§ 43. Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how TECs and LECs will respond to the interests of small firms.
§ Mr. EggarTraining and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies will develop plans based on a sound assessment of local needs, including those of small firms.
They will be directly responsible for major current programmes which help small firms and promote self-employment. These include the enterprise allowance scheme, business growth training and, except in Wales, business counselling for small firms. In Scotland, local enterprise companies will, in addition, provide a wide range of economic development and environmental improvement services.
§ 59. Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received in respect of small firms and their opportunities to contribute to training.
§ Mr. EggarI receive a number of representations from the small firms sector concerning a range of topics including training. My Department helps small firms through a comprehensive package of training and business support. This includes the small firms service which dealt with some 300,000 inquiries in 1989 and provided 50,000 consultancies, the enterprise allowance scheme, which since its commencement in 1983 has helped over 500,000 unemployed people take up self employment, and business growth training, which has already provided 92,000 training opportunities since its start in April 1989. Training and enterprise councils are taking over the running and development of these and will introduce new services for small firms.