Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the winding down of the Manufacturing Advisory Service will have on businesses receiving services from that service.

We do not expect the winding down of the Manufacturing Advisory Service will have an impact on businesses receiving services as contractual commitments to existing customers will be honoured, providing all support and related activity is completed by 31 March 2016. Going forward, manufacturers will continue to be able to access expert advice from the private sector from their local Growth Hub.