§ Mrs. Rumboldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken to encourage the setting up of small businesses in the period since October 1983.
§ Sir George YoungMy Department has in particular:
- i. allocated to local authorities in urban areas over £100 million in 1984–85 to stimulate local economic development, including the provision of industrial units and sites, assistance towards conversion works and direct aid to the private sector;
- ii. introduced changes to the rating system to assist the business sector. These include a right for all businesses to pay rates by instalments from 1 April 1985 and a duty on major rating and precepting authorities to consult industrial and commercial ratepayers before setting their rates;
- iii. issued a circular on industrial development giving specific advice to local planning authorities on ways of helping industry and small firms and on meeting their planning requirements; and published a consultation paper proposing amendments to the general development order including relaxing the need to obtain planning permission for small warehouse extensions;
- iv. through the Development Commission and, where appropriate, its agency COSIRA (funded by the Department) continued to offer small firms in rural areas a wide range of advice, training services and financial assistance, such as loans and grants for converting redundant buildings and to provide or help fund factory workshop premises.