§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department and his policies in helping small businesses over the last 12 months relative to the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance.
Small firms are given full opportunity to bid for business with my Department. It is also our policy to pay invoices on time.
Business transacted by my Department with small firms in the United Kingdom has increased from £21.1 million in the financial year 1990–91 to £24.2 million in 1991–92. In 1991–92 17.7 per cent. of total expenditure on the purchase of goods and services was with small firms.