Mr. Mark Fielding:

I distinctly remember an initiative entitled Ahead of the Curve we had a number of years ago and I remember a civil servant asking us what we were trying to exploit then. The culture is changing, so we will not paint all civil servants with the same brush. I sit on the Company Law Review Group and when we talk about trying to make things a little easier for small business, we are immediately asked questions such as what will happen if such and such arises. It is always about the safe option, because there could be an issue, rather than looking at it optimistically. I suppose it is the job of civil servants to look at safety to protect us. However, that is not necessary to the extent it is happening currently.

We mentioned the status of the person who takes the initiative to invest his or her own money or his or her family's money in his or her own business. In doing that, they provide employment to people, yet we look on them as second-class citizens rather than local heroes. This must change. When we see that change, we will get more young people thinking this is something they would like to do and we will get more parents suggesting to their children that they try that option.

In regard to child care leave, recently we heard a Minister of State talk about paternity leave that would be paid for. This sent shivers up the spines of many small businesses because the question for them is who will pay for that. There is a cost aspect to child care.

This is particularly the case from the point of view of a female setting up her own business and trying to balance child care and running a business. It is next to impossible from a cost point of view as well.