§ 23. Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to assist a wider range of people to establish businesses. [90031]
§ Mr. WillsThe Government is assisting a wider range of people to establish businesses by promoting a stable macro-economic climate with price stability, low interest272W rates and flexibility on the supply side. The Secretary of State has also announced that we will establish the Small Business Service to improve support services for small businesses. A consultation document on the Small Business Service was published on 1 July.
We envisage a key element of the Small Business Service to be to offer help to a wide range of people, including those wishing to become self-employed, and to encourage enterprise in socially and economically disadvantaged communities. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently appointed Lord Trotman to consider, over the summer, what more the Government can do to help encourage the foundation and growth of small firms. The review will look at the measures taken so far to support small and medium-sized enterprises, covering both tax and public spending programmes.