Tories review small business schemes
£2.6 billion
The Government currently spends £2.6 billion on around 3,000 different schemes and initiatives, and the National Audit Office recently published a highly critical report of the SBS and Business Links condemning their failure to evaluate the effectiveness of the schemes they operate.
That report sparked a series of damning attacks on the SBS from a number of small business organisations, including the British Chamber of Commerce and the Forum for Private Business.
Shadow Trade & Industry Secretary, Alan Duncan, said: "The Government has created a confusing maze of money for businesses. It needs root and branch reform to ensure the UK is the best place to do business and that taxpayers get value for money.
"I am delighted that, with his experience and insight, Doug Richard has agreed to lead this work. He brings tremendous experience and I look forward to his team's report on how we can best support businesses to start up, grow and prosper."
Complete rethink
Mr Richard said: "Both the quality and quantity of state support for business needs a complete rethink. The failure to provide effective support is both a waste of taxpayers' money and a lost opportunity to grow an entrepreneurial economy.
"A willingness to spend money is not enough. I share the Conservatives' ambition to make the UK the best place for new businesses to grow and therefore I am extremely pleased to lead this review."
Related articles
- Axes should fall on SBS - Shout99, Aug 2006
- SBS was set up to fail - Shout99, May 2006
- Small firms agency misses the mark (NAO) - Shout99, May 2006
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Susie Hughes
The Editor © Hardhatter 2006