To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail (i) her assessment of the impact the pandemic has had upon the road haulage sector; (ii) the amount of funding; and (iii) the nature of financial assistance she is seeking for the road haulage sector under the Financial Assistance (Northern Ireland) Act 2009 as a result of the pandemic.

At the request of the First and Deputy First Ministers my officials carried out an evidence gathering exercise to see if ‘exceptional circumstances’ applied to the road haulage sector, requiring a financial support scheme, as set out in the Financial Assistance (Northern Ireland) Act 2009. Information was received from representatives from the haulage industry, the Logistics UK Tracker, the NI Haulage Industry Critical Goods Supply Analysis Group (NIHCA), and the Department for Transport. I also contacted the Departments of Finance and Economy.

Based on the evidence received and engagement with the sector there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate ‘exceptional circumstances’ which would justify bespoke financial support for the haulage industry. I will however continue to keep this matter under review and consider the position, if evidence shows that there are exceptional circumstances which would justify bespoke financial support for the haulage industry.