Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he has taken to assist small companies in the Greater Manchester county.
§ Mr. CryerThere are 10 nursery units totalling 170,000 sq ft either completed or under construction for the Department by the English Industrial Estates Corporation to provide accommodation for small businesses in Greater Manchester. In addition, about 103 units, none of which exceed 12,000 sq ft and which are being erected by the local authorities are being financed out of the £11 million specially allocated to the authorities by central Government for the construction of factories. This is additional to the 153W moneys allocated under the Inner Urban Areas Bill.
In February 1978 a counselling service to provide small business men with experienced guidance on their problems was introduced into the region to supplement the existing services provided by the Small Firms Information Service in Manchester.
Most small manufacturing companies receive regional development grants under the Industry Act and some small companies also benefit from the sectoral schemes under section 8 of the Act.
The Government have established a partnership with local authorities in Manchester and Salford under the programme to assist inner city regeneration. Small firms have a vital contribution to make towards this end.
Small firms in the area were given an opportunity to exchange views with central and local government at the conference held in Manchester last February.
Since 1st July, all small firms in the Greater Manchester area have been eligible for the Department of Employment's small firms employment subsidy, which provides £20 per week to a small manufacturing firm of up to 200 employees for each additional person employed.