HC Deb 27 February 1985 vol 74 c192W
48. Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will commission a study on the effects on small businesses of the miners' strike.

Mr. Trippier

No. I do not need to commission a study to appreciate that small businesses in mining communities are suffering economic difficulties because of the strike. These difficulties have often come to my attention and I sympathise because they are not of their making nor of the Government's. In mining communities, as elsewhere, we help firms to cope with business problems by the provision of confidential advice through the Small Firms Service.