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28 Apr 2004 : Column 1165W—continued
Small Business
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
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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.
Social Entrepreneurship
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support her Department is giving to schemes to encourage social entrepreneurship. [168360]
Ms Hewitt: The Department's support for social entrepreneurship is set out in "Social Enterprise: a strategy for success", published in 2002, and last year's "Progress Report".
Support for social enterprises is, for example, one element of the Phoenix Fund which promotes enterprise in disadvantaged communities and under-represented groups. It helps social enterprises to gain better access to business support and to finance through Community Development Finance Institutions.
Help and advice for those interested in setting up social enterprises is available through Business Link and specific programmes such as the Phoenix Development Fund, which supports a Social Enterprise Visit Programme that facilitates shared learning through the exchange of ideas and experience across the sector.
The Department also supports awards schemes, such as "Enterprising Solutions: the National Social Enterprise Award", that aim to inspire others by showcasing the exceptional entrepreneurial talents harnessed for public benefit by successful social enterprises.
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Software Piracy
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps she is taking to combat computer software piracy by businesses; and if she will make a statement; [168910]
(2) what plans she has to implement the EU Enforcement Directive to control business software piracy; [168911]
Ms Hewitt: Rights holders in the UK have a comprehensive range of civil remedies to pursue enforcement activity against businesses that make and use illegal copies of computer software. The EC Directive on enforcement of intellectual property rights will ensure that similar provision exists throughout the Community. However, reducing illegal use of copyright material, including software, within businesses can be addressed in the first instance by improved awareness and understanding about intellectual property. In this respect, the awareness-raising activity the Patent Office undertakes is valuable. This should complement the awareness-raising activity undertaken by trade bodies such as the Federation Against Software Theft and the Business Software Alliance.
Sub-Post Offices
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list by region, the amounts of compensation paid in the last 12 months to sub postmasters and mistresses connected with the closure of their establishment; [168852]
(2) how many sub-post offices which in the past 12 months the organisation Postwatch has recommended be kept open, have subsequently been closed, broken down by region. [168988]
Mr. Timms:
These are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
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Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in the UK in the past 12 months, broken down by region. [169136]
Mr. Timms: Post Office Ltd. produces statistics on post office closures on a quarterly basis. The latest data on net closures by region currently available is to the end of December 2003. Data for the quarter to end March 2004 is expected shortly.
| Country/region | Number |
|---|---|
| North East | 32 |
| North West | 99 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 62 |
| West Midlands | 58 |
| South West | 75 |
| South East | 122 |
| London | 89 |
| East of England | 61 |
| East Midlands | 66 |
| Northern Ireland | 18 |
| Scotland | 43 |
| Wales | 49 |
Trade (United Arab Emirates)
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to improve trade between the United Arab Emirates and the UK. [168573]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK has a substantial trading relationship with the UAE. UK exports of visible goods to the UAE totalled £2,080.6 million in 2003, an increase of 29 per cent. over the previous year. UK Trade and Investment works closely with all Posts in the country (in Abu Dhabi and Dubai) to support British companies wishing to expand their activities in this market. For example, there are plans to support 35 exhibitions and trade mission to the UAE this financial year. This will allow over 1,200 UK companies to access the market with UK Government support.
UK Trade and Investment has also worked with industry to identify eight priority sectors in which bespoke sector specific activities will be undertaken.