§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that the request by Holne Chase Hotel in Dartmoor National Park under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme in respect of a loan of £250,000 is agreed to; and if he will amend his Department's guidelines for the scheme in respect of hotels and tourist attractions in National Parks to take account of the foot and mouth crisis, with particular reference to companies which have already, had a loan guaranteed under the scheme. [159607]
§ Ms HewittApplications can be considered only from lenders once they are satisfied there is a viable business proposal that meets Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme criteria and are prepared to make the loan available, subject to a Government guarantee. All loans guaranteed before April 1993 are not counted towards the maximum borrowing under the Scheme. There are no plans to extend this criterion further.