Small Businesses (Hansard, 11 December 2001)

§ Mr. Chope
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2001,Official Report, column 306W, on small businesses, if she will identify the title of the Government response and the date it was issued; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [22364]

§ Nigel Griffiths
The "Government Response to the Better Regulation Task Force Shopkeepers Report" was issued on 17 October. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. It is available on the Cabinet Office website at the following address: http:// www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/TaskForce/2001/ response localshops.htm

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what structures exist to facilitate communication between her Department and small businesses. [21807]

§ Nigel Griffiths
The Small Business Service provides a focal point within Government for small business issues. SBS has a wide variety of contacts with small firms themselves, their representative bodies, and the various other organisations, such as regional development agencies, with an interest in helping small firms. The Small Business Service also has a programme of research to identify the needs and concerns of small businesses.
The Small Business Council, made up primarily of small business owners, was appointed to advise the chief executive of the Small Business Service and report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on issues affecting small businesses.
The council organised 12 town hall meetings in spring 2001, meeting small businesses owners across the country to hear their views on issues affecting small businesses. These findings were incorporated in the council's first annual report 2001 outlining 22 recommendations to Government to help SMEs operate more successfully.
The Ethnic Minority Business Forum (EMPF) was set up to strengthen the dialogue between Government and the ethnic minority business communities to ensure that the Government are addressing the needs of all businesses.