§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what studies her Department has undertaken of the effectiveness of small business support schemes delivered by training and enterprise councils; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department currently has responsibility for the business start-up scheme (BSUS), (formerly enterprise allowance), which assists unemployed people to set up a business. The following studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of BSUS since training and enterprise councils (TECs) took over responsibility for its delivery
Enterprise Allowance Scheme: Evaluation of Development Projects", PIEDA, 1992.Enterprise Allowance/Business Start Up: A Survey of TEC Schemes", IFF Research Ltd., 1992.The Department regularly carries out evaluation of all its major programmes, including the BSUS, and will continue to do so.
A number of other small business support measures run by TECs are now the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.