§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 the790W performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ Mr. Chris Patten[holding answer 24 July 1989]: My Department contributes to the Government policy of creating a climate in which small businesses can flourish, in particular by simplifying and removing unnecessary controls on them. The major deregulation initiatives carried through and in progress are set out in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm. 512). They include substantial changes to the planning system, the development of integrated pollution control, and the reform of the building regulations, all of which simplify procedures and remove unnecessary burdens on businesses of all sizes. Separate information on small businesses is not available.