HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 cc330-1W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 14 January,Official Report, column 585W, on retail industry crime, how many small retail businesses in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England have (i) applied for and (ii) received a grant from the Government to improve security on their property; and when the new survey of crime affecting retail and manufacturing industry will be published. [97569]

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.

In the first year of the initiative (2001–02), over 80 small businesses in Lancashire benefited from funding of £73,234. In 2002–03, over 111 retailers and small businesses in the county stand to benefit from funding of £251,453.

For the North West of England, over 420 small businesses benefited from the 2001–02 allocation of £470,670, and over 1140 retailers and small businesses stand to benefit from the 2002–03 allocation of £942,209.

We expect the results of the new survey of crime affecting retail and manufacturing business, which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in April last year, to be published in the summer.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 January,Official Report, column 585W, on retail industry crime, if the report on the consultation on the means of creating and maintaining effective partnerships to reduce opportunities for crime against business will be (a) published online and (b) placed in the Library. [97779]

Mr. Denham

The consultation period on the business crime consultation document closes on 28 February 2003. We hope to publish a report on the outcome in the summer. The report will be published on the Home Office website and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 14 January,Official Report, column 585W, on retail industry crime, what the average size is of a grant made available from the Government to businesses for improving the security of small retail businesses. [97780]

Mr. Denham

In the first year (2001–02) of the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Initiative, the average grant made available was £1,074 per small retailer. In the second year (2002–03), this has increased to £1,272 per individual business.