§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Industry what further action is being taken to help small businesses following the allocation in March of an additional £1 million for the small firms service in 1981–82.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe additional resources are to be used primarily to strengthen existing teams of counsellors 103W and to make business management advice and help through counselling more widely available. The business opportunities programme launched by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 5 May will help to develop awareness of the Small Firms Service.
Independent research by Messrs. Research Associates has confirmed recently that Small Firms Service counselling is a highly cost effective and practical way of providing a business management advisory service for small firms, and in the research team's view safeguarding and creating jobs. The counsellors are independent and experienced business men who are engaged on a contractual basis. I am placing a copy of the report in the Library.
The Small Firms Service will also be further developing its working relationship with the numerous other organisations which offer advice and assistance to small businesses in order to achieve the most efficient way of applying the various resources to individual business needs.