§ 33. Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to make setting up a business more realistic for people from all social backgrounds. [144561]
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§ Mr. CabornThe Department has a wide range of measures designed to help prospective entrepreneurs regardless of their social background, details of which can be found on the Small Business Service website (www.businessadviceonline.org). However, some social groups are under-represented, and we have taken additional steps to encourage these, which include: Giving the Small Business Service a clear remit to tackle social exclusion. In particular the SBS has established a Social Inclusion Unit and is taking forward those recommendations relating to its work made by the Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team on enterprise in its report of November 1999.
Ensuring that Business Links' plans take account of the needs of their local communities, including those that face some form of disadvantage.
Utilising the Phoenix Fund which the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced in November 1999. The Fund, the initial budget for which of £30 million over three years was trebled in Budget 2000, is designed to encourage the provision of high quality business support for entrepreneurs from disadvantaged or other under represented groups. Activities currently supported include community finance initiatives, business mentors and other innovative forms of business support.
In conjunction with HM Treasury and the Inland Revenue, responding to the recommendations of the Social Investment Taskforce on ways of introducing new sources of private and institutional investment into disadvantaged communities.