To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 10294/17-22, (i) what plans she has to use the remaining budget of £22.2 million for people in Northern Ireland, as opposed to it being returned to the UK Government Treasury; and (ii) to detail her concerns about how the review and changes outlined in her answer will negatively affect farms and farmers in terms of their financial viability and survival.

As I advised in my response to AQW 10294/17-22, the AME budget which has been set aside for the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme has not all been drawn down from HM Treasury. This budget can only be used to incentivise the use of renewable heat and again we cannot simply adopt a tariff that maximises use of available budget.

The Buglass report included a finding that the reduction in cash flow resulting from the reduced tariffs has been challenging for some. I welcomed the report’s conclusion that the most important principle to be adopted is that of fair and equal treatment for all those who have participated in the scheme legitimately. The New Decade, New Approach contains a commitment to close the Non-Domestic RHI scheme. Ahead of any final decisions on the method of closure, a series of complex issues are being considered which includes the impact on participants of the scheme and their expectations.