Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that enterprise agencies are sufficiently well advertised and visible for persons with spare premises suitable for new-start businesses to be able readily to notify those agencies of the availability of such premises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeLocal enterprise agencies are independent organisations and therefore responsible primarily to their own boards and supporters for their activities, including their visibility in the local community. Information on local enterprise agencies will be available through a wide range of sources, including libraries, local authorities, and the Government's small firms centres and jobcentres. The 445W Department of Employment, through its local agency grant scheme, is encouraging greater professionalism in LEA management; LEA business plans, an integral part of the grant application, should address, as appropriate, the availability of small business premises.