§ 25. Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of the large numbers of bankruptcies in 1976, especially among small businesses, what practical steps he is taking to assist and encourage this vital sector of industry.
§ Mr. CryerSmall businesses are eligible for a wide range of Government assistance of a general and specific nature. The Government have taken a number of steps to assist them, including operating the criteria for sectoral schemes in a flexible manner and providing specific assistance within schemes where possible; for example, the clothing scheme, where the minimum value of a project eligible for help has been reduced from £30,000 to £10,000. We shall continue to keep the position under review.
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what incentives he proposes to introduce to encourage smaller firms to export more.
§ Mr. CryerNone. Many smaller firms are already exporting successfully, and the British Overseas Trade Board's export services and promotional aids are being heavily used by exporters of every size.