Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Small Businesses: Scaling Up

Thursday 31 October 2024 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial support for local authorities to work with communities to aid SMEs in local economies.
  • Department backing efforts to shift freight from trucks to trains, aiming to improve supply chain resilience.
  • Government measures include the British Growth Partnership to unlock investment for businesses aiming to scale up.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Business & Trade
Context

Concern about how to help small businesses in Shipley scale-up and increase productivity.

Question

What steps he is taking to help support small businesses to scale-up. Small businesses such as the Greek Corner have benefited from Bradford council's business growth programme funded by the towns fund, which provides capital assistance for businesses to create new jobs. The measures announced in the Budget will be vital to revitalising high streets.

Answer from Gareth Thomas

I agree that local authorities working with local communities are fundamental to supporting SMEs in local economies. That is why we are backing Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, with funding for local priorities and introducing measures such as high street rental auctions and a powerful community right to buy.

Answered
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Q2 Tony Vaughan Lab Folkestone and Hythe
Transport Business & Trade
Context

Proposal to shift more freight from trucks to trains starting with the channel tunnel in Folkestone and Hythe, where only 10% of its capacity is used.

Question

Will the Department support my campaign to shift more freight from trucks to trains, starting with the channel tunnel in my constituency? This would help businesses get goods to market more quickly.

Answer from Gareth Thomas

We certainly support the expansion of rail freight as it helps build resilience in supply chains. I would be happy to meet him or facilitate a meeting with Transport Ministers to hear more about his campaign.

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Q3 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Business & Trade
Context

Major lenders suspending lending entirely in response to a judgment in the appeal court, causing consternation across the business lending sector.

Question

Can he reassure us that the Government are fully engaged with the industry and the Financial Conduct Authority in sorting out an issue that could have a very significant impact on the entire sector and its supply chain?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

We are looking at issues arising for the industry from the judgment. We have launched the British Growth Partnership aimed at unlocking investment in businesses that want to scale up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether they were fully engaged with the Financial Conduct Authority and the industry to sort out the specific issue raised.

How: Looking At Issues

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Q4 Kit Malthouse Con North West Hampshire
NHS Economy Business & Trade
Context

Micro-sized businesses employing up to four full-time workers on the national living wage will be exempt from employers' national insurance, but small businesses with five or more employees remain subject to it.

Question

How will that measure help small businesses in the south-west to scale up and bring economic growth to the region?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

I am glad he welcomes raising employment allowance for very small firms. On his wider point about the Budget, I say gently that if they do not support these measures, they need to set out how they would finance extra investment in the NHS and industry.

Not addressed: The Minister did not explain directly how the measure will help small businesses scale up or grow. Instead, he discussed financing for other areas.

How: If They Do Not Support These Measures

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Q5 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
NHS Economy Business & Trade
Context

The announcement that the Government will raise employers' national insurance may affect business survival rates in Wokingham, which has one of the highest rates of business survival.

Question

What will the Government do to mitigate the impact on small businesses in my constituency and across the country?

Answer from Gareth Thomas

If he opposes these measures, including on employers' national insurance contributions, they need to set out how they would finance extra investment in the NHS and industry that we have set out.

Not addressed: The Minister did not propose any specific mitigation measures. Instead, he challenged the opposition's ability to fund their own policies.

How: If They Oppose These Measures

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Q6 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
Business & Trade
Context

Concern about how to help small businesses in Shipley scale-up and increase productivity.

Question

What steps he is taking to help support small businesses to scale-up. Small businesses such as the Greek Corner have benefited from Bradford council's business growth programme funded by the towns fund, which provides capital assistance for businesses to create new jobs.

Answer from Gareth Thomas

I agree that local authorities working with local communities are fundamental to supporting SMEs in local economies. That is why we are backing Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, with funding for local priorities and introducing measures such as high street rental auctions and a powerful community right to buy.

Answered
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