criteria and to make use of the online eligibility checker available at https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/covid-restrictions-business-support-scheme-part-b. I would encourage all businesses to make applications should the eligibility checker advise eligibility.

Invest NI are also operating a dedicated helpline for the scheme on Tel: 0800 952 4422. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.