§ 30. Mr. KirkhopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for the future of the small firms service following the creation of training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeThe small firms service now forms part of the Training Agency. This brings together the closely linked services of counselling and training, and will lead to a more coherent and effective approach to small business support.
The training and enterprise councils will become responsible for the counselling activity of the SFS. This will help ensure that TECs become the natural focus for the local small business support network.
The SFS will maintain its counselling service in each area covered now until a TEC is established. The SFS information service will remain as a national service.