§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money her Department has saved as a result of the recent rationalisation of its business support schemes. [179247]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe level of support provided to business is expected to remain unchanged at around £500 million per annum.
The primary purposes of the Business Support review is to increase value created through the investment of taxpayers' funds and to improve the customer experience in dealing with DTI. Cost savings of £740,000 have already been achieved from administrative efficiency improvements in delivering Business Support in 2003–04 against the 2002–03 baseline. Further administrative cost savings are projected for 2004–05 and 2005–06.