§ Mr. SteenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of funding his Department provided in each of the last three years for development work which aimed to benefit small firms and individual traders.
§ Mr. LeighThe Department funded small firms development schemes at a cost of £89.3 million in 1990–91 and £90.8 million in 1991–92 with a forecast cost of £91..2 million for 1992–93.
Other small firms guarantee and support schemnes costing approximately £24.2 million in 1990–91, £34.4 million in 1991–92 and an expected £29.4 million in 1992–93 were, prior to their transfer to this Department in May 1992, funded by the Department of Employment.
The training and enterprise councils provide business counselling and advice to small businesses from funds provided by the Department of Employment. These TEC activities will be funded by this Department from 1993–94.