§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he has taken to assist small businesses in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [26823]
§ Mr. RichardsThe Welsh Office supports small businesses directly and through the activities of a number of development agencies. The main programmes and associated funding in 1995–96 are:
£ million Regional Enterprise Grants 1.6 SMART Scheme for innovation 1.8 SPUR Scheme 1.0 Business Growth and Start-Up Programme (operated by TECs) 13.0 The Department's overseas trade services branch also supported eight trade missions to 13 overseas markets in 1995–96, securing immediate orders worth £1.6 million and prospective orders worth £44 million. In addition, under the Department's simplified procedure for regional selective assistance, 53 grant offers to the value of £0.9 million were made to small firms.
The Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales operate a range of initiatives within their business services programmes which, in 1995–96, attracted estimated expenditure of £4.5 million.
A most important recent initiative is business connect, launched in January by my right hon. Friend and which is designed specifically to help small firms access quickly and effectively the business support network.