How important to UK businesses are loans from the European Investment Bank?
What will the consequences be if the Government doesn't respond to the UK's loss of access to the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF)? Should the British Business Bank replace any funding lost from the EIF?
These are among the question the House of Lords EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee will be asking a panel of witnesses on Wednesday 31 October 2018.
At 10.15am the Committee will hear from:
- Giles Derrington, Head of Policy, techUK
- Tim Hames, Director General, British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
- Victoria Roberts, Head of Government Affairs and Policy, Innovate Finance.
Other questions the panel are likely to face include:
- How does the EIF's presence in the UK compare with other countries? Has this changed since the referendum?
- Could any existing Government schemes to improve access to finance for small and innovative companies be expanded or improved to make up for any loss of EIF funding?
- Is there any advantage to allowing an institution that supports SMEs, such as the British Business Bank, to fund itself on the capital markets rather than by a grant from HMT?
- What are the main benefits of working with the EIF? How does it support access to finance for small and innovative firms?
This evidence session will take place from 10.15am on Wednesday 31 October 2018 in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.
