SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
Said the Foyle MLA: “The financial support measures introduced by the Executive have been welcome and provided a lifeline for many businesses, trying to stay afloat as a result of COVID-19.
“However, businesses are still struggling and further support is required.
“The Finance Minister should implement further support, in the form of rates relief, to businesses across the North.
“It is important that any further rate relief is targeted to businesses who most require it and are struggling to survive.
“In a strained financial context, it would not be a good use of public money to award further rates relief to the likes of supermarkets, who are continuing to make a significant profit.
“I will be writing to the Finance Minister to ask him to consider implementing targeted rates relief and to do so in a timely manner.
“If we do not act quickly, many businesses will not survive this pandemic and that would be a terrible thing.
“But let us not take our attention away from the banks.
“Our economy still needs them to do more and to do it faster. We face an economic tragedy if more support is not provided urgently to our businesses, both from the Northern Ireland Executive and our local banks.”
