§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what further plans he has to help the self-employed in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe Government wish to see an economy in which firms and individuals in all sectors, including the self-employed, who constitute a large and important part of the Welsh economy, have every incentive to expand their businesses. The Government's role in this is to keep inflation down and to offer real incentives for enterprise. Our aim will be further to reduce the burden of taxation on small businesses. We will seek to minimise the difficulties facing the small firm trying to grow and the self-employed person trying to set up in business. The Government will continue to provide a climate in which the small business can flourish. The new enterprise allowance scheme will offer many thousands of unemployed people the support they need to start their own business. Within Wales, the Government will continue to make full use of the Government agencies, including the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales, in pursuing its objectives and it will continue to support the establishment and development of local self help initiatives, such as those provided by local enterprise trusts, both in urban and rural areas.