§ Mr. Alasdair MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future of the Small Business Loans Scheme. [40645]
§ Mrs. Wilson[holding answer 12 May 1998]: The Small Business Loan Scheme was introduced by the Scottish Enterprise network in 1994, with the aim of trying to encourage small businesses, when utilising banking facilities to finance investment, to place greater reliance on term loans and less on overdrafts. Having been introduced on a pilot basis, the scheme was discontinued last year after an independent evaluation concluded that the scheme had not sufficiently met its objectives.
§ Mr. Alasdair MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the Small Business Loans Scheme to the tourism sector. [40646]
§ Mrs. Wilson[holding answer 12 May 1998]: The Small Business Loan Scheme has been discontinued. My right hon. Friend has no plans to extend it to the tourism sector.