The Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has welcomed the continued support from London for the local economy and repeated his call for the creation of a future recovery plan that is the main effort of all of the NI Executive.
Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“Today we welcome the announcement of the disbursement of the over £1.2BN we have received from London over the last 6 weeks. The continued and targeted support for our small businesses, the hospitality and tourism sectors, our Councils, the transport sector and the support to our fantastic NHS, is vital to helping us get through this crisis and to prepare for the recovery.
“However, as I mentioned in the Assembly Chamber today, now is the time for the NI Executive to produce a joined up recovery plan. We are expecting a much overdue report from the Economy Minister, we still haven’t heard about the establishment of the Fiscal Council, and regrettably we seem once again to be approaching our future in a piecemeal and disjointed manner.
“Today the Ulster Unionist Party repeats its call for the creation of a future recovery plan that is the main effort of all of the NI Executive – a plan that will also have to encompass the forthcoming end of EU transition, an additional challenge that will only add significantly to the stress on our already embattled economy.”