Small Businesses (Hansard, 5 July 2000)

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to help people aged 50 years and over who are not working to set up their own businesses; and if he will make a statement. [128739]

§ Ms Hewitt
The Small Business Service, launched in April this year, will provide information, advice, and access to experts on all aspects of running a business, including planning, finance, management, exporting, quality, employment issues, training and development, innovation, design, regulation, information and communication technology and e-commerce.
The SBS will also run national services to help small firms, including:

grants for innovation technology transfer;

management best practice schemes;

small firms finance, including Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.

All these services will be available via the "SBS Gateway", a comprehensive network of business support organisations, initiatives and information from the public, private and voluntary sectors. The Gateway will make extensive use of internet and call-centre technology.
These services are available to anyone wishing to setup or run their own business, irrespective of age.
The SBS is also working with PRIME (The Prince's Initiative for Mature Entrepreneurs) with a view to supporting that organisation's plans to enhance access to finance for the over-50s in deprived areas seeking to start in business.

§ Mr. Pollard
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to implement the recommendations made in the Better Regulation Task Force's recent report on helping small businesses cope with regulation, in particular the simplification of rules; and if he will make a statement. [129019]

§ Ms Hewitt
The Government response to the Better Regulation Task Force's report was published on 26 June 2000; copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

§ Mr. Pollard
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance his Department gives to entrepreneurs in socially excluded areas who wish to start up and develop small businesses as to how they can access the new Phoenix Fund. [129018]
213W

§ Ms Hewitt
The Phoenix Fund does not support individual enterprises directly, but instead promotes the development of business support among disadvantaged groups or neighbourhoods. A mentoring scheme is already being piloted through some 45 local enterprise agencies and other local partnerships. The Small Business Service is seeking bids for support from community finance initiatives, and I shall shortly be issuing bidding guidance for assistance for novel forms of business support, including incubators.