§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to promote British civil aerospace research and development; and if he will make a statement. [64243]
§ Mr. BattleThe Department has maintained a close dialogue with the aerospace industry concerning the support available for civil research which has been provided under the Department's Civil Aviation Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme. Plans for the future promotion of research await decisions about detailed DTI budget allocations in future years.
Support has been provided by the Government for development of civil aerospace projects in the form of repayable risk-sharing investment known as Launch Investment. Applications for Launch Investment will be considered on their merits and against competing demands on public expenditure.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sums his Department spent on the civil aerospace research and development programme in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [64245]
§ Mr. BattleI refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 7 December 1998,Official Report, columns 67–68.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his Department's(a) current and (b) planned levels of spending on the civil aerospace research and development programme; and if he will make a statement. [64244]
§ Mr. BattleThe budget for the Department's Civil Aviation Research and Technology Demonstration (CARAD) Programme for the current financial year is £21,102,000. No decisions have yet been made about detailed DTI budget allocations in future years.