East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen MBE has repeated his call for the Economy Minister to extend the spending deadline for people to use their Spend Local cards and to explain his reasoning for refusing to do so up to now.  

Mr Allen said:

“As the Sunday spending deadline fast approaches, colleagues and I continue to be inundated with messages, emails and phone calls from constituents who have either not received their cards, or have experienced problems trying to use them.

“I have repeatedly called on the Minister - as it became obvious many weren’t going to receive their cards in time - to extend the spending deadline. To date, the Minister has not provided an explanation as to why he will not extend the spending deadline and we are left with the situation where many people have cards they cannot use and many more simply do not know whether they will receive theirs at all.

“It is now obvious that thousands of people will either not receive their cards or have the opportunity to use them. Therefore, I am again calling on the Minister to explain how he will ensure those who applied in good faith for their Spend Local card will be identified and provided with a Spend Local card or similar. This is about fairness and he must take action now.”