§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends in order to encourage the growth of small businesses in inner cities and depressed areas.
§ Mr. FoxWe have already taken steps to improve the climate in which small firms operate. The Budget measures will restore incentives. The Department of Industry announced on 7 November a number of proposals specifically to help small firms. This is only a start. We are continuing to examine ways in which we might seek to reduce the burdens and constraints that particularly affect small businesses and to consider how further help might be given in the inner cities and elsewhere.