HC Deb 26 May 1993 vol 225 c610W
19. Ms Abbott

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what his Department is doing to help small black businesses in the inner city.

Mr. Robin Squire

In 1993–94 the Department is providing £408 million under urban expenditure programmes, which have among their objectives to stimulate the creation of small businesses and to help existing ones thrive and grow. A proportion of those funds go to small black businesses. City challenge partnerships and inner city task forces particularly identify ethnic minorities as a target group.