Voucher scheme should be used for local retailers

Deputy chair of Stormont’s finance committee and SDLP spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin has called for the retail voucher scheme to be used to support local independent businesses.

The Finance Minister Conor Murphy has allocated £95m worth of investment into this scheme, which could see £75-£100 provided to every adult to spend locally.

Sinéad McLaughlin said it would be “wrong” to support those who don’t need it. “It is essential that the newly announced retail voucher scheme is used to support local independent businesses, not large supermarket groups, the internet giants and other multinationals that have increased turnover during the pandemic. It would be wrong to provide support to those who don’t need it, rather than the independent businesses that are struggling and on their knees,” she said.

Ms. McLaughlin said while this may be difficult, “it is essential that the Department for the Economy gets this right.”

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