§ Mr. John Browneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider extending the scope of the business expansion scheme by reducing the "lockup" period for funds invested from five years to three years.
§ Mr. MooreThe purpose of the scheme is to encourage investment in small companies on a reasonably long-term basis. There are no plans to change the rules of the business expansion scheme, apart from the proposed changes announced by my right hon. Friend in his Budget statement on 19 March.