Diane Dodds
West Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, that is a brilliant segue into the question that I will ask. Just over 5% of women who are now seen within the 14-day target for a suspected breast cancer in Northern Ireland. That has happened since the list was regionalised. I get the fact that cancer cases are rising, but —”
“Minister, for Members and those who are listening to the debate, it is important that you tell us what "actively being considered" means on a day-to-day basis.”
“Thank you, Minister. The Muckamore inquiry report demonstrates a shameful period for our health service, and no one involved can, in any shape or form, come out of this with any kind of credibility.”
“Let me be clear: experimental treatment on children that can have lifelong implications is unconscionable. Children of 11 or 12 are in no position to give clear consent to the use of such drugs, especially when those administering the treatments had them banned because of the lack of evidence on their long-term impacts.”
“Once again, I will speak in the House about puberty blockers and the nationwide trial run by King's College. I now understand that the Government will issue new guidance that will allow such a trial to go ahead.”
“It is now anticipated that more than eight out of 10 couples in which the woman is under 40 will conceive naturally, but that leaves two out of 10 who will need additional interventions. Over a lifespan, that is a fairly substantial number of people.”
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“I have already answered the question about self-employed people. We had heard that the Chancellor was going to bring forward a package today. Last Friday, after the announcement about employee support, Conor Murphy and I wrote to the Treasury to say that that is good as far as it goes, but that it should go further and that we should be looking at support for self-employed people and sole traders. I cannot think of other ways to do it but, as I said in the Chamber, the easiest way is probably to look at tax returns and average those or to use a basic minimum income. <BR /> <BR />I heard today from some remarks in the House that the Government were not that fussed about a basic minimum income, so I am really interested to see what they bring forward. I would urge them — urge them — to bring it forward with all speed.”
“The advice that is on the Government website does apply to Northern Ireland. It is absolutely critical that businesses heed that advice. That is for the safety of the businesses, the workers and people who will come into those businesses. So, yes, it applies to Northern Ireland, and, yes, it is absolutely crucial that we heed the advice.”
“I am sure that we have all seen the infographics that show how this thing is spread and how it is rapidly spreading in some areas. Just as an aside, the World Health Organization has indicated how rapidly this is growing right across the world not just here in Northern Ireland. This is a global phenomenon. If your business has to close, it should close for your safety and those around you.”
“Despite the long list, I have already addressed most of the issues that you raised, so I will not go over those because I do not want to incur the wrath of our Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I know that this is tough, and I know that some of those businesses have spent a lifetime investing in and growing their businesses and this is really tough for people. I accept and appreciate that, and I want people to know and understand that I realise how tough this is, but we must be careful that we follow the health advice and warnings in relation to this. So, if your business is deemed non-essential and you are told that your business should close through the announcements that have been made, your business should close. That is for the health and safety not just of you and your workers but for the general public.”
“Such providers are generally self-employed, which is why it is really important that we get the Government on board with a scheme for the self-employed and those who are sole traders. That is hugely important. <BR /> <BR />The scheme that was announced last Friday was a game changer for the economy in Northern Ireland. It will help businesses and thousands of employees right across Northern Ireland, but about 15% of the workforce in Northern Ireland is self-employed. They are some of the most entrepreneurial people that we have, and we want to ensure that they are supported, too.”
“The only qualification around the small business grant scheme is literally that the business is eligible for small business rate relief. If a small business is eligible for small business rate relief, it will be eligible for the scheme. We will look at any business that falls through the net as we go through the process. However, we have been focused on trying to provide for that number of people. <BR /> <BR />The issue of childcare facilities is difficult. I have been contacted by a number of childcare providers who have found it difficult to continue to operate now that parents have been told to stay at home.”
“We have indicated that we will continue to pay the contract even though those organisations may be closed, so that students can continue to be paid their training allowance and to ensure that everyone is covered and will not be penalised in a very difficult situation.”
“I thank the Member for her question. It is, indeed, a good question. Perhaps, I should have included these remarks in my statement. My Department has been working with the Student Loans Company to ensure that the third tranche of the loan is available and will be paid to students, provided that they cooperate with all the qualifying issues that have to be done. Within our power, we have been able to ensure that that will happen. We have been doing that with regard to the payment of EMA and any other grants or funds that are available for further education. Some people have raised the issue of private training organisations. There are a number of those organisations.”
“It is important that all workers are treated in the same way. If companies bring people in to work for them, it is important that they do that, and that the Government also do that. My view is that agency workers should be treated in exactly the same way on those issues. They, too, are PAYE workers in the same way as everyone else. <BR /> <BR />We will work with the energy companies. Our first priority is to ensure that there is a robust system to maintain supply and the grid. That is the absolutely overriding issue. We recognise that there is the issue of standing charges. We ask companies to look at some kind of forbearance with regard to those charges at this difficult time, or to get finance to ensure that they cover those particular issues.”
“To answer that last point, social enterprises are businesses that operate for profit but return that profit to the causes that are dear to them. There are many really good examples of that in Northern Ireland, and the social enterprise sector is buzzing with good things happening in Northern Ireland. Those businesses will be able to avail themselves of exactly the same schemes on the same basis as every other business, private or public. It is exactly the same. <BR /> <BR />My understanding is that, if you are on a zero-hours contract, you still are within the PAYE scheme. Therefore, you should be able to avail yourself of support as well, with a rounding up of the number of hours that you have worked.”
“I am sorry to hear that. It is my firm opinion that companies need to provide safe workspaces for their employees, that they need to follow the PHA guidance on this, that they need to ensure that they have the two-metre rule in place and that they need to have proper procedures around social distancing. We all have a responsibility — each individual in this Chamber has a responsibility — but companies have a huge responsibility to the workers who they employ and the care that they give them. I am sorry to hear that, but I hope that advice will be heeded and that companies very strongly arrange their systems and their rotas so that their employees can work in safe spaces.”
“As I indicated earlier, the business interruption loan scheme was just launched on Monday. Banking institutions from here have been busy making sure that it works for Northern Ireland. I have looked at some of the details of the scheme, and it is not without its problems for Northern Ireland businesses. Those will become more and more apparent, and we will have to work again at modifications. This scheme was set up really quickly. Some of those things, when they are set up quickly, do not cover all the eventualities that the Treasury thinks that they do. Some of the issues are not yet ironed out, although the scheme has been launched. Banks should now be able to give you advice on that. The important thing about the business interruption scheme is that it is now interest-free for 12 months, which is very important.”
“That is how supply chains work in manufacturing, so we will need to give a little bit more thought to that, and how we feed that in, at both UK and Northern Ireland levels. It is very important that we get that right.”
“I want to bring some of those everyday issues, which are so important to all of us, to the banks and make sure that they are extending credit and forbearance to businesses in this period when the economy is in such a slowdown. <BR /> <BR />For those workers who should stay at home, the advice last night was extended. All shops that are deemed non-essential should shut. It was also indicated that those who could work from home should do so, but that essential businesses would continue. There has been some attempt, at a UK level, to draw up lists of businesses that are essential and non-essential. I got that first thing this morning and looked at it briefly. It does not reflect the critical importance of supply chains. In other words, a business may make something, but it needs another business to input into the supply chain.”
“I will desist from going through the grant stuff, because I have already answered it. I will address the higher-level grant, though. We have focused on getting the £10,000 grant to a stage where it is virtually ready to go, because it impacts on 27,000 small businesses. We will bring forward the other scheme quickly, bearing in mind that all the information for all those businesses has to be pulled and separated from the LPS database. It is not a straightforward issue. <BR /> <BR />There is an important issue with the banks. I met with all the principal banks last week and I intend to have another conversation in the next day or so with them. I am getting some feedback that there are issues with mortgages and that trying to switch to paying interest only etc is attracting arrangement fees.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am allowed to proceed, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker? On the issue of landlords, for those who qualify for small business rate relief, there is a phrase that "the benefit should go to the business and not to the landlord". I hope that that is the qualifying issue on this as well.”
“<BR /> <BR />I stress that it is a Treasury scheme, and Treasury is working on getting the details of that scheme to us and setting out how it will impact on the community. As those details become available, I will make them as available as I can through the nibusinessinfo website and our website. If you want, I can write to individual Members. I take the point from Members that we are all inundated with an extraordinary number of queries on the issue, but bear in mind that it is a Treasury scheme. The Chancellor today indicated that he hopes to get it up and running for the end of the pay cycle in April, so it has a little way to go. It is very challenging to run such schemes and to get the information right so that it does not descend into chaos at a time when people need it most.”
“Thank you for that series of questions. I will endeavour to be very quick on this one. The employment protection scheme is a game changer for the economy. Previous to that, on Friday afternoon, Invest NI companies were lining up to announce that they could no longer continue. The employment support scheme is a game changer for those companies. It allows them to retain workers at 80% of their salary, up to a ceiling of £2,500. There is no limit on the timescale, and there is no limit on the number and the money. That is a game changer for the economy. Having studied similar support schemes in other areas, I know that it is an extremely attractive package. There is more to do, and that is important.”
“It is often about the self-employed and how they can access support, so I recognise the issue and we will deal with it.”
“These are extraordinary times, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />NIbusinessinfo is a good source of information for our businesses and communities, and there is, obviously, the Economy website. We will try to get as much information out as clearly as possible at all times. We are all in this together. We all have loved ones who may be impacted on by this, and we all know someone whose work, finances or health will be impacted on by this terrible situation. <BR /> <BR />With your indulgence, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I will reply on the creative industries. I am due to have a phone call with Northern Ireland Screen. I recognise the issues and difficulties, and I will take them up after my discussion with Northern Ireland Screen.”
“I understand that people are anxious and afraid, but I ask them to consider others, particularly those who are vulnerable. There is an onus on supermarkets to ensure that their stores are safe for their workers and customers, that they practise social distancing and that they create an environment that is not chaotic.”
“That is an important question and, obviously, something that people stress and worry about. Many people ask why on earth people are buying so much food, and some of the supermarkets estimated that there was about £1 billion more food overall bought in the last number of weeks than they would normally expect — a huge spike in panic buying. That reflects that people are afraid and anxious and reflects the critical situation that we are in. I teleconferenced with some of the major supermarkets, the food distributors and those who represent the retail chain just yesterday. We had a very good discussion. They assure me that the food supply chain is strong, that there is no need to panic-buy and that those who do so put the chain at risk because they create such heavy spikes in it.”
“Thank you. I am sure there will be plenty more.”
“We talked to some airline operators. How times have utterly changed. This fast-moving crisis has changed that industry, and I must pay tribute to those in the industry. I have heard numerous people in the industry say, "Look, this is a health crisis. We need to make sure that we deal with the health of our people and our customers", and they will have to abide by that. That will require significant intervention, and that is where the £25,000 will come in. <BR /> <BR />As an aside to that, when this is over — it will pass — we will need to look at how we help the tourism and hospitality industry to recover. That will also require significant intervention.”
“Obviously, for those for whom we already have BACS details it is a simpler issue, but we need those whose details we do not have to register. I will give information on that tomorrow. We are aware that that will generate a lot of interest, so we need to make sure that we have built enough strength and security into the system and that it works. We do not want to add to the stress of small businesses. That is our first priority. <BR /> <BR />Our second priority is looking at the issue of businesses in retail, hospitality and tourism that have been so impacted on by COVID-19. It is hard to believe, but, this time two weeks ago, I was in the States talking to tourism operators who operate the North American market. I was there talking to them about Northern Ireland, the expansion of that market and how we might look at direct flights.”
“There are two sets of grants. There is the £10,000 grant for small businesses. Those will be eligible to people who qualify for small business rate relief. There are about 27,000 of those businesses in Northern Ireland. That is a lot of businesses. When you look at how to match the data that you have to a payment system, you see that that starts to complicate the issue. We are doing this on Land and Property Services (LPS) data. They hold BACS details — general bank details — for around 9,500 or maybe just over 9,500 of those businesses. There are another 17,000 or 18,000 businesses we need to get details for. The quickest and simplest way is by bank transfer. I hope that, by tomorrow, we will have a portal open where people can register and we can get that money out to them as quickly as possible.”
“There are people who may fall through this net, and we would like to have a system in place whereby those people can be catered for. I have asked the Consumer Council and the companies to look at this issue and to come back to me as quickly as possible so we can get some guidance.”
“That was a considerable range of issues, and I hope that I manage to cover them all in my response. <BR /> <BR />First, if we look at energy, one of the things that we are very concerned about is that we maintain the network and the generation of power. We have been monitoring that very carefully. Our other aim is to ensure that vulnerable people will have access to power at all times. There is an issue with top-up cards, where people need to go to a shop to top-up their energy. We are asking the companies to look at that because, normally, with Northern Ireland being a small, close-knit community, family will organise the top-up for people who are vulnerable, elderly or have been instructed to stay at home. That is what we do.”
“Be sensible, our shops will be open for food, and, when you do shop, ensure that you follow social-distancing guidelines. To supermarkets and retailers, please remember your responsibility to protect your workers and shoppers at this time. None of this is easy, but, by working together for a common goal, we can, and we will, get through it.”
“<BR /> <BR />One of our key priorities, over the coming months, will be to ensure that there is food on people's tables. This week I had a teleconference with food producers and retailers. The agri-food sector has proven itself to be extremely resilient in the past, having overcome numerous challenges, and I have confidence that we will be able to put food on our tables. In order to ensure that the Government are best placed to ensure the sustainability of the agri-food supply chain, we will engage regularly to collaborate with those who keep the food chain functioning. <BR /> <BR />My message to people is simple: our food supply chains are strong, you do not need to panic buy or stockpile. This only hurts other people, mostly the vulnerable and the elderly.”
“Obviously, for colleges, there is a greater range of vocational qualifications and those who award them. <BR /> <BR />There are other areas of my Department that are vital. Officials have been working closely with the critical national infrastructure energy providers. These include: SONI; NIE Networks; the power stations; Mutual Energy; and the gas network operators, Phoenix, Firmus and SGN. We are doing that daily to ensure that their business continuity plans are proving to be sufficiently resilient to mitigate the risk of interruption to services. Officials are also liaising on a daily basis with the Utility Regulator to support its work on maintaining the electricity wholesale and retail markets. Our first priority is maintaining supply, especially to vulnerable customers, in these unprecedented times.”
“Our number one priority is to try to maintain delivery of the best possible teaching and learning to students at this time. College staff will continue to ensure that the most vulnerable students are supported and that arrangements are in place that will lead to the continued payment of a weekly training fee and education maintenance allowance. <BR /> <BR />The Executive have agreed to the provision of a payment for each pupil or student who is entitled to free school meals, and we are engaging to try to get that money paid directly to those for whom it is applicable. <BR /> <BR />My officials are liaising closely with the regulators, CCEA, which is working with awarding organisations to establish ways of awarding vocational qualifications. We will do that in conjunction with other UK regulators, awarding organisations and stakeholders.”
“<BR /> <BR />Each college is continuing to work through the ramifications and practicalities of the revised operational areas. We are facing very challenging times. I welcome the positive response of the further education colleges. They have all now closed but are determined to deliver for their students through digital learning and by maintaining college administrative processes to ensure that student support services, including educational maintenance allowance, FE grants and hardship funds, continue to be paid. <BR /> <BR />College staff have an important job to do and will keep further education operational, albeit remotely, for learners as best as possible. They are working to ensure that we are ready for recruitment for next year; to maintain the IT and estate infrastructure; and make payments to suppliers and staff.”
“The Open University has also taken the decision to cancel face-to-face exams. <BR /> <BR />Student accommodation at the institutions remains operational. Those students who wish to remain in university and university colleges will be supported to do so. Both Queen's and Ulster University recognise the particular difficulties being faced by their international student communities. Students who are not normally resident in Northern Ireland and who wish to return home as a result of the pandemic will suffer no academic disadvantage. Colleges are distributing technology and equipment to allow the buildings to be closed except for access in the event of a significant technical failure or to allow essential maintenance. Face-to-face delivery will continue remotely using digital learning.”
“As the situation develops, all institutions will be in contact with the Department to inform it of any major developments. Each Northern Ireland higher education institution, with the exception of St Mary's, is closed for teaching and social activities. St Mary's remains open but tuition is being undertaken online. All institutions are working hard to facilitate remote working for staff members where possible. <BR /> <BR />Queen's University has cancelled all exams, and the university will arrange alternative ways to assess students. Stranmillis, a college of Queen's, will operate under the same measures. Ulster University has cancelled examinations and other face-to-face assessments scheduled for the end of the current semester, and those will be replaced by alternative online assessments.”
“<BR /> <BR />I hope to make a written statement tomorrow to indicate that we are putting together a web portal where businesses can register if they are eligible for the small business rate relief grant, but have not supplied their bank details or do not pay their rates through the Bacs process. The rating list that we will use is basically last year's list, but we hope to amalgamate that with a list of those who will come into the category. We will try to expand the new list so that it is as broad and wide and possible. We must support the economy to recover. <BR /> <BR />All higher and further education institutions have convened a number of measures to manage and deal with the pandemic, such as the establishment of major incident teams and the activation of contingency measures.”
“I am seeking to identify any gaps in the measures that have been announced nationally and in Northern Ireland. I hope to be in a position to respond further, to meet the particular needs of our businesses here, particularly around self-employed people, clarity for those on zero-hour contracts and for businesses that cannot avail themselves of the other measures that are available. <BR /> <BR />To return to the issue of small business grants, the eligibility criteria will be for those business that are eligible for small business rate relief. There are 27,000 of those business in Northern Ireland. We have used the LPS system to identify the businesses, but only around 9,000 of those businesses have a Bacs system to allow for initial payments.”
“Officials from my Department have been working with officials from the Department of Finance, over the weekend, to ensure that we have a suitable mechanism to make those payments, and that those companies facing cash flow issues are issued payment as expeditiously as possible. The administration of a scheme involving payments of over £370 million was never going to be straightforward. In making that operational as soon as we can, we are ahead of where our counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales are. <BR /> <BR />Although our immediate focus has been on putting in place a system to process the £10,000 grant, I can assure Members that we are working hard to put in place processes for the £25,000 grant for our hospitality and tourism sectors.”
“<BR /> <BR />The increases, by £1,000 per year, to the working tax credit and universal credit will also help to protect the most vulnerable in society. <BR /> <BR />In addition to the Finance Minister's recent announcement on a freeze of business rates for three months, we have made an announcement confirming that we will pay a £10,000 grant to small businesses and a £25,000 grant to companies in our beleaguered hospitality, tourism and retail sectors. Together those schemes will inject £370 million, to support tens of thousands of our most vulnerable businesses and to help with cash flow. Those grant schemes will benefit 27,000 small businesses and 4,000 businesses in tourism, hospitality and retail. <BR /> <BR />I understand that time is of the essence, as some businesses have already announced closures.”
“I urge all eligible firms to take advantage of the measures that have been announced to support their workers. The coronavirus job retention scheme will provide an income of up to £2,500 a month for those employees who are not working, or up to 80% of the average wage. That will be backdated to 1 March, and I understand that the Chancellor is prioritising that to ensure that it comes forward in April. <BR /> <BR />The self-employed and sole traders require further help. Those schemes do not cover everyone, so the Executive have asked the Treasury to extend support to that category, either by averaging out the past year's earnings to calculate a figure, or by paying a guaranteed income. Although this is not yet forthcoming, I understand that the Chancellor is considering those parts of the economy.”
“I am pleased that many companies that had already announced that they had to cut huge numbers of staff have now rescinded those announcements. That demonstrates why the scheme is so important. It is an extraordinary Government intervention, but extraordinary crises require bold action. I am encouraged that the Government have listened to our call”
“<BR /> <BR />The Chancellor's statement on Friday evening, when he announced an employment support package, is also welcome and is one of the most important measures to have been introduced. We know that we need to keep people on the payroll to allow companies to weather the storm and to pick up quickly on either side. The job retention scheme reflects the calls from the Executive, our business leaders and trade unions, which have seen similar schemes be introduced across Europe to help firms to pay wages and retain their employees.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also recognise how difficult the current challenge is and pledge to do what I can to help businesses through this period. I met the local banks and urged them to be flexible and to work in partnership with government. I am pleased that, yesterday, we made progress with the launch of the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme and that some of our local banks helped to co-design the scheme so that it works better for Northern Ireland businesses. The coronavirus business interruption loan scheme is a crucial step in getting credit flowing to firms that urgently need it during this difficult period, and I encourage businesses to work with the relevant financial institutions to ensure that the scheme delivers cash to those in need as quickly as possible.”
“Business is doing what business does: reacting and innovating. <BR /> <BR />People who have found themselves out of work have also offered to help and examine how their skills could be used elsewhere, where the greatest need is. I am examining a proposal to develop a holistic solution, with coordination between the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities. That would include utilising the current online systems, employer vacancy service and JobCentre Online, with some wrap-around support through Careers Service and universal credit. It is that spirit of determination that gives me confidence that we will see this through and that our economy will recover, and I will be ready to assist in that recovery phase.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have heard of the many challenges that businesses face, but I have also been inspired by people's determination. Businesses have offered to help in sourcing things; individuals have offered their help in looking after people or providing vital services; companies have said that they can adapt their production lines to produce ventilators or personal protective equipment (PPE). More than 30 companies have offered to participate in manufacturing consortia to make ventilators. O'Neill's has started to manufacture PPE, and other companies are exploring the same route. A number of individuals and companies have sourced PPE masks from markets across the world. Several companies are in the process of accreditation to manufacture hand sanitisers, and four companies in Northern Ireland are working on providing COVID-19 testing.”
“Our economy is suffering; our businesses are under extreme pressure; and people are living under not only the threat of the virus but the threat of losing their job. The impact is on real people and real families. People are concerned about how to put food on the table. People who have spent a lifetime building their business are afraid that it will be gone. <BR /> <BR />Over the past two weeks, I have had a series of meetings and teleconferences with representatives from the retail and hospitality sectors and from right across our business community. There is fear about the future of their sectors. There is fear about the livelihood of their staff. There is fear about how to get through these challenging months. Our economy will suffer, but we will come back.”
“Workers should not feel forced to work side by side. If a job cannot be done within the Public Health Agency (PHA) advice for social distancing, employers need to let employees go home until a better system is put in place. This is too serious for shortcuts. <BR /> <BR />The impact of the virus and the necessary measures that have been put in place to contain it have had a devastating impact on economies around the world and Northern Ireland is no exception. Just this afternoon, I heard that Bombardier has been in touch to say that all of its worldwide operations have ceased, for the moment. The impact will not be fixed overnight. The impact of coronavirus will be felt for many years to come.”
“I am sure that I do not need to remind any Member of the gravity of the situation we are facing. It is, without question, the most serious global health and economic crisis that any of us have ever lived through. <BR /> <BR />First, and foremost, I place on record my gratitude to all those working on the front line to keep us safe and give medical support to those who need it. I also appeal to people to act responsibly, follow the advice, stay home if they can, and help medical staff by not acting recklessly and adding to the burden on our health service. <BR /> <BR />Business owners, too, must follow the advice. Non-essential retail is closed, but, if you are outside that category and you are remaining open, make sure that you take the necessary steps to protect your workers and practise social distancing.”
“One of the questions that I asked the banks today was around their liquidity and their ability to support small businesses and families as we face an uncertain period of months. That is extremely important. I am reassured by their answer that they are operating in a time of greater flexibility, with greater liquidity and a better ability to support small businesses. Supporting small businesses means that we support families and communities, and I am absolutely concerned about that as well.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I recognise that many people, including those who own small businesses, were impacted gravely in the last financial crisis.”