§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied that the advisory services for small businesses are adequately coordinated to give the maximum and speedy help to small businesses and those wishing to establish a small business; and whether he has any plans for further improving those services.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsAdvisory services to small businesses in Wales are provided by a number of bodies including my industry department's small firms centre, the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales. A very comprehensive and quickly52W responsive service is provided. The business opportunities programme, launched earlier this year, is intended amongst other things to make more widely known the services available.