WEST MIDLANDS NEED MORE BUSINESS WOMEN - BURT

11.27.00pm GMT Tue 22nd Jan 2008

Lorely Burt MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for small business, has challenged the government to do more to encourage women into business and enterprise.

The Solihull MP questioned Minister, Stephen Timms MP during business questions to explain why the involvement of women in business in the UK, and particularly in the West Midlands, was so low compared to the United States.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"Women-owned businesses comprise only 14 per cent. of UK businesses and, shamefully, only 8 per cent. of businesses in my own area, the West Midlands, whereas the figure is 30 per cent. in America.

"Will the Government look seriously at the issue of attracting more women into business, which has become a cultural norm in America and which UK companies can and should be encouraged to promote for good business reasons?"

Stephen Timms MP replied:

"It is interesting to compare rates of entrepreneurship in the UK and US. Men in the UK are as likely as men in the US to start up a business; women in the UK are much less likely to do so than women in the US. That reflects a long-term policy focus over two or three decades in the United States on encouraging women's entrepreneurship in the way that she described and in other ways. We will consider the matter carefully before the enterprise White Paper that we plan to publish in the spring.