§ 6. Mr. GarrettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the level of participation of British companies in the EC Eureka project.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology (Mr. Edward Leigh)Three hundred and eight British companies have participated in Eureka projects.
§ Mr. GarrettWhat does the President of the Board of Trade think of the case of LJ Technical Systems in my constituency about which I have corresponded with his office? That very go-ahead, innovative electronics company in Norwich joined two French companies to make a bid for funding under the Eureka project. The French companies were visited within a month by a technically qualified civil servant who approved their bid. The British company in my constituency was messed about for seven months by some daft mandarin who actually did not know what the product was for and, at the end of the process, turned it down. How is that for the dynamic DTI?
§ Mr. LeighThe House will not be surprised to learn that the hon. Gentleman has told only about a quarter of the story. The truth is that an application was made on 9 July. Not within one month, or two months, but within one day, the DTI contacted that company and requested information on 10 July. The whole point of the Eureka project is that it should equal significant technological advance. We asked that question, but there was no reply. We asked again on 31 July, but again there was no reply. We asked again on 2 September, but there was no reply. A reply was finally given in October. In November, because of the highly competitive nature of the competition and the fact that there were more innovative projects, we did not give a grant.
§ Mr. GarrettOn a point of order, Madam Speaker. In view of the inadequacy of that reply, I give notice that I will seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment.