What is happening with the Small business support grant for businesses who pay their rates through the landlord? Transparency, roll out & criteria for this is comparable to RHI scheme. Small businesses will go to the wall waiting for this @DianeDoddsMLA @JohnODowdSF

There are businesses in receipt of the grant that haven’t been affected at all by Covid 19 and are busier during this period while there are other businesses who haven’t been trading since for over 3 weeks yet are expected to be able to pay gross salaries for March and April

Before they get refunded through furlough scheme. The distribution of this grant based on the rates relief you get is absolute nonsense and has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on how the business may be affected by Covid 19.

Rates relief is welcome but it is wages, rent, legal/insurance costs and suppliers that will put a business under well before business rates. There are many businesses that have fallen between the cracks in this scheme. Where is your support because it is needed immediately?

@DianeDoddsMLA @JohnODowdSF @niexecutive @CArchibald_SF @Economy_NI day 21 of no income, no support but bills still need paid