§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the implementation of the Small Business Charter, announced at the Lisbon summit. [88045]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe UK and its European partners are continuing to implement the 10 key enterprise measures in the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The European Commission's second annual implementation report to the last Spring Council noted that progress has 901W undoubtedly been made, but that there was clearly scope for further development. The Commission will produce its third annual implementation report early in 2003. This report will again take account of national reports. The UK's report recounted further progress across all areas in the period up to September 2002. The UK's report has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.