HC Deb 03 July 1997 vol 297 cc409-10
13. Mr. Boswell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she is taking to improve the Department's business services in rural areas. [5216]

Mrs. Roche

I am developing a wide range of measures to improve services to all small business—whether they are in rural or in urban areas.

Mr. Boswell

I thank the hon. Lady for that answer. Will she acknowledge that it is a matter of great importance that some 23 per cent. of the population now live in rural areas? In particular, will she bear in mind the importance of not getting business links too hung up on the size of firms, which typically is smaller in rural areas? Will she make use, wherever possible, of other institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Rural Development Commission, and make the maximum possible use of distance and information technology?

Mrs. Roche

I certainly agree with much of what the hon. Gentleman says. Of course, he will know that it was under the previous Government, in which he was a Minister, that the RDC closed its business advisory service, so it is for this Government to pick up the pieces to ensure that business links become a world-class service and serve all businesses, whether urban or rural. We certainly recognise that there is a need for small businesses to be promoted in rural areas, and I will meet the Country Landowners Association, the RDC and others to ensure that that happens.

Mr. David Heath

Does the hon. Lady recall the excellent Adjournment debate yesterday initiated by my hon. Friend the Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood)? Does she also recall that one of the points that came through clearly was that the one thing that would help smaller businesses in rural areas is reform of the uniform business rate? Will she now ensure that that happens through her sister Department?

Mrs. Roche

I do recall that debate, to which the hon. Gentleman made a useful contribution. It was sad that there were not more hon. Members in the Chamber to take part in the debate. Certainly, the uniform business rate is a cause of great concern. We know what the "Your Business Matters" conference and the report compiled by the Institute of Directors had to say about that tax—which was introduced and operated by the previous Government, despite the tax being widely loathed. We are consulting business to see what we can do about it.