§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the achievements of the Lord Chancellor's Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors these achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Government have continued to place a high priority on helping small businesses through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance.
The Lord Chancellor has implemented a number of policies designed to ensure that all litigants enjoy the greatest possible quality and speed of service from the civil courts. However, as these policies are not specifically targeted on small businesses, no performance indicators are kept in this regard.
The Lord Chancellor's Department has continued to encourage the use of small businesses as suppliers in line with the Government purchasing initiative. Within the last 12 months guidance issued by the Department of Employment—Central Unit on Purchasing has been circulated to all purchasing and supply staff, and there has
Item To whom allocated Conditions—wishes expressed Collection of Anglo-Saxon and medieval coins Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge Conditional Collection of modern paintings Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Cumbria Conditional "Allée à Chantilly" by Cezanne National Gallery Wish to go to the National Gallery expressed Painting by van der Heyden National Gallery Conditional Woodcut by Edvard Munch University of Manchester-Whitworth Art Gallery Conditional
Items awaiting allocation Date of acceptance "Farm Cart with Horse in Harness" by Constable 14 February 1990 Harpsichord 14 February 1990 "Richmond près Londres" by Corot 29 March 1990 Portrait by Beechey 20 April 1990 Painting by Lucas de Heere 20 April 1990 Two portraits by Gainsborough, one by Rubens and a landscape by Seghers 20 April 1990