§ 42. Mr. Matthew Taylorasked the Paymaster General what plans his Department has for promoting the growth of small businesses in the regions.
§ Mr. TrippierSmall businesses in the regions are able to benefit from a wide range of assistance, details of which were set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Brown) on 9 February at columns56–60.
In addition to that assistance, the Department of Trade and Industry offers help to businesses of all sizes in the assisted areas. Regional selective assistance is available in the intermediate areas; and both regional selective assistance and regional development grants are available in the development areas. The assistance takes the form of grants which are available for manufacturing or service projects which provide new capital assets and create or safeguard employment in the relevant areas.