§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 27 February 2004,Official Report, column 588W, on Business Link, what the value is of the contracts offered by the Small Business Service to (a)BL Derbyshire, (b)BL Tees Valley and (c)BL Bedfordshire; and if she will make a statement. [158878]
§ Mr. TimmsThe value of the Business Link Operator (BLO) Core Service Funding allocation for 2003–04 is as follows.
1504W
VAT registrations Number Rate per 10,000 resident adults 2000 2001 2002 2000 2001 2002 United Kingdom 184,035 174,620 175,800 39 37 37 London 37,760 34,385 33,490 67 59 57 Inner London 20,955 18,820 18,195 96 82 78 City of London 1,460 1,110 1,015 2,345 1,653 1,428 Camden 2,260 1,910 1,910 142 112 110 Hackney 1,230 1,035 1,025 81 65 63 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,250 1,205 1,100 94 85 75 Haringey 985 910 840 58 51 46
£ BL Derbyshire 2,502,742 BL Tees Valley 1,460,480 BL Bedfordshire 1,515,800 I have nothing further to add to my hon. Friend's answer of 27 February 2004, Official Report,column 588W.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to make available the independent audit reports of Business Link operators. [157225]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe independent audit reports of Business Link Operators are commercially restricted.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Business Link Operators have been required to undergo a business performance review. [157226]
§ Nigel GriffithsFurther to the five Business Link Operators named given to the hon. Member on 27 February 2004,Official Report,columns 588–89W, the following Business Link Operators have also been required to undergo a Business Performance Review:
BL LeicestershireBL Northamptonshire Chamber Business Enterprise (Manchester)BL South Yorkshire.