HL Deb 29 July 1976 vol 373 cc1620-2WA
Lord LLOYD of KILGERRAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of the important role played by small and medium sized undertakings in the economic life of the EEC and of the United Kingdom, what steps the EEC through the Commission and/or the Council or otherwise—

  1. (a) have taken since the date of accession of the United Kingdom; and
  2. (b) are proposing to take;
specifically to assist such undertakings in the United Kingdom.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Melchett)

Actual assistance for small and medium sized undertakings in the United Kingdom has been, or is being, provided in the form of global loans totalling £23.5 million (not all of which has been taken up) for on-lending to such undertakings, for projects providing job opportunities in the Assisted Areas or for redundant steel workers and coalminers, by the European Investment Bank and by the European Coal and Steel Community respectively. In addition, the Business Co-operation Centre, established on an experimental basis in 1973, but recently granted permanent status by the Council, has been instrumental in fostering a number of collaboration agreements between small and medium sized businesses within the Community, over half of which have involved at least one United Kingdom partner. There is no information to indicate that the Commission has further measures under consideration.

House adjourned at ten minutes past six o'clock.