§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the impact of(a) his policies and (b) the work of his Department in helping small businesses in the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors the impact and the statistical results of such monitoring. [39145]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the UK economy and aim to help them by providing sound economic conditions—keeping inflation and interest rates low; reducing legislative administration and taxation burdens; and, where appropriate, provide direct assistance in the form of specialist advice and support and easing access to finance.
My Department assists the development of small businesses through sponsorship of the construction industry and the Rural Development Commission and by its responsibility for regeneration, energy efficiency and environmental technology. In other areas, such as planning, environmental protection, and health and safety our concern is to ensure that regulation does not impose unnecessary burdens on business. Further details of my Department's activities in these areas can be found in "Your Business Matters: The Government's Response". the third competitiveness White Paper and the Department of the Environment's annual report; these documents are available in the House of Commons Library.