§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to increase the level at which the Government underwrite the Small Loans Guarantee Fund. [136618]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) was extensively revised in April 2003 as part of the DTI's transformed business support programme. The changes, including a new guarantee level of 75 per cent for all eligible businesses and additional sector coverage including retail and catering, simplified the SFLG and widened its scope. From 1 April 2003 to 30 September 2003 take-up increased by 40 per cent over the same period last year. The DTI continues to monitor the operation of the SFLG to ensure that it remains relevant and accessible to small businesses.