Small Businesses

HC Deb 19 July 1994 vol 247 cc210-1W

Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the achievements of(a) her policies and (b) her Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if she will publish the performance indicators by which her Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if she will set out her targets to help small businesses in the next year.

Mr. Sackville

The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the United Kingdom economy. The Government help small firms by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislation and administrative burdens. They also provide direct assistance where appropriate and is currently establishing a network of business links to provide high-quality business support around the country.

The Department of Health helps small businesses through effective and proportionate regulation which takes account of the interests of small businesses, by encouraging sensible enforcement, through deregulation and by specific support and assistance.

The Department and the national health service provide equal opportunities to all potential suppliers, of whatever size, to trade on a value for money basis. Some 75 to 80 per cent. of national health service suppliers are small businesses.

On deregulation, the removal of unnecessary burdens on small business is an important consideration in the Department's review of regulations which we aim to complete by December 1994. The Department is active in promoting exports of health care goods and services, many of which are produced by small businesses. The prompt payment of bills, especially important to small businesses, is also taken seriously. In 1993–94, this Department paid 87.1 per cent. of its bills within an agreed credit period, or within 30 days. Prompt payment of creditors is also vigorously pursued in the national health service.

As it is not practicable to monitor centrally the precise extent to which the national health service or the Department makes use of small businesses, no perfor-mance indicators are maintained.