§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs the Government's principal legal adviser, I should regard it as my duty to provide ministerial colleagues with legal advice relating to small businesses if required. However, my Department, in the nature of its work, has no direct or particular responsibility towards small businesses as such.