§ Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the development of a Small Business Development Bureau ; and if he will explain its rôle in assisting small firms in Scotland.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantA Small Firms Information Centre has been established in Glasgow and is one of a network of 10 such centres which have been set up throughout Britain. The centre provides a source of reference and help to small firms in Scotland, introducing them to appropriate sources of advice on problems related to their businesses. It also provides a further channel by which small firms
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EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Total Government Other Total Government Other As a percentage of gross national product at market prices(1) United Kingdom(2) £ million (3) 1961–62 … … 657.7 378.2 279.5 2.4 1.4 1.0 1964–65 … … 771.4 421.2 350.2 2.3 1.3 1.0 1966–67 … … 926.3 479.4 446.9 2.4 1.3 1.2 1967–68 … … 962.1 493.1 469.0 2.4 1.2 1.2 1968–69 … … 1,016.6 514.1 502.5 2.3 1.2 1.2 1969–70 … … 1,081.9 558.8 523.1 2.3 1.2 1.1 U.S.A. Million dollars 1963–64 … … 21,035 13,358 7,677 3.5 2.2 1.3 1966 … … 22,285 13,970 (4) 8,310 (4) 2.9 1.8 1.1 1969 … … 26,595 15,307 (5) 11,236(5) 2.9 1.6(5) 1.2(5) France Million francs 1963 … … 6,414 4,065 2,349 1.6 1.0 0.6 1967 … … 12,376 8,030 (4) 4,340 (4) 2.1 1.4 0.8 1969 … … 13,860 6,907 (6) 6,952 (6) 1.9 0.9 (6) 0.9 (6) Germany Million deutschemarks 1964 … … 5,745 2,354 3,391 1.4 0.6 0.8 1967 … … 8,337 3,443 4,894 1.7 0.7 1.0 1969 … … 10,433 4,080 6,352 1.7 0.7 1.0 Italy Million lire 1963 … … 181,729 60,135 121,594 0.6 0.2 0.4 1967 … … 279,453 98,247 181,206 0.6 0.2 0.4 1969 … … 433,938 177,740 (6) 256,198 (6) 0.8 0.3(6) 0.5(6) can make their views known to Government and identifies and reports the difficulties such firms are experiencing.