Dickson says Economy Minister needs to take responsibility for students

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has called for the Economy Minister to take responsibility for the disappointing university experience many students have received this year. East Antrim MLA Mr Dickson was speaking after receiving a response to a question from Diane Dodds on student support, in which the Minister stated she has asked local universities to […]

Muir alarmed by Finance Minister’s COVID-19 funding announcement

Alliance Finance Spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has raised concerns after the Finance Minister announced the Executive has less than two months remaining to allocate £250m of COVID-19 funding. In a statement to the Assembly, the Finance Minister confirmed that he had not been granted additional flexibility by the Treasury to carry forward COVID-19 funding received […]

Armstrong questions if Department intends to deliver youth employment programmes

Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has questioned if the Department for Communities intends to deliver youth employment programmes after receiving confirmation tenders for an employment scheme have been paused. The Work Ready Employment Service is designed to help those who have lost their jobs, but are ready to start work in a similar or […]

Student’s payment welcome, but many groups still waiting says Dickson

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has welcomed news students are set to receive a £500 payment to help alleviate some of the disruption Covid-19 has caused. Speaking after the Economy Minister Diane Dodds made the announcement today, Mr Dickson said that while it would be a welcome result for students everywhere, there remained too many groups […]

Economy Minister must take action now to support excluded, says Dickson

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has called on the Economy Minister to take urgent action to ensure that all those previously excluded from Covid-19 grant schemes are provided with support before the end of the financial year. Mr Dickson said: “This has been an extremely challenging year for businesses across Northern Ireland as a […]

Dickson welcomes long-awaited business support schemes

Alliance Economy Spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has welcomed the launch of two Department for the Economy Businesses Support Schemes to help local tourism and hospitality firms with some of the pressures of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Bed and Breakfast, Guest House and Guest Accommodation Scheme, and the Large Tourism and Hospitality Business Support Scheme were […]

Dickson welcomes court decision on business interruption insurance

Alliance Economy Spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has welcomed a Supreme Court decision in favour of small firms receiving pay-outs from insurance policies, as a result of disruption from the Covid-19 Pandemic. A test case was brought to the Supreme Court by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), after many insurers refused to pay to cover Covid-19 […]

Economy Minister has questions to answer over planned schemes, says Dickson

The Economy Minister must outline her plans for the high street and tourism voucher schemes, given the new COVID restrictions, Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said. The party’s Economy spokesperson said the schemes, announced late last year, still had several questions outstanding. He has now written to Economy Minister Diane Dodds, seeking clarity. “The Finance […]