‘EXECUTIVE’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT SIMPLY DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH’ SAYS BELFAST CHAMBER
Commenting on the announcement this evening by the Finance Minister of a support package for businesses closed down for 4 weeks by the Executive, Belfast Chamber Chief Executive Simon Hamilton said:
“The Executive have failed to take responsibility for their decision to put huge sections of our economy into a 4 week lockdown by offering them sufficient financial support. Whilst what is on offer has been heralded as a doubling of what was available to businesses in Derry City and Strabane, it is still paltry in comparison to the numerable costs shut down businesses will face over the next four weeks. Additionally, this support does not flow to those in the supply chain of the businesses who are closed down or those who will in effect be forced to close because of greatly diminished footfall. With emerging concerns about the ability of many businesses to get support for their staff’s wages through the various Government schemes, this support package simply does not go far enough to fix the problem the Executive have created”.
