Mr. Aidan Gough:

There is certainly an issue with the quality of advice being given to the SME sector, but the SMEs must also demand the advice. It is not just the quality of advice. SMEs need to provide good quality and relevant information on what is available. They must make sure that all the advisers - the financial intermediaries, accountants and so on - are aware of these and all the alternatives. They must ensure that when businesses are making a decision to grow or to seek finance, they explore other opportunities and do not just rush to the banks. It is a complex issue but the key to it is getting more information into the marketplace.