Small Businesses (Hansard, 14 April 1976)

§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

Yes. This year I shall be establishing a pilot counselling service in one of our regions under which we shall retain retired executives who will be available to discuss problems in depth with the managers of small businesses. Under this scheme, initial discussions will be free of charge, but any subsequent more detailed counselling will be paid for by the user. The counsellor's job will be to help owner-managers diagnose and solve their own problems; or to select appropriate sources of more detailed advice. In the light of the experience we gain with the pilot project, I hope to extend this service throughout the country over the next three years. Arrangements in Scotland and Wales may of course be different bearing in mind the rôle of the Development Agencies.

I have also decided that for a period of two years my Department will contribute half the cost, up to a maximum in any one case of £5,000, of feasibility studies undertaken with a view to establishing inter-firm collaborative arrangements. A sum of £100,000 will be available over the two years for this purpose.

Thirdly, my Department in association with the Department of Education and Science and the Training Services Agency will be carrying out a review of the management education needs of small businesses and the facilities available to 601W meet these needs. The object of this review is to see if ways and means can be devised of helping small firms to improve their administrative skills by methods which are acceptable to businessmen and make the best use of existing facilities and resources.

Further details of these schemes are being announced today by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry and copies of his announcement are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and copies are also available for Members in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.