Oral Answers to Questions

John Howell Excerpts

Thursday 5th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

3. What steps he is taking to support small businesses.

[John Howell (Henley) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to support small businesses.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to support small businesses.

--- Later in debate ---

[Vince Cable]

I will certainly make sure that the local enterprise partnership is aware of my hon. Friend’s priorities. In relation to small business Saturday, I praise the activities that she is undertaking in Helmsley. That council is one of 25 that will offer free parking that day, and I hope that a few more will sign up to that in the next 48 hours. I shall be in Twickenham to support my small businesses.

[John Howell]

I will support small business Saturday by literally putting small businesses in my constituency on the map on my website. What will the Secretary of State do to improve access to finance and mentoring to ensure that Oxfordshire businesses continue to thrive?

[Vince Cable]

I think we all agree that small business Saturday is a positive, cross-party initiative, and hon. Members on both sides of the House will be out there backing it. I praise the originality of my hon. Friend’s approach.

On small business funding—I am sure this issue will be raised many times—I have drawn attention to the StartUp loans scheme that is helping large numbers of start-ups to get going, and the business bank is supporting both new and original forms of funding, as well as a rapid expansion of guarantees for existing companies.