Small Business Service (Hansard, 14 February 2001)

§ Mr. Yeo
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what an initial consultation visit by the Small Business Service consists of. [150332]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 13 February 2001]: An initial consultation visit under the Farm Business Advice Service, which is being delivered for MAFF by the Small Business Service, is conducted by a Farm Business Adviser (FBA) and lasts approximately half a day. The FBA will look round the farm and discuss with the farmer the way the business is run and managed, financial matters and the aspirations for the business of the farmer and his/her family. Information required to undertake a business health check and to prepare a current farm balance sheet will be collected, which the farmer will normally have been forewarned to have ready, to help the FBA prepare an action plan following the initial visit. The FBA may also collect data to benchmark business performance. During the visit or on a subsequent visit the FBA might use the specially developed Connect CD to illustrate the options open to the farmer.
In every case FBAs will tailor the service provided to meet the needs of the individual farmer.

§ Mr. Yeo
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the cost of the Small Business Service's agricultural activities have been to date; and how these costs have been met. [150331]

§ Mr. Nick Brown
[holding answer 13 February 2001]: Expenditure to date on the Farm Business Advice Service which is being delivered for MAFF by the Small Business Service(SBS) through Business Link outlets is £1,053,092. Business Links will be submitting invoices to cover the costs they have incurred delivering the service, over the period since its launch, at the end of February. All costs will be met from moneys allocated to MAFF under the Action Plan for Farming. Any funds allocated to this service for this financial year and not spent will be carried over to next year.
Farmers do have access to the full range of other small business support services provided by the SBS, but the costs involved are not separately identified.