§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether a scheme designed to make funds available to partnerships between the private sector, public and community bodies in the creation of new enterprises is still being developed.
§ Mr. AlisonIn November 1980 the then Secretary of State for Employment announced that the Government intended to develop proposals designed to provide funds for partnerships between the private sector, public and community bodies in the creation of new enterprises. Since then the Government have introduced a number of new initiatives designed to assist small businesses. Many of these were announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget last year and are known as the business opportunities programme. In addition, the Manpower Services Commission is currently running three pilot schemes to evaluate the possibility of an enterprise allowance scheme to assist new small businesses.
In the light of these developments and extensive studies and consultations about the original proposals, I have concluded that there is no need for further assistance of this kind. Other programmes will not therefore be adjusted in order to provide funds specifically for private, public and community partnerships. However, all new enterprises are, of course, welcome to seek assistance through any of the range of measures that I have mentioned.