§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many clients have sought th assistance of each business advice center in Wales within each of the last three years; and what monitoring has been undertaken of the nature of the inquiries.
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Business Advice Centre 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1BAS 2TS BAS TS BAS TS Ystradgynlais and Brecon 685 113 465 74 630 129 Llandrindod Wells 668 67 661 57 794 144 Welshpool 1,412 107 940 94 1,040 100
§ Sir Wyn RobertsMany organisations in Wales, "centres" for giving advice to businesses. Information on total numbers of clients seeking advice from such bodies is not held centrally. However, the Development Board for Rural—DBRW—operates a network of business advice center and the information requested for those centres is as follows:
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1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1BAS 2TS BAS TS BAS TS Newcastle Emlyn 747 73 1,033 128 1,011 130 Aberystwyth 1,292 120 1,178 97 1,152 69 Dolgellau 524 125 772 100 793 59 1 BAS—Business Advisory Sessions (number held). 2 TS—Training Sessions (number held). The Development Board for Rural Wales monitoring includes a range of processes including customer-care questionnaires, independent reviews and evaluations of customer needs, as well as meeting representatives of the business advice centres monthly.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the business advice centres established in Wales within the last three years; and if he will make a statement outlining the main activities carried out by such centres.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given today. As regards the Development Board for Rural Wales network of business advice centres, two additional centres have been established at Cardigan and Lampeter. They primarily provide advice on business start-up, training, and access to information on premises and financial assistance.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been allocated by his Department to develop business advice centres in Wales within each of the last three years; and if he will list the amount allocated to each centre.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given today. The Development Board for Rural Wales has allocated funding to its business advice centres over the last three financial years, as follows:
Business advice center 1989–90 £ 1990–91 £ 1991–92 £ Ystradgynlais and Brecon 21,000 36,000 36,000 Llandrindod Wells 14,000 18,000 18,000 Welshpool 14,000 18,000 18,000 Newcastle Emlyn 18,000 18,000 18,000 Aberystwyth 14,000 18,000 18,000 Dolgellau 14,000 18,000 18,000 In addition, the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales have given funding for core services and special projects to Wales' 21 local enterprise agencies, which also provide business advice, as follows:
1989–90 £ 1990–91 £ 1991–92 £ 430,700 370,400 353,000