asked the Paymaster General (1) what was the number of small firm loans applied for and granted in (a) Hampshire and (b) Portsmouth for each year from 1979 to the present;(2) what was the number of small firm loans applied for and granted in England and Wales, respectively, for each year from 1979 to the present.

The loan guarantee scheme for small firms was introduced in 1981. I have listed the number of guarantees applied for and granted under the scheme from 1981 to the present.Hampshire and Portsmouth are included in the southeast region for statistical purposes. A further geographical breakdown is not available.