Oral Answers to Questions

Harriett Baldwin Excerpts

Thursday 8th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davey]

I think that my right hon. Friend already has his place in history. The right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) knows that the BCCI creditors have been repaid more than 85% of what they were owed at the outset of liquidation, and a final dividend—estimated to be about 3%—is expected to be paid in April or May 2012. He will also know that control of the BCCI liquidation is a matter for the liquidation committee, and ultimately the courts, not for the Secretary of State, and that the liquidators are trying to bring this long period to an end.

[Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to assist unemployed people to start new businesses.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Greg Clark)]

The new enterprise allowance is now available nationwide and is providing access to business mentors and financial support to help unemployed people start their own businesses. On 14 November we launched My New Business, a service on the Business Link website, providing help for everyone looking to start a new business.

[Harriett Baldwin]

As QinetiQ in my constituency has restructured, many of the brilliant brains employed there have started new businesses in a range of different areas. May I invite the Minister to Malvern to help back my campaign for phase 4 of the Malvern Hills science park as a further incubator?

[Greg Clark]

It would be a delight to visit Malvern. I know that my hon. Friend is trying—successfully, given the number of high-tech businesses there—to market Malvern as a cyber-valley. We know that silicon valley has prospered because of the links between existing high-tech firms and new ones, and I know that that is what she wants to achieve.