§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the level of representation by members of small businesses on the boards of Government-funded organisations charged with supporting SMEs. [66749]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe Small Business Council advises my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Chief Executive of the Small Business Service on the needs and concerns of SMEs. As of 1 July it has 23 members, all but one are from small businesses.
The Ethnic Minority Business Forum advises DTI Ministers and the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service on the right help and advice ethnic minority businesses need for growth and success. All 20 members are small business owners.
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Contract grant Project title Start date Value(£) End date Total cost of project (£) Percentage of funding from DTI DTI spend1 (£) SRC Harvesting and Logistics—Phase 2 25 February 2002 133,519 24 February 2004 267,038 50 0 Integrated Biofuels, Pyrolysis and Energy Conversion Demonstration Plant 9 January 2001 1,161,300 8 July 2003 4,645,100 25 321,620 Investigation of Low-till Systems for the Establishment of Willow Coppice in Grassland 1 January 2001 76,500 28 February 2003 153,000 50 47,657 Investigation of Single Stem Tree Plantations for Bioenergy 1 April 2001 29,500 30 June 2002 59,000 50 11,458 Development of an Integrated Wood Fuel Supply System to Deliver SRC from Field to Power Station 15 March 2000 173,041 31 July 2002 346,082 50 154,671 The Business Link Operators have an average of 55 per cent. SME representation on their boards.
The Small Business Service's new Strategy Board will include up to six non-executive independent members. At least two members will have a small business background.