§ Mr. FraserTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions Ministers have met representatives of(a) small businesses and (b) the Federation of Small Businesses. [44704]
§ Mrs. Beckett(a) DTI Ministers regularly meet representatives of small businesses at meetings, receptions, conferences, and other engagements they undertake.
(b) DTI Ministers have met representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses, formally, on the following occasions:
President of the Board of Trade: 1Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry: 5 (and 2 telephone calls)Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs: 3.