To ask the Minister of Finance whether the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme is open to restaurant and takeaway businesses which have had to limit operations and experienced a downturn in trade.

The Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS) provides financial support to restaurants for the periods they are closed or severely curtailed in the service they may provide by the Health Protection Regulations. The scheme does not provide support to businesses that have been permitted to remain open. Take-away food businesses that have had some limitations in their opening hours for certain periods but have otherwise been able to remain open by the Health Protection Regulations are not eligible for LRSS payments.