SOCHI, September 28 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s parliament will debate draft laws on released premium rates for small-size business during the autumn session, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

Speaking at a round-table meeting within the Investment Forum Sochi 2013, Medvedev said, “From 2005 the government started an active campaign to subsidise development programmes of small- and medium-size business.”

About 40 billion roubles were provided for this purpose in 2011-2012, the premier said, adding that a total of 60 regions had been involved in these programmes.

Thus, over 425,000 people have been provided support in the sector of small- and medium-size business where at least 270,000 jobs were created, he said.

Medvedev said the government did much to get access to financial resources by small companies. At the same time, he urged banks to learn to work with small- and medium-size enterprises.