To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's policy towards improving access to information technology for small and medium businesses. [10053]

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave today to my hon. Friends the Members for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) and for Stourbridge, (Ms Shipley).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her Department's policy towards improving access to information technology for small and medium businesses. [10039]

Many recent studies have emphasised the crucial importance of new technologies to the competitiveness of smaller firms. Many people—in government, in business support organisations and in the private sector—have a role in getting this message across. Within government, we are pressing ahead with our support for the information society initiative programme for business, which places particular emphasis on offering access and awareness opportunities for SMEs at locations throughout the UK.