§ 25. Mr. Cashasked the Paymaster General how many local enterprise agencies have been set up; and what future development of this network is anticipated.
§ Mr. TrippierThere are currently 336 local enterprise agencies throughout the United Kingdom, of which 246 are approved under the terms of the Finance Act 1982, which allows business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies. The main future development in this sector is expected to be a strengthening of the existing agencies and, in particular, of their role as a focus for local networks of support to small businesses. 'This is a major objective of the Government's local enterprise agency grant scheme.