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Hanover (dpa / lni) - According to Prime Minister Stephan Weil, the previously estimated Corona aid from the State of Lower Saxony is indispensable despite its burden on the budget.

A further expansion of grants or loans would be difficult, but would not be necessary in the current situation, said the SPD politician of the German press agency.

"The state of Lower Saxony has also gone to the limit of its possibilities this year," said Weil shortly before the end of the year.

“The first year of the debt brake has turned into a historic new debt year.

But it was expressly right to behave like that. "

At the moment, after the increase in federal and supplementary state aid for ailing companies in the second corona shutdown, he sees no reason to distribute even more support via the state's own development bank: "We currently see no need for additional measures."

However, one cannot be completely sure - the pandemic brings with it many uncertainties.

"If we've learned anything in the past few months, it's:" Never say never, "said Weil.

He defended the aid provided so far.

"A company that has to close its books today will never again pay taxes, never again salaries, never again social security contributions," said Weil.

“All of this would lead to blatant revenue shortfalls in the public coffers.

A company that survives today with government support and can later return to normal will continue to pay in the future. "

So giving generous help now is not only important for the companies concerned, “but also for public finances.

This is also the better alternative from the point of view of the younger generation ».

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Lower Saxony recently extended the offer of quick loans for freelancers and small and medium-sized companies in the Corona crisis until the middle of next year.

Since the start of the program on October 1, more than 15 million euros have been paid out to over 220 companies.

Through the previous program - the Lower Saxony liquidity loan - more than 414 million euros had flowed to over 10,500 companies by the end of September.

Gastronomy, which has been particularly hard hit, should also receive additional support.

There was criticism that - as with some earlier programs - supplementary “November aid” was often not paid out and that the application formalities were again complicated from the point of view of many companies.

However, after an accumulation of fraud cases in the spring, the development banks must also take a closer look.