§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any plans to give special assistance to individuals from the ethnic minorities to set up new businesses and to expand existing businesses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Government have introduced many measures and have expanded their advisory services to help all small business men, including those from the ethnic minorities. Following discussions which the Secretary of State, my staff and I had with the banks, a number of banks have appointed specialist managers for inner urban areas, and this initiative may be of especial benefit to ethnic minority businesses. I maintain regular contact with the United Kingdom Caribbean chamber of commerce to discuss ways in which business men from the ethnic minorities might make fuller use of the help available.