§ 105. Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many local enterprise agencies are currently operating; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeWe know of 434 local enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom. Of these, 393 are approved under provisions of the 1988 Income and Corporation Taxes Act (previously under provisions of the 1982 Finance Act), which allow business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.
The local training and enterprise councils announced in the White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" will provide a means for ensuring that the provision of small firms counselling and training relevant to local needs is extended and co-ordinated. There will be an important opportunity here for local enterprise agencies, as the councils will be able to sub-contract small firms work to agencies which can demonstrate a high quality of service.