§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ISI centres are open; if she will list their locations; and if she will make a statement. [88809]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 7 January 2003]: ISI Centres were established as part of the Information Society Initiative, which was re-branded as UK online for business in 2000. The centres themselves were established to provide independent and impartial advice to SMEs about information and communication technology. When the re-organisation of the Small Business Service and the Business Link Organisation took place, it was agreed that the provision of this ICT advice would be delivered through the Business Link network and the equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many of the ISI advisers were subsumed into the Business Link organisation. There are therefore no ISI centres still in existence.