SMALL business owners in the two counties will support "drastic" changes at the Department of Trade and Industry, according to a leading business body.

The Forum of Private Business said small businesses would also welcome Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt's admission that the DTI suffered from "lack of focus, confusion for the customer, too many schemes and inadequate leadership by the department across Whitehall".

Ms Hewitt plans to deliver a streamlined, more focused DTI by next April.

The new structure will include three leading business figures.

"All businesses, but particularly small firms, need this shake-up at the DTI," said FPB's head of policy, Garry Parker.