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<p>The Government has taken significant action to increase bank lending to smaller
businesses, such as through the Funding for Lending Scheme, and through supporting
non-bank lending channels via the British Business Bank.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In
Autumn 2013 a joint United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Ministerial Task Force was
set up to look at ways to promote lending and increase support for businesses in Northern
Ireland.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is also implementing further
major reforms to boost competition in the provision of smaller business finance through
the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill; these measures intend to improve
access to SME Credit Information and to match SMEs rejected for SME finance with challenger
banks and alternative finance providers that are looking to offer finance.</p><p>
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