Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Judy Mallaber (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 9 September 2009 on behalf of the East Midlands Regional Grand Committee.

Industry (Government Support)

Question: Following that response, what steps will the Minister and others take to ensure that if businesses are in difficulties, they know what business support is available at an early stage, including help with the banks? I have found it helpful in such situations to get EMDA business support and so on. However, in the report by the East Midlands Regional Committee, one of the issues raised was that although EMDA is doing what it can to get that message out, firms often come to it too late, after the stage at which they could have been given assistance to get them out of trouble.

Answer: My hon. Friend is right. We are ensuring that Business Link, the doorway through which businesses can walk, is more effective at making clear what solutions it has to offer. Today, for example, we had a road show that was packed with businesses keen to find out what is on offer from the banking system, the training system, Government Departments, and Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council through Business Link. That is to open the doorway to seven strands of business support that cover a range of issues from starting a new business, growing a business, international trade, innovation and development. Support, grants and help are out there for businesses. We are doing what we can, and I hope that individual constituency MPs will do what they can in their areas to alert businesses and others to the new programmes that the Government have introduced, so as to see us through this global recession, weather the storm and move into economic recovery for the future.

Secondary information