§ Helen SouthworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to support social enterprises in the north-west. [58237]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Strategy for Social Enterprise, to be published in the summer, will address the support that is available to social enterprise throughout the country. It will build on some of the excellent work that is already being done in the regions to facilitate the growth and development of social enterprise.
In the North West, the North West Development Agency aims to invest at least £2 million per annum by 2004–05 on strategic measures to support social enterprise. A package of projects to support social enterprise on Merseyside has been developed to which the Agency is contributing, together with regional partners and EU funding.