Today: MPs debate Small Business Saturday, Thursday 4 November 1.30pm

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We have posted this on the The Small Biz & Charities' MoneySaving Board because we thought that some of you might be interested in the topic. We encourage discussion and comments concerning the topic or content of this thread.

Small Business Saturday – Backbench Business Debate

Due to take place from 1.30pm on Thursday 4 December in Westminster Hall

This debate is to be moved by Stephen Mosley, MP for City of Chester.

The subject for debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee.

How to watch

The debate can be viewed on Parliament TV Player (Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream Parliament TV).

Transcripts of proceedings in are available three hours after they happen in Today’s Commons Debates.

About Backbench Business Debates

The House of Commons Backbench Business Committee has a limited allocation of time outside Government control in which it can schedule subjects for debate suggested by backbench Members of Parliament.

The Committee can consider any subject for debate. This includes subjects raised in national or local campaigns, reports by select committees and other groups and issues suggested by constituents, including by people who have signed an e-petition or a traditional paper petition (there is no restriction on the number of signatures required).

To find out more about the work of the Backbench Business Committee visit their web pages at Backbench Business Committee.

Related content

The House of Commons Library has produced a briefing note on Business Statistics. It includes information on the number of businesses since 2000, small businesses, business by region, businesses by industry, business births and deaths and information on female representation in business. It also features some discussion of the sources of business statistics and their coverage. The headline statistics include:

• In 2014, there were 5.2 million businesses in the UK.
• Over 99% of businesses are Small or Medium Sized businesses – employing 0-249 people
• 5.0 million (96%) businesses were micro-businesses – employing 0-9 people. Micro-businesses accounted for 33% of employment and 19% of turnover.
• In London, there were 1,391 businesses per 10,000 resident adults. In the North East there were 701 per 10,000 resident adults.
• The service industries accounted for 73% of businesses, 79% of employment and 70% of turnover.
• The manufacturing sector accounted for 5% of businesses, 10% of employment and 16% of turnover.
• There were 346,000 business births in 2013 and 238,000 business deaths.
• 18% of SMEs are female led, and 22% of FTSE100 board members are female.

We hope this is of interest?

Thanks
DOT

UKParliament

The debate on Small Business Saturday that took place on Thursday 4 December 2014 is now available to watch and read online for those who are interested. During this debate, shadow Business, Innovation and Skills Minister Toby Perkins responded to the debate on behalf of the Opposition and Minister for Business and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock, responded for the Government.

To read please go to House of Commons Hansard: Debate on Small Business Saturday.

The debate is still available to watch at Parliament TV: Debate on Small Business Saturday (Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream TV).

We hope this is useful.

Thanks
DOT