§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ Mr. Viggers[holding answer 19 July 1988]: The principal Northern Ireland vehicle for strengthening the small firm sector is the Local Enterprise Development Unit, Northern Ireland's small business agency. The unit can offer a wide range of selective assistance by grants and loans to new and expanding firms with up to 50 employees. During 1987–88 offers were made to 873 projects promoting 4,570 jobs, a small increase on the previous year's level of 4,543 jobs. In addition to the number of jobs assisted, the unit's main performance indicators are cost per job and percentage contribution to total project costs. Over the past three years these have shown the following trends:
Cost per job Contribution (£) (per cent) 1985–86 4,890 38 1986–87 4,532 36 1987–88 4,520 35 A most encouraging initiative is the local enterprise programme, under which more than 30 community-based, 860W business-led groups are being assisted to contribute to the economic regeneration of their areas. At present, 18 local enterprise centres are operational, providing accommodation and common services to over 500 new small businesses employing nearly 1,000 people. When complete, the network of centres will have the potential to accommodate businesses with up to 3,000 employees in total.
The stimulation of enterprise is being greatly assisted by the work of the Northern Ireland small business institute based at the University of Ulster, a successful marriage of academia, the private and public sectors, providing a range of training and developmental services to new and existing entrepreneurs. The institute's programmes include two aimed specifically at harnessing the talents of young graduates—the graduates enterprise programme encouraging graduates to establish their own businesses and the graduate attachment programme encouraging small firms to utilise the skills of those with good qualifications in developing their businesses. Both programmes are successful in terms of those who go on to set up their own enterprises or are employed in key positions by small firms. The Government have also recognised the need for greater awareness among small companies of the opportunities that exist both in export markets and as suppliers to public authorities and major private sector undertakings.
A series of exhibitions and seminars are being held involving the central unit of purchasing (Northern Ireland), LEDU; the Industrial Development Board and national and local undertakings; to date some 2,500 local companies have attended. In the export field the Industrial Development Board's trade mission and fairs programme attracted a record 223 participants in overseas missions and trade fairs during 1988. The structure of Northern Ireland industry is such that the greater majority of firms employ fewer than 200 people, so that the effect of national policies for stimulating enterprise and reducing the burdens upon business will be enjoyed mainly by smaller businesses.