To ask the Minister of Finance whether he will provide any additional funding to offset income tax and other contributions related to COVID-19 recognition payments.

I wrote to the Treasury asking that the recognition payments were not subject to income tax or other Government deductions. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury responded, advising that he didn’t believe there was a case for granting an exception in relation to this payment.

Subsequently the Department of Health sought and received an additional allocation of £25m in February 2021 to mitigate the impact of income tax and other contributions related to the Healthcare Workers recognition payment.

My Department has not received any further bids for additional funding from the Department of Health related to this measure. Similarly, there have been no further bids received in relation to the Department for Communities acknowledgement payment to Supporting People staff. Should a bid be made, it would be for the Executive to agree any additional allocation.