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 Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the potential impact of the Devolution White Paper on support for small businesses.

Ministers from the Department for Business and Trade regularly engage with colleagues from across Government, including from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on support for small businesses.

As committed to in the English Devolution White Paper, the Government will set out a vision for a new approach to business support, including more devolution in England and greater alignment between national, local and devolved business support, in the upcoming Small Business Strategy. This will include further details on the Business Growth Service, a new national service with local delivery at its heart, which will make it easier and quicker for businesses across the UK to get the help, support and advice they need to grow and thrive.