These findings confirm that the views of small businesses towards the government have remained virtually unchanged during the last three months - in the summer, Finance Line reported that 82% of small businesses felt that the government was doing less than or the same as the previous government to help them. In addition, only 5% of small businesses currently feel that the present government is doing "more" to address the needs of small businesses than it was 12 months ago - some 45% feel that the government is doing "less now than a year ago". In the wake of the recent publication of the Cruickshank Report, small businesses were also asked who they thought offered the most practical support in making their company successful, the government or their bank. Seven out of ten (71%) feel their bank offered the most practical support compared with only one in ten saying that the Government provided this. One in five were unable to choose between their bank and the government. According to Tony Smith, Director of Taylor Nelson Sofres Finance, "Small businesses in England and Wales have clearly remained unconvinced that the government is doing anything to address their specific needs for some time. With a General Election on the horizon, the government now faces a considerable challenge to demonstrate the tangible benefits of its policies to the small business community." The Finance Line survey questioned 999 people responsible for financial matters in companies with a turnover of up to £1 million in England and Wales during October 2000.