§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will set out his measures for providing financial and other assistance to small firms located outside the assisted areas, especially those in need of relatively small amounts of risk capital which would enable them to make a disproportionate contribution to the export drive.
§ Mr. CryerSmall firms outside the assisted areas are eligible for assistance626W under the sectoral schemes in operation under the Industry Act 1972. Most of these schemes contain a provision providing for assistance towards the cost of consultancy studies for small firms, in addition to the general financial assistance that is available to firms irrespective of size. They also take advantage of the services provided by the small firms information centres, and in the South-West region there is an experimental counselling service for small firms, which, if successful, will be extended to the country as a whole. The provision of risk capital is a matter for the financial institutions.