§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 634W Department monitors the impact and the statistical results of such monitoring. [39138]
§ Mr. BoswellThe Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the UK economy and aims to help them by providing sound economic conditions, keeping inflation and interest rates low; reducing legislative administrative and taxation burdens; and where appropriate provide direct assistance in the form of specialist advice and support and easing access to finance.
MAFF plays an active part in this process. We have appointed a small business Minister who regularly meets small business Ministers from other Departments. This helps to ensure that departmental policies take full account of the needs of small businesses. The rural White Paper published in October 1995 incorporated a number of proposals that will be of interest to small businesses. A progress report, which will be published in the autumn, is currently being prepared. Details of MAFF policy aims and objectives, many of which will be relevant to small businesses interests, are published in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board departmental report. A copy of the most recent version, which covers 1995, is available in the Library of the House.