§ Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusions he has reached following his review of the small firms service in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe purpose of the review of the small firms service in Wales, which was guided by an independent report by consultants, was to determine how best the service should be organised in future. I have decided, in line with the recommendation in the consultants report that the overall effectiveness of the small firms service in Wales and the service it provides to the small firms sector will be enhanced if the two arms of the service—the counselling service in Wales, which is administered by the Welsh Development Agency, and the small firms centre, which is the responsibility of my Department—are in future combined in a single unit. Therefore responsibility for my Department's small firms centre will be transferred to the Welsh Development Agency on 1 January 1986.