§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish details of the various new schemes of assistance introduced by the present Administration in respect of the small business sector.
§ Mr. CryerAs announced earlier this year, the Government have established a pilot counselling service for small firms in the South-West Region, are making funds available to assist with studies of the feasibility of collaboration between small firms, and are carrying out a review of their management education needs. This is in addition to the Small Firms Information Service which has been available for a number of years. Details of schemes of assistance for individual industrial sectors introduced by the Government under Section 8 of the Industry Act have been placed in the Library of the House. In particular, most of these include provision for helping small firms with the costs of consultancy assignments. In addition my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has taken a number of steps to help the business community and has raised the ceiling for the reduced rate of corporation tax and changed the application of capital transfer tax with the needs of small businesses especially in mind.