HC Deb 28 July 1988 vol 138 cc481-2W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report those Government measures of particular help to small businesses which are the subject of current legislation or are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw), on 21 July 1988, at column 732, which sets out some of the specific measures of help to small businesses in the Finance Bill.

In addition, new companies legislation is planned which will include a number of deregulatory measures of particular help to small companies. These include a simplification of the filing requirements for annual accounts and returns and a measure to enable private companies, with the agreement of their shareholders, to opt out of certain statutory requirements such as the holding of annual general meetings.

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those measures his Department has promoted since 1983 which are of particular help for small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer to his related question today to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 27 July 1988.

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received requesting further assistance to small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

From time to time representations are made to me about assistance to small firms. A large number of businesses take advantage of the help that is available from this Department and others which is intended to enable them to operate more efficiently and to grow.