§ 23. Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will raise the limit on the loan guarantee scheme from £75,000 to £250,000.
§ Mr. TrippierNo. The present pilot scheme is designed to help smaller businesses which have the greatest difficulty in raising medium-term finance and the average size of loan, about £33,000, shows that there is little pressure to raise the limit. Larger loans can of course comprise a scheme loan and conventional facilities.