To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she intends to bring forward a grant scheme to assist large leisure and entertainment businesses previously excluded from other grant schemes following launch of other similar schemes such as the Large Tourism and Hospitality Business Support Scheme.

The Large Tourism and Hospitality Business Support Scheme was announced on 21 January 2021. The scheme will provide support to large businesses within the tourism and hospitality sector to help them meet the fixed costs and overheads that they need keep their business going and to protect jobs.

The support scheme, agreed by the Executive, has been designed within a limited budget to support large businesses within these sectors only.

I understand that businesses in the leisure and entertainment industry had access to support provided by the Department for Communities through its Culture, Languages, Arts and Heritage Programme 2020/2021 and including schemes such as the Stability and Renewal Programme and the National Lottery Heritage Recovery Fund. These schemes were open to businesses such as cinemas, theatres, amusement and recreation organisations and visitor attraction centres.

In considering further interventions, it will be for the Executive to determine future funding to support economic recovery moving forward. I am also working closely with others, both within Government and with key stakeholders from various industries, on an economic recovery plan.