§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the ethnic minority business advisory group was established; how many times it met; 49W what were the results of its meetings; and what factors led to its being disbanded. [13100]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe first meeting of the ethnic minority business advisory group was held on 8 December 1992. There were four more meetings. It provided a forum in which issues of concern to ethnic minority businesses could be raised with mainstream business support organisations and relevant Government Departments. The transfer of the ethnic minority business initiative grant scheme into the single regeneration budget and the establishment of the Government offices for the regions, which moved the focus of activity from central to regional level, were the principal factors in the disbandment of EMBAG.