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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken by the South Sefton Partnership to improve support for businesses. [128880] Jacqui Smith: This is one of South Sefton Partnership's four key objectives. The Partnership has recently prepared a small booklet, "South Sefton Partnership--The Story So Far", which aims to illustrate steps taken to date on these four key objectives. The steps taken in respect of this objective are as follows: developing the South Sefton Investment Centre project, which will provide much-needed managed workspace for small businesses and generating income for community projects beyond the lifetime of the Partnership; creating the South Sefton Small Firms Loan Fund, a seedcorn finance scheme run through Merseyside Special Investment Fund; launching two grant schemes for local companies. Gateway to Growth supports investment in capital equipment and Improve Your Lot supports improvements to sites and premises; funding a major study into the redevelopment of Bootle town centre with the aim of attracting investment and jobs to South Sefton and supporting the first phase of the improvement work; supporting an important study into the regeneration of Crosby Marina, creating anew watersports and visitor centre; funding a project providing grant assistance to small retail businesses to enable them to improve the security of their premises; funding the new post of Business Liaison Officer to promote the further development of the South Sefton Business Forum and the Partnership funded grant schemes; and funding the demolition and clearance of the former Secrets nightclub in Litherland to create a site for possible future use for housing.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

128880; 411 c104-5W;411 c140W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Finance Small businesses Sefton

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk