Assembly Written Question 14319/17-22

Question: To ask the Minister for the Economy to explain why many photographers have not yet received any payments from the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme; and what action she is taking to ensure that this is resolved as soon as possible.

Answer: As at 14th February 2021, Invest NI had received 6,628 applications under the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (CRBSS), Part A and Part B, with payments made to 4,558 applicants (68.8%) to a value of circa £42m. Payments have been made to applicants across many sectors and occupations, including photographers, most of whom had applied for Part B of the scheme.

Across both elements of the scheme, on average it takes 15 working days from an application being submitted to a payment being issued to successful applicants.

Due to the extension and widening of the Health Protection Regulations from 26 December 2020, officials in Invest NI were required to engage more extensively with their governmental colleagues to cross-check data across the various COVID support schemes to avoid any duplication and ensure the accuracy and validity of public funding. Significant progress has now been made which has allowed c£16m of payments to be made to applicants during the week ending on 12th February. Invest NI expect to make a substantial number of further payments to applicants week ending 19th February 2021.