Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of access to finance for start-ups in (a) Bradford and (b) West Yorkshire.

This government is committed to supporting startups to grow and thrive in every part of the country. Through the Small Business Plan, we are taking measures to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, including a £4bn finance boost to increase access to finance for SMEs.

Startups across West-Yorkshire can access government-backed finance delivered by the British Business Bank, including Start Up Loans and the Growth Guarantee Scheme and free, tailored advice through the West Yorkshire Growth Hub. Over 11,000 loans (£113m funding) were issued across the Yorkshire and Humber between 2012 and 2025.