§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his Department's assistance to small firms to achieve BS5750 standards.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 13 December 1993]: BS5750 is a voluntary standard and the decision to seek certification is a matter for individual companies. However, help for small firms to achieve BS5750 is available through my Department's enterprise initiative consultancy scheme under which DTI will pay up to half the cost of specialist help lasting up to 15 days. Also, the relevance of the standard and its relationship to total quality management and company competitiveness is 613W highlighted in the "Managing in the 90s" programme; an awareness programme promoting an integrated approach to best management practice.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total annual amount of public funds that is used to underwrite small firms finance loans through the banks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 13 December 1993]: The net cost of the scheme for the period April 1982 to March 1993 was £185.5 million, shown below by financial year. No figures are available for the period June 1981 to March 1982.
£m 1982–83 10.8 1983–84 27.2 1984–85 32.9 1985–86 27.1 1986–87 11.3 1987–88 3.6 1988–89 3.8 1989–90 5.6 1990–91 16.5 1991–92 27.5 1992–93 19.2