HC Deb 23 July 2004 vol 424 cc763-4W
Mr. Stephen O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will identify the(a) top priority programmes and (b) lower value business support administered by her Department referred to in the 2004 Spending Review, page 141. [185028]

Ms Hewitt

My Department provides a range of solutions to help business overcome barriers to success and improve productivity. A set of nine broad, cross-sectoral business support products has replaced the previous complex array of schemes.

Significant increases in funding for science and innovation reflect the priority accorded to maximising the potential of the UK's science base and translating this into innovation by business. Five of the nine business support products are specifically designed to help business to succeed through innovation.