§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the performance of the UK recorded in the European Commission report, Implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises; and if she will make a statement. [37490]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe UK is delighted with the European Commission's full report on the implementation of "The European Charter for Small Enterprises". The Commission calls for the European Union to 'Think Small First' when developing enterprise policies—mirroring the approach already adopted by the United Kingdom. In their examination of national enterprise policies, the Commission highlighted the following UK initiatives
the opening of a representative office in Brussels—smallbusinessEurope, a voice by small business for small business-where the UK has been the only member state to take direct action on this element of the charter.among the lowest costs and shortest time required to start a business in the EUsteps introduced to modernise insolvency laws and allow honest failurethe introduction of scholarships for potential entrepreneurs from deprived areasthe establishment of a Regulatory Impact Assessment system that analyses alternatives to regulationthe High Technology Fund which invests in early-stage high-technology focused funds getting businesses to trade online with tough targetsthe introduction of an E-Envoythe launching of a programme to promote links between universities and business for the commercial exploitation of university research so we make the most of our innovative potential.A copy of the UK's report to the Commission entitled "The European Charter for Small Enterprises—A Review of relevant actions in force in the United Kingdom" was placed in the Libraries of the House in November.
The UK looks forward to a full evaluation of the report at the spring summit in Barcelona and a clear reaffirmation of the EU to fulfilling all the commitments set out in the charter.