To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding has been distributed to businesses from his Department's Aspire Fund since 19 November 2008; how many companies have received such funding; and how many awards from the fund have been (a) below £100,000, (b) between £100,000 and £299,000, (c) between £300,000 and £499,000, (d) between £500,000 and £749,000, (e) between £750,000 and £999,000, (f) between £1 million and £1.49 million, (g) between £1.5 million and £2 million and (h) over £2 million. (259782)

[holding answer 27 February 2009]: As at 25 March 2009, the Aspire Fund has received 52 enquiries from potential applicants and a number of these have been advised of the need to find a lead investor for Aspire to invest alongside and others have been referred to Business Link and their supporting providers for additional investment readiness support.

21 of the businesses enquiring about Aspire have provided business plans and have private investment identified. Of these, 10 have been rejected as not meeting Aspire Fund criteria and two have withdrawn having raised funding elsewhere. Nine proposals are under active consideration. The fund would expect to issue a funding offer shortly.