Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled a small business charter under which it will offer support to 300,000 new start-ups over the next three years.

The part-nationalised bank has renewed its pledge to provide an additional £11 billion a year to firms in return for taxpayer aid.

Credit at "clearer and fairer" prices would be provided to "viable" businesses to see them through temporary difficulties as the economy recovers from recession.

Small firms would be offered advice through a series of 200 seminars and "reasonable" requests for finance will be met, the charter explained.

And as long as firms keep within agreed limits, the terms of overdraft will not be changed, the bank said. Higher margins will be charged only "where there has been a material increase in risk".

The bank - 43% owned by taxpayers - has announced plans to raise £21 billion to avoid a taxpayer-backed insurance scheme which would have seen the public stake rise to 62%.

The bank's commercial managing director John Maltby said optimism among businesses was the "foundation" of any economic upturn.

"We hope to give businesses across the country the confidence they need to grow and lead the UK out of recession," he added.

Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI business group's small business council, said the charter was a "welcome step".

"Anything that increases that transparency and understanding is welcome because small and medium-sized enterprises can then work more closely with banks to change or further enhance their business and address any concerns."

Business Minister Lord Davies said: "This move by Lloyds TSB will improve access to credit for thousands of small businesses, which are the life-blood of this country. The Government is listening to the needs of these businesses and through schemes such as the Financial Intermediary Service we are working to ensure solutions can be delivered."

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