§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will report what the Government are doing to help small businesses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeThe Government have created an overall economic climate which has helped small firms to flourish and grown. It also supports a wide range of schemes to help new and growing firms gain access to professional advice, to finance and to training. These include the small firms service, the business expansion scheme, the enterprise allowance scheme and the enterprise initiative. In April I announced the extension of the highly successful loan guarantee scheme and I also launched business growth training to help small businesses improve their competitiveness and profits through training.