§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his 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 those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department continues to help small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance. The Department's aim of a more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport system, using the market to offer the widest possible choice to transport users, will assist businesses of all sizes.
My Department is, like others, systematically reviewing the regulations for which it is responsible to ensure that unnecessary or over-burdensome regulation is cut back. When considering new regulations, we will take particular account of the burden those regulations impose on small businesses.