§ 15. Mr. Bellinghamasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for small firms.
§ Mr. CopeOur Department is responsible for encouraging the growing contribution of small firms to the economy and especially to employment, and ensuring that it receives proper recognition within Government. Since 1980 the number of businesses has increased at the rate of 500 per week with a net increase of 29,000 in 1986 alone according to VAT statistics, and small firms created 1 million extra jobs between 1982 and 1984. We aim to build on this success.
§ 56. Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the prospects for the small firms sector.
§ 104. Mr. Stevensasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the growth of small businesses in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. CopeI refer my hon. Friends to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kings Lynn (M r. Bellingham). It remains the Government's intention to ensure that there should be a strong and expanding small firms sector in the United Kingdom economy.