§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of his proposed expenditure on(a) telecommunications and data links and (b) other items on the proposed new business links organisations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodI have approved expenditure of £1 million in 1994–95 and £0.5 million is potentially available in 1995–96 as start-up finance for the new arrangements. It supports the provision of information and new training and communications facilities.
In addition, European regional development fund resources are available in 1995–96 to pump prime the business development consortia in both industrial south wales and rural Wales.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the business links organisations to provide a one-stop shop service for small and medium-sized enterprises that he proposes; and what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the training and enterprise councils concerning their participation.
§ Mr. RedwoodIn June 1994, my "Prospectus for Improving Business and Enterprise Support Services in Wales" invited local authorities, training and enterprise councils and other local partners to put forward proposals for improving the co-ordination of business support services in Wales. The prospectus set out general guidelines. All seven training and enterprise councils were part of the eight successful consortia bids which I approved last month.