To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the number of businesses taking out loans under the (a) Working Capital and (b) Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme in the next 12 months; (252243)

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee, Capital for Enterprise Fund and the Working Capital Scheme were announced under the Real Help with Finance package on 14 January.

Since its launch on 14 January, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee has nearly £495 million of eligible applications from 4,420 firms that have been granted, are being processed or assessed.

With respect to £75 million "Capital for Enterprise" equity scheme the appointed fund managers have received serious proposals seeking a total of around £100 million of investment.

The appointed fund managers have so far made offers totalling nearly £11 million to eight businesses. Three businesses have accepted the terms of the funding offered with a total value of £2.4 million. The fund managers are continuing due diligence on the further proposals that have been put forward.

The Working Capital Scheme is not available directly to businesses. The scheme enables participating banks to increase the amount of working capital they can make available to businesses.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Southend-on-Sea have (a) applied for and (b) received assistance from the (i) Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme and (ii) Capital for Enterprise Fund in 2009; and how much funding has been provided to businesses in Southend-on-Sea under each such scheme in 2009 to date. (280979)

The Department records information on the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and Capital for Enterprise Fund on a regional basis, including the East of England. It does not hold the information at the level requested and it could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Set out in the tables is the information for East of England since the launch of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and Capital for Enterprise Fund on 14 January:

The fund managers are continuing due diligence on the proposals that have been put forward.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Peterborough have (a) applied for and (b) received assistance from the (i) Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme and (ii) Capital for Enterprise Fund in 2009; and how much funding has been provided to businesses in Peterborough under each such scheme in 2009. (281719)

The Department records information on the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and Capital for Enterprise Fund on a regional basis, including the East of England. It does not hold the information at the level you request and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Set out in the following tables is the information for East of England since the launch of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and Capital for Enterprise Fund on 14 January:

The fund managers are continuing due diligence on the proposals that have been put forward.