To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the rationale for the delay in distributing further financial assistance to the arts and cultural sector, following the £33m in Barnett consequentials received by the Executive in early July.

It is for the Executive to decide where Barnett consequentials are allocated, however, DfC has submitted a bid for £33m, to secure financial support here to support culture, language, arts and heritage organisations, local musicians, freelancers and artists at a time when they are struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. A Creative Support Fund, of £5.5 million, has already been established by the Department of which, to date, £1.9 million has been paid to small to medium organisations in addition to just over £0.5 million to individuals.