To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she will make further assistance available to support local businesses going online.

Following the announcement on the 23rd of November of an additional £3M of funding approved by the NI Executive to help businesses grow online sales, I have asked Invest NI to deliver a scheme similar to the recent Digital Selling Capability Grant call to help more retail businesses including sole traders. Invest NI is working through the options and developing the business case. Further details of the scheme, levels of support and specifics on the businesses the support is aimed at will be publicised when finalised. Pending business case approval, it is hoped the funding call will launch before the end of January 2021.