Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Rutley and Mark Prisk

Monday 17th December 2012 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to regenerate high streets and town centres.

[The Minister for Housing (Mr Mark Prisk)]

The Government are determined to help our high streets both adapt and compete. That is why we have established over 300 town team partners, provided £10 million to get empty shops back into use and have now extended the business rate relief for small shops, helping half a million enterprises.

[David Rutley]

The Make it Macclesfield forum is taking forward important regeneration initiatives and, nearby in Poynton, our active town council has introduced a shared spaces scheme. We are fortunate to have such strong local leadership, as well as the invaluable contribution from many small businesses. Will my hon. Friend tell us what steps he is taking to help more small businesses start up on our high streets?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Rutley and Mark Prisk

Thursday 31st March 2011 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

17. What plans he has to increase levels of employment in small and medium-sized enterprises.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk)]

Small businesses are vital to the economy and to future employment. That is why we have tackled the cost of employment by reversing the last Government’s plans for a payroll tax increase, and why the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) has launched a comprehensive review of employment law to make the system easier and fairer for employees and employers.

[David Rutley]

I was pleased to see that the Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the Government’s three-year moratorium on new domestic legislation for micro-businesses. Will my hon. Friend assure the House that that and other measures to reduce the regulatory burden and increase job creation by small and medium-sized enterprises will be taken forward at pace, and that there will be regular updates to the House on their progress?

[Mr Prisk]

I am delighted to confirm that to the House. Those measures are crucial. We have to remember that under the previous Government, the proportion of employers who were small businesses dropped from well over a third to well under a quarter, and that was in a period of growth. We need to ensure that we reverse that trend.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

T3. The Macclesfield, Richmond and Wandsworth chambers of commerce are developing local mentoring schemes to help better support smaller businesses, and have submitted a related bid to the regional growth fund. Does the Minister agree that such approaches deserve serious consideration and will provide important insights to other local communities?

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk)]

I would be wise not to over-promote a live bid to the regional growth fund, but my hon. Friend is absolutely right that business-to-business mentoring is the best way forward. That is why we are developing a national scheme, and the contribution in the areas that he mentions sounds eminently sensible.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Rutley and Mark Prisk

Thursday 18th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)]

7. What plans he has to provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the next 12 months.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk)]

Among other actions, the Government are cutting corporation tax for small businesses, tackling red tape, helping home-based businesses and ensuring that small firms secure a greater proportion of Government contracts.

[David Rutley]

Is my hon. Friend aware that the recent Barclays business regional impact index shows that the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises in the north-west are looking to expand in the year ahead? Will he tell the House what steps he is taking to help those vitally important SMEs in regions such as the north-west?

[Mr Prisk]

As my hon. Friend will know from his own business experience, one of the best forms of help is business-to-business mentoring. That is why on Monday, to launch global entrepreneurship week, we announced a new national network of more than 40,000 experienced business mentors. That will make a real difference in Macclesfield and across the country.