§ Mr. Barnettasked the President of the Board of Trade how many small businesses he is assisting by way of aid for consultancy.
§ Mr. DellUp to 14th March 230 small businesses had been offered grants towards the cost of consultancy assignments. Applications from a further 23 firms are still under consideration.
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§ Mr. Barnettasked the President of the Board of Trade why Bristol was chosen as the area for his pilot scheme to assist small businesses with a consultancy service.
§ Mr. DellBristol and Glasgow were chosen in order to give a good cross-section of small businesses in two different parts of the country.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the President of the Board of Trade what consultancy firms he is using for the purpose of his pilot scheme for giving aid to small businesses.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis the firms were chosen in his pilot scheme for the purpose of giving aid by way of a consultancy service.
§ Mr. DellApplications were invited from all businesses in the two areas with between 25 and 500 employees, but these limits have not been strictly interpreted and applications from some businesses outside these limits have been approved.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the total cost of consultancy service to each firm he is allowing in his pilot scheme to aid small businesses.
§ Mr. DellThe proportion is 50 per cent. of the cost of approved applications up to a maximum of £5,000.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of the pilot scheme to aid small businesses.
§ Mr. DellThe closing date for applications was 28th February. Up to 14th March 274 assignments, 97 in Bristol and 177 in Glasgow had been approved involving £420,846 in grants (£129,169 in Bristol and £291,677 in Glasgow). A further 52 applications are still being considered.