19. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Industry what further measures he proposes to give assistance to small businesses.
§ Mr. MacGregorWe have already done a great deal to help small businesses, which we are publicising at present through the business opportunities programme. Through that programme and in many other ways I am in constant touch with small businesses and regularly consider with them whether further measures are needed. There is to be a debate on the subject of the Government's policy towards small businesses in this House on Friday.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new small businesses with fewer than 200 employees have been set up each month during the last 12 months; and how many have gone into liquidation.
§ Mr. MacGregorThis information is not available in the form requested, though work is now being done in the Department on it. Details of insolvencies in England and Wales were publishd inBritish Business on 16 and 23 October.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many businesses employing fewer than 200 people existed in Great Britain in September of each year since 1976; and how many people those businesses employed.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe available information relating to manufacturing enterprises in the United Kingdom employing fewer than 200 in the private sector is as follows: 23W
Year Enterprises Employment (thousands) 1976 86,279 1576.3 1977 86,739 1552.0 1978 87,168 1515.7 1979 86,838 1498.2 Further details are available from table 12 of Business Monitor PA 1002. Information is not available for subsequent years or for non-manufacturing enterprises.