§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the 10 projects to reform the regulatory environment for small business referred to in figure 19.3 of the Trade and Industry Departmental Report, Cm 5916. [157195]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe Government remain committed to creating a business environment in which all business, especially small business, has the chance to start, grow and employ staff. It recently published its Action Plan for Small Business on 8 January 2004, which details the measures it will take to reduce the regulatory burden. The Action Plan supersedes and builds on the 10 projects, details of which are set out as follows.
§ Nigel GriffithsThe information is as follows.
- a. 207 Grant for R&D offers have been made between 1 June 2003 to 31 December 2003.
- b. 75 Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea offers have been made between 1 June 2003 and 31 December 2003.
981W - c. Since the first Knowledge Transfer Partnerships were considered in September 2003, 130 partnerships have been approved and so far 16 of them have begun work on their projects.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme since it was created; and of this total, how much has been spent on administration. [157194]
§ Nigel GriffithsBetween the start of the scheme in June 1981 and 31 March 2003 the total programme expenditure has been £482.8 million. Expenditure on administration between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2003 is estimated at £1.97 million of which £0.37 million is included within the total of £482.8 million and £1.6 million is additional. Earlier administrative cost could be determined only at disproportionate cost.