§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) cost and (b) remit of the Small Business Council was in 2002–03; what use has been made of the council by businesses in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland; and if she will make a statement. [139570]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe cost of the Service in 2002–03 in millions was £349 million, which includes programme budgets.
Information about the use of the service in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency is not collected separately. In the Middlesbrough area the Tees Valley Business Link has helped 465 businesses to start up and has provided advice and guidance to 1,151 businesses during 2002–03. Further information is available from Tees Valley Business Link.
The remit of the Small Business Service is to help build an enterprise society in which small firms of all kinds thrive and achieve their potential, with an increase in the number of people considering going into business, an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms, and more enterprise in disadvantaged communities.
996WThe SBS Annual Report (HC 807) placed in the Libraries of the House on 14 July 2003 gives an overview of national progress, costs and impact.