Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on making localised funding available to support businesses working together to help local economies.

The Government’s forthcoming Small Business Strategy will set out how national and local business-support schemes can align to increase growth and productivity. Existing offers available include the Business Support Service, local Growth Hubs across England and The Help to Grow scheme.

Financial support is available to businesses through the Government-backed British Business Bank (BBB) to improve access to finance for investment and growth. In Bournemouth East, businesses can access resources such as the South-West Investment Fund, offering loans to SMEs through the BBB, and the joint Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council/UK Shared Prosperity Fund economic development programme