HC Deb 17 December 2001 vol 377 c117W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) individuals and (b) small businesses from the constituency of Buckingham have written to the Small Business Service in the last 12 months; and what the average number of working days taken to respond was. [22527]

Nigel Griffiths

SBS's South East Regional Team has received three written requests relating to this area, all inquiries were answered within three days of receipt, and were all directed to Business Link Milton Keynes Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

SBS takes an average of 10 working days to respond to correspondence. Most requests are handled by Business Links, rather than the SBS.

May I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to question No. 22528.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) individuals and (b) small businesses for the constituency of Buckingham have used the Small Business Service in each quarter since April 2000. [22528]

Nigel Griffiths

The table shows the number of businesses and individuals assisted by Business Link Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Management Information for Business Link local and national services are not desegregated to constituency level.

(a) Business (b) Individuals
2000–01:
April to June (Q1) 2,378 1,035
July to September (Q2) 3,790 905
October to December (Q3) 3,710 839
January to March (Q4) 1,972 658
2001–02:
April to June (Q1) 2,395 767
July to September (Q2) 3,105 607

Source:

Business Link Management Information returns.