§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to encourage the growth of new technology industries in the north-east of England.
§ Mr. AtkinsIndustry in the north-east will be greatly encouraged by the enterprise initiative, with major new initiatives covering design, marketing, quality, manufacturing technology, business planning, business information systems, exports, research and technology and business education backed up by investment and innovation grants for small firms, and regional selective assistance where clearly necessary to bring about good projects.
New and existing high technology firms and industries will also be encouraged by the work of other organisations in the region receiving support from DTI and from other Government Departments, including the Northern Development Company, English Estates North and the urban development corporations. Taken together with the priority given to new technology by the city action team and the task forces, and the work of others in the region involved in technology transfer and industry/education, this represents a strongly supportive environment and infrastructure for high technology industry to succeed in the north-east.