§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to retain the training and enterprise council structure to enable small businesses to have a say in their local organisations.
Mr. JacksonTraining and enterprise councils are required to include at least one executive on their board who has first-hand experience of running a small business.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to aid the establishment of small firm investment companies to provide equity and loan licensing for small businesses.
§ Mr. ForthI have at present no plans to do so. I am, however, always ready to consider suggestions for new ways of helping small firms if there is clear evidence of a gap in market provision.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to establish an industrial development advisory service to provide advice and assistance to small firms and the self-employed.
§ Mr. ForthLast year my Department's small firms service provided 50,000 counselling sessions for small firms and answered over 300,000 inquiries. Responsibility for small firms advice is, of course, being transferred to the emerging network of training and enterprise councils. In the training and enterprise council area that encompasses Southport the corporate and business plans are still under development. It is recognised locally that a full and comprehensive service to the small business sector will be necessary.