Support promised for small businesses
Small business minister Nigel Griffiths has said the government is firmly committed to establishing a 'world-class business support service' for small businesses in the UK.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Friday, Griffiths said the department’s schemes are designed to help people setting up, running and expanding firms and are part of the government’s ambition ‘to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business’.
His comments eased the threat of cutbacks in spending on the business links network and came as the Department of Trade and Industry undergoes a wide-ranging review of its activities.
But Tory shadow minister Richard Page said increasing regulation belied any claim by Labour that it is the friend of small business and accused ministers of ‘control freakery’.
And LibDem shadow minister Brian Cotter called for a small business inspectorate and attacked the ‘culture of red tape’ of the small business service.
Links
Lib Dems jump on red tape bandwagon
Tories promise cuts in red tape and taxes
Small businesses feeling the pinch