HC Deb 30 January 2004 vol 417 c597W
Michael Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the closure of UK Business Online. [150617]

Mr. Timms

In November 2002, the Secretary of State announced that business support was to be radically restructured as a result of feedback from key stakeholders. Rather than being closed, therefore, UK online for business will be integrated into mainstream DTI and Business Link, from April onwards. The aim is to make it simpler for businesses to access the support that DTI provides and to make the support more effective.

While the UK online for business brand will therefore be discontinued, ICT support and promotion will nevertheless remain a key focus for DTI.