§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in the past year have applied for a start-up grant, following advice from the Bradford enterprise centre; when applications were submitted to him; when he is going to take decisions on those applications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 23 January 1990]I have been asked to reply.
The Bradford enterprise centre provides a range of assistance and support for new and expanding businesses including start-up grants, which are available from a number of sources. No details are available on the numbers of people who may have applied for start-up assistance following advice from the centre, or of the outcome.
As part of Bradford metropolitan district council's inner area programme, the Government do, however, fund a business development scheme, which offers start-up grants of up to £2,000 to applicants who meet agreed criteria. For this particular start-up scheme, there have been 47 applications in the current financial year. Thirty applications were received on 10 July 1989 and decisions on 28 of these were issued by the Department on 21 July. One was subsequently withdrawn and the remaining 73W application was determined in September on receipt of further information. Following the satisfactory conclusion on 8 January of discussions about the detailed operation of the scheme, the Department is now able to consider the 17 further applications received in November. Decisions can be expected shortly.