Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

What funding the Government plans to make available to businesses in Northern Ireland to help with the transition from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to the Job Support Scheme.

This Government has introduced some of the most generous support schemes in the world, to support people and businesses in Northern Ireland, as they navigate the difficulties posed by COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was due to end on 1 November but will be extended for a further one month until December. The Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be available to support businesses and their staff when the CJRS ends.

CJRS and JSS are part of the comprehensive package of support that the Government has provided to support the economy at this time. In Northern Ireland, this has included an additional £2.4bn funding for the Executive. Advice and support for businesses is available on gov.uk/coronavirus, or alternatively via the business support helpline.