Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to reduce the proliferation of business support schemes at a local level; and if he will make a statement. [181057]

Matthew Hancock, Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise: The GREAT Business website highlights support for businesses aspiring to succeed and encourages an entrepreneurial spirit; it contains links to support, advice and guidance that will help businesses to grow. At a local level, we are simplifying business support by supporting the development of Growth Hubs—a single place businesses can go to, to get help. This will improve the co-ordination of support provided by public and private sector partners, creating a more streamlined and coherent offer for businesses, based around local needs. Where Government provides funding for Growth Hubs, it will be conditional on them removing duplication and closing underperforming local schemes.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on each Solutions for Business product in financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13. [181059]

Michael Fallon, Minister of State for Business and Energy: The Solutions for Business brand no longer exists but all Government funded business support schemes are accessible via the Business Finance and Support Finder tool on gov.uk.

Within Small Business: Great Ambition, published in December 2013, we have also given a commitment to undertake a rapid review of all existing national Government business support products and services. This will identify those that are poorly targeted or underperforming and where we can bring schemes together to deliver a better, more efficient service. This will start in early 2014, with the first schemes to be simplified and rationalised announced in the Budget, and with a rolling programme of improvements continuing to March 2015.

The figures for each of the products under the previous Solutions for Business portfolio will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

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