§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the small business representatives on each of the Department's group boards. [156680]
§ Nigel GriffithsOf the current group board independent members, four have a background in small business: Richard Maudslay (Business Group Board), Patricia Calway (Fair Markets Group Board), Caroline Whitfield (Innovation Group Board) and Shahzad Khan MBE (Innovation Group Board).
Advice to DTI on the needs of small business comes from the Small Business Council (SBC) and the Ethnic Minority Business Forum (EMBF). The SBC advises on the needs of existing and potential small business in order to increase their opportunities for success and growth. It also advises on the effects on such businesses of the activities and potential activities of Government. The EMBF advises on the right help and advice that 1087W black and ethnic minorities need to start and successfully grow their businesses. The majority of members of both these advisory non-departmental public bodies are small business representatives. Further information on both can be found on the Small Business Service website at www.sbs.gov.uk.