§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the distribution between the regions and nations of the number and value of small firms merit award for research and technology and support for products under research projects; what has been the954W companies, will be asssessed prior to the introduction of future legislation or regulations; what steps he intends to take to involve representatives of industry in the on-going assessment of that impact; and if he will make it his policy to publish the results of that assessment alongside the assessment of public service manpower and finance requirements currently included in the explanatory memoranda attached to Government Bills and orders.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe potential impact on the international competitiveness of British companies, including small firms, is a factor taken into account in all Government policies. Industry will be consulted in an appropriate manner in each case in the framing and implementation of new legislation. The Government are committed to the publication of compliance cost assessments for all new proposals for legislation which impact on business.