To ask the Minister for the Economy what financial support she will provide to businesses impacted by additional COVID-19 restrictions; and what is the timeframe for distributing such support.

Following the difficult, but necessary decision by the Executive to impose a four week restriction period for all of Northern Ireland, the Finance Minister announced a new support scheme for those businesses that were instructed to close as a consequence. The Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS) will run for the four weeks of enforced restrictions, at an estimated cost of £35million. This scheme opened to new applications from Monday 19th October and block payments will be issued as soon as applications are approved.

On Thursday 22nd October, I announced a further 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