Small Firms (Hansard, 27 November 1995)

§ Mrs. Roche
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current position of the small firms training challenge. [1935]

§ Mr. Page
The first award winners in the skill challenge for small firms were announced jointly by myself and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 22 November 1995,Official Report, columns 208–9. Fourteen projects have been successful in the first round, involving about 180 companies.
The deadline for the second round of bids is 31 December 1995, with winners to be announced in mid-February 1996. A total of 100 projects will be funded, including the first 14, with an average award of around £50,000.

§ Mrs. Roche
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice his Department issues to other Government Departments regarding the tendering process for small firms. [1933]
431W

§ Mrs. Roche
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many loans were made under the small firms loans guarantee scheme in each year since the scheme began. [1941]

§ Mr. Page
The number of loans guaranteed in each year since the scheme began is:

Year

1981–82: 3,351

1982–83: 6,045

1983–84: 4,889

1984–85: 2,081

1985–86: 543

1986–87: 1,042

1987–88: 1,222

1988–89: 2,266

1989–90: 3,204

1990–91: 3,387

1991–92: 2,933

1992–93: 2,342

1993–94: 3,886

1994–95: 6,207

1995–96: 3,585 (Estimated to September 1995).

§ Mr. Page
My hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury is responsible for issuing guidance and best practice on procurement issues to Government Departments on the tendering process for all Government procurement.
In addition, this department also produces a guide for Government procurement officers on purchasing from small firms called "Think Big, Buy Small" and a guide for small firms on "Tendering for Government Contracts", which contains advice on and details of the procurement requirements for each of the Government Departments. Both of these publications are currently being updated.