§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the success of the process instituted at the Lisbon Council designed to promote greater levels of entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises in Britain and in the European Union; and how they will contribute to Commissioner for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Erkki Liikanen's proposed Green Paper on the subject. [HL155]
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Small and medium-sized enterprises make a significant contribution to increasing productivity and growth, innovation and job creation. Entrepreneurship can also offer disadvantaged and socially excluded groups employment and prosperity. That is why enterprise is a key plank of the agenda on EU economic reform agreed in Lisbon in 2000. Her Majesty's Government have made a significant contribution to the work on an Entrepreneurship Green Paper. In October my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry sent Commissioner Liikanen a copy ofUK Enterprise for All to assist his efforts. Produced by the Small Business Service, this is a paper that sets out the significance of small business across Europe and makes practical suggestions to encourage enterprise in the EU. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Libraries of the House.