To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the conversations she has had with the Minister for the Economy regarding financial hardship facing the local haulage industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic I recognised the importance of undertaking contingency planning to deal with the impact on the various supply chains and I announced a number of regulatory measures to help the local haulage industry to ensure the continuing flow of goods into and out of Northern Ireland.

I had a meeting with Minister Dodds on 9 April 2020, regarding Freight and Haulage, and I have since stated and written many times to confirm my willingness to work with all Executive colleagues to develop further appropriate support for this and other sectors for which I have regulatory responsibility.

I welcome the recent recognition that my existing legislative powers do not provide the vires for my department to carry out such a function. I have written to the Minister for the Economy and the Finance Minister, to urgently request the information they hold and their support in providing evidence based support to those in this and other sectors.