§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect of the business start-up scheme in Scotland.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe business start-up scheme, one of a substantial number of measures which the Government have introduced to help small firms, has improved the availability of funds to new businesses in Scotland. Three venture capital funds have already been set up in Scotland and are designed to enable potential investors to spread their investments over a number of businesses. The improvements to the scheme announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget will offer added incentives to individual investors in Scotland.