Ulster Unionist Finance spokesperson, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has expressed his concerns following the decision of the Economy Minister to give back £41 million of unspent monies despite businesses indicating they may need further financial support.

Mr Aiken said:

“I find it inexplicable that the Economy Minister would hand back £41 million of unspent monies to the Department of Finance at this particular time. The Economy Minister should explain why his department has returned these monies when we are still in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and many businesses are indicating that they may be in need of much needed financial support in the days and weeks ahead.

“Gordon Lyons` decision to return these monies unspent is especially hard to understand given the comments that he and his colleagues made about the potential impact on businesses of measures which are designed to curb the spread of Covid-19 and re-assure the public.

“£21 million of the monies which he has decided to give back were specifically Covid recovery funds. Monitoring rounds aren`t due until January so I do wonder what drove this early decision. What is the Minister going to do in the coming weeks if businesses come forward seeking financial support? Has he even got a plan?”