§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech about small businesses at a lunch at ACTAIR International Limited in Cardiff on 17th June 1977; and what steps have been taken to persuade Departments to reduce the burden of papers and questionnaires they are issuing.
§ The Prime MinisterA copy of the speech was placed in the Library on 21st June. In the speech, I recognised the difficulties imposed on small firms by form filling and paper work, and said that I had asked Departments to keep their form-filling requirements under constant review. As part of his current investigations into the problems of small firms my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is examining those created by legislative and administrative requirements.