§ 36. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement: on the relationship between the Scottish Economic Planning Department and small firms in Scotland.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe Department's main point of contact with small firms in Scotland is the Small Firms Information Centre in Glasgow, which is now handling some 7,500 inquiries a year. Apart from advice on private sector sources of finance, the centre is able to draw attention to the services and support provided by statutory bodies such as the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board. It also collects information and views which are relevant in the formulation of Government policy.