§ Sir David MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes his Department runs to provide help or finance for small firms; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department of Transport provides guidance on transport matters to any business requiring it, whatever its size. Such financial assistance as the Department provides to businesses, for example towards the costs of transporting goods by rail rather than by unsuitable roads, under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974, is available to eligible businesses whatever the size of the company.
The Department's procurement unit encourages small firms to supply the Department, mainly through the pamphlet "Selling to the Department of Transport". The Department selectively vets the suitability of individual companies in accordance with the Department's particular needs, not the size of the company.