Hon. David Smith (Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)):

Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Member has forgotten some of the other things that this Government does for small business. Of course the figures just came out this week that last year we had a record year in providing loans through the Small Businesses Loans Act because of the support and the commitment of this Government.

Oral Questions SUPPLY AND SERVICES

Hon. David Smith (Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)):

1. The Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism) currently employs eight exempt staff:

(a) and (b) (c) (d)Executive Assistant G. Wilson 19/09/83Research Assistant R. Weston 07/05/84Special Assistant H. Flanagan 15/08/83Special Assistant C. Gleeson 05/12/83Special Assistant P. Legris 02/04/84Special Assistant D. Pfahl 02/04/84Special Assistant P. Robson 15/08/83Special Assistant J. Innes 29/08/832. No. [English]

Mr. Smith:

I have already signed them.

Hon. David Smith (Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)):

Mr. Speaker, shortly after the board drew up its criteria for financing various proposals that would come to it, it established a subcommittee to look into that very point. I might say that the work done by the committee that the Hon. Member chaired has been very helpful in that regard. I understand that that subcommittee has more or less completed its report. I have not yet received it, but I expect to receive it shortly.

June 18, 1984

Hon. David Smith (Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism)):

Mr. Speaker, the proposals are in the form of agreements. We have to negotiate those agreements with the various groups.