§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievments and the statistical results of such monitoring; and if he will set out his targets to help small businesses in the next year.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Government recognise the crucial580W role played by small firms in the Welsh economy. We have continued to help small businesses by keeping inflation and interest rates low and by reducing legislative and administrative burdens.
My Department works with local authorities, training and enterprise councils, the development agencies and local enterprise agencies in providing a range of services for small businesses in Wales. I recently published a prospectus inviting bids for improving those services. through increased collaboration both between these organisations and with the private sector.
Specific measures promoted by my Department are as follows:
Enterprise promotionDuring 1993–94, TECs assisted over 9,000 owner-managers, provided 10,438 counselling sessions and, in respect of a range of information services, received nearly 55,000 inquiries. During 1992–93, TECs provided 13,903 counselling sessions and received 42,483 inquiries. They will continue to provide these services in response to demand in 1994–95.In 1993–94, TECs helped 2,200 people start their own businesses, compared to 2,677 in 1992–93. They have a target. of 2,300 in 1994–95. In addition, over 5,000 small firms are to receive business enterprise training or consulting support with a further 1,200 targeted to participate in management development.Grant supportThe Welsh Office continues to provide grant support for small firms, having regard to the level of demand in each year. During the year ending 30 June 1994, 128 firms employing under 200 accepted offers of Regional Selective Assistance totalling £16 730 million. The grants were forecast to help create or safeguard, 3,813 jobs and generate £98 million private sector investment. In the previous year, 120 firms accepted offers totalling £22 463 million and forecast to create or safeguard 3,377 jobs and help generate £143 million private sector investment.Also in the year ending 30 June 1994, 127 small firms (i.e. those with fewer than 25 employees for investment grant and fewer than 50 for innovation grant) accepted offers of Regional Enterprise Grant totalling £1 847 million. The grants were forecast to help generate £6 88 million private sector investment. In the previous year, 163 firms accepted offers totalling £2 469 million, with forecast private sector investment totalling £8 75 million.My Department is also continuing with an active programme under the Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology (SMART). In the previous two years, small firms from Wales have done well, gaining 16 and 17 awards respectively—approximately 9 per cent. of the United Kingdom total. Under the Support for Products under Research Scheme (SPUR), grant support for small firms in Wales rose from £0 96 million in 1992–93 to £1 91 million in 1993–94, a percentage increase of 26 per cent.DeregulationThe Welsh Office is continuing to contribute actively to the Government's drive to reduce the burden of regulations on business. A consultation exercise was carried out with Welsh business interests in 1993: this identified no Wales-only legislation as placing a burden on business. During 1994, all Welsh Office subordinate legislation is being reviewed.