asked the Paymaster General what he is doing to assist the launch of locally based business expansion schemes so as to boost the small firms sector.

In recent years, there have been valuable initiatives to provide venture capital for unquoted companies, including the establishment of local business expansion scheme funds. Some local enterprise agencies have assisted such initiatives and "marriage bureaux" to bring together potential investors and small companies and I hope that this will continue. I will encourage further development of locally-based funds in all areas through my contacts with the venture capital industry and other organisations.