§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 results and the statistical results of such monitoring. [34703]
§ Mr. GummerIn pursuing its various policies which have an impact on small firms, my Department takes full account of their crucial role in the economy. Those policies include our sponsorship of the construction industry as well as our responsibility for regeneration and energy efficiency, where our programmes provide direct assistance to small firms. In other policy areas, such as planning and environmental protection, our concern is to ensure that regulation does not impose unnecessary burdens on business. Details of programmes and policies and their achievements are set out in the Department's annual report, copies of which are in the Library of the House.