HC Deb 28 April 2004 vol 420 cc1165-6W
Jim Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in Heywood and Middleton since 1997. [168524]

Nigel Griffiths

The Business Link Operator for North Manchester has provided assistance to 499 businesses in the Heywood/Middleton constituency since 2001. The Small Business Service was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 Business Link Operators (seven in the North West) to provide Business Support to small and medium sized enterprises form April 2001. Before this date Government Support to businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the SBS does not have access to this data.

The assistance provided to the 499 companies include; Business Finance, Environmental, E services, High Growth, International, Innovation, Micro support, supply chain, Workforce development and other account management assistance. Under the Research and Development Scheme (R&D) four offers have been made and accepted to the value of £264,930.

Under the Enterprise Grant Scheme (EGS), which has now come to a close (April 2004) nine offers of grant were made and accepted with a value of £355,100.

James Purnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in Stalybridge and Hyde since 1997. [168746]

Nigel Griffiths

The Business Link for Greater Manchester (Chamber Business Enterprises) has provided assistance to 688 businesses in the Hyde and Stalybridge constituency since 2001. The Small Business Service was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 Business Link operators (seven in the North West) to provide business support to small and medium-sized enterprises from April 2001. Before this date government support to businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the SBS does not have access to this data.

The Business Link operator has provided business start-up advice to over 113 companies in the Stalybridge and Hyde area; in addition they have provided assistance in the following areas, business finance, environmental, E services, high growth, international, innovation, technology and design, supply chain, micro support and workforce development and other account management assistance.

Under the research and development grant (R&D) two offers have been made and accepted to the value of £99,900.