HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc124-5W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2003,Official Report, column 585W, on Retail Industry Crime, how many small retail businesses have (a) applied for and (b) received a grant from the Government to improve security on their property; and if he will list those consulted in the preparation of the new survey of crime affecting retail and manufacturing business. [97263]

Mr. Denham

Funding under the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Initiative is allocated directly to regional Crime Reduction Directors, whose responsibility it is to distribute the money to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) covering the 10 per cent. most deprived wards in the region. Proposals invited from CDRPs have to meet the scheme's strict criteria, and are worked up in close conjunction with the regional Crime Reduction Director, who submits them to me for approval. All proposals submitted to me in the first two years of the initiative have been approved without exception.

Overall, in the first year of the initiative (2001–02), almost 3,000 small businesses benefited, while in the second year over 4,500 retailers and small businesses stand to benefit from this funding.

The Crime Against Business survey is funded jointly by the Home Office, Her Majesty's Treasury, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and the Small Business Service (an agency of the Department for Trade and Industry). The British Retail Consortium, British Chambers of Commerce, and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have also been consulted and closely involved in the survey. Representatives from all the above organisations, public and private, have participated from the outset as steering group members and tender panel representatives and have also had input into the survey methodology and questionnaire content.

The Association of Conveniences Stores, the Federation of Small Business and the British Shops and Stores Association have pledged their support for the survey.

Telephone interviews and postal questionnaires were piloted with members of the business community.