High Street voucher scheme: Robin Swann to consider vaccination link

Under the scheme, individuals could receive between £75 and £100 to spend on high streets

Health Minister Robin Swann has said he would consider supporting linking the high street voucher scheme to people being fully vaccinated.

The initiative was announced last year to support retailers hit by Covid-19.

Adults could receive £100 each to spend in town and city centres, with £145m of funding ring-fenced for its rollout.

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons told BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show that he would not back such a proposal.

Mr Lyons' department confirmed that view.

"Such a suggestion would create unnecessary bureaucracy, throws up a range of legal issues and could ultimately jeopardise the entire scheme," the spokesperson said.

"As previously announced by the Department for the Economy, and backed by the executive, every person in Northern Ireland aged 18 and over will be eligible to apply for a pre-paid card worth £100 to spend in supporting local businesses."

The health minister said he would be prepared to raise the matter with the Northern Ireland Executive.

"I'll have the discussion, will raise it at the executive committee certainly, in regards to that incentive for people coming forward to get vaccinated," he told the Nolan Show.

"But it will also have to be retrospective as I wouldn't want to discourage anyone who had already been vaccinated."

'Falling between two stools'

Roger Pollen, from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said he could understand why the health minister would want to look at "every possible measure he can to encourage people to come forward and get vaccinated".

But he added that on this matter he believed "it would be the wrong thing to do".

"This is a policy measure that was devised and intended to reinvigorate the high street and shops and retail and so on, after being on their knees for months and months and months," he said.

"To try and then use it also as an incentive for people to do something completely different to my mind risks actually damaging the original policy intent and you risk falling between two stools of things you are trying to achieve."

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Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts also expressed concern.

"This scheme is about supporting independent retailers, the regeneration of our high streets and boosting our shattered economy," he told BBC Radio Foyle.

"It is not about the vaccine take up and should not be linked in this confusing way," he said.

In April, then economy minister Diane Dodds announced that people over the age of 18 can apply for the scheme, which could open at the end of the summer.

The high street voucher is designed to encourage spending at retail and hospitality outlets, which have been adversely affected by lockdown measures.

The money cannot be used for internet shopping and the application process will be through an online portal.

'Additional strain and stress'

It comes after it was reported on Monday, that people attending two major music events in Belfast will have to show proof of Covid antibodies, vaccination or a negative test.

Custom House Square and Belsonic will both enforce the rules for all ticket holders to the outdoor events that run over several dates in August and September.

The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed that theatres and concert venues can reopen from 18:00 on Tuesday.

Health Minister Robin Swann has expressed concern at a rise in Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland

Meanwhile, case numbers have been rising with Northern Ireland's chief nursing officer reporting a "significantly increased demand" for intensive care beds due to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland over the weekend.

Charlotte McArdle said a surge in demand for services had come more quickly than was expected.

Two Northern Ireland health trusts also appealed on social media for off-duty staff to come to work on Sunday night due to hospital pressures.

Mr Swann said on Tuesday that there had been "a dramatic increase in positive cases over the past couple of weeks and we've seen before those transmit into hospitalisations and into ICU".

"We're not seeing the large numbers we've seen in previous waves, but it is putting that additional strain and stress on our health service as we try to get back to the normal work that they have been doing and we've missed over the last number of months," he added.