To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she will extend financial support to those that have not been able to avail of UK-wide or Northern Ireland self-employed COVID-19 support schemes, due to the requirement that 50% of income comes from self-employment.

The UK Government’s Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) was launched in March 2020, and many thousands of people throughout Northern Ireland have availed of this support. However, it excluded those who started trading in 2019/20.

Therefore, on 3 December 2020, the Minister for the Economy launched the Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme (NSESS), which is specifically targeted at this population.

On 7 January 2021 I announced changes to ensure that those that moved from paid employment (PAYE) to self-employment during 2019/20 would not have their income from the previous employment taken into account.

However, I acknowledge there remain self-employed individuals impacted by the limits on the NSESS and SEISS. Including those who became self-employed 2018/19 or before.

There is a £10 million funding envelope for the scheme and the eligibility criteria was designed within this funding envelope. The utilisation of any underspend from this scheme as well as any wider funding support will be a decision for the Executive to make collectively.

I along with my Executive colleagues continue to consider all options to provide support to as wide a range of businesses as possible during this pandemic.