HC Deb 02 July 1998 vol 315 cc239-40W
Mr. Fabricant

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the projects undertaken by her Department since 1 May 1997 to research public reaction to(a) Government policies and (b) potential new policies; and if she will place the results of the research in the Library. [46682]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 30 June 1998]: The Department has carried out the following surveys into current policies and potential new policies since 1 May 1997:

  • Biotechnology Means Business Evaluation
  • Business Links Baseline Tracking Study
  • Competitiveness Analysis of UK Downstream Gas Industry
  • Degradation of Materials in Aggressive Environments
  • Design Council Evaluation and Tracking Study
  • Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme (Series of ad hoc surveys)
  • Evaluation of Regional Supply Network
  • Evaluation of Export Market Research Scheme*
  • Evaluation of Design of High Speed Machinery Programme
  • Evaluation of Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme*
  • Evaluation of RETEX Initiative
  • Evaluation of KONVER Initiative
  • Evaluation of Industry '96
  • Future Market Potential for Photovoltaic Products
  • Interim Evaluation of DTI's Biotechnology Means Business Initiative*
  • Materials Measurement Evaluation Survey*
  • Mid-term Review of BNSC Applications Demonstration Programme
  • Review of European Supported Networks
  • South-east Asia "Lands of Opportunity" Campaign
  • Support for Overseas Trade Fairs & Seminars Study
  • Survey as part of an Evaluation of OSO Support for Innovation*
  • Survey of Machinery Exporters concerning Single Market Barriers to Trade*
  • UK Business Potential for Virtual Reality*
  • Workplace Employee Relations Survey*.

The distinction between current and potential policies is not one the Department uses, since evaluations of current policy will shape future policy.

Where the results of these surveys are not already in the Library of the House, arrangements are being made for them to be placed there. The only exception is the report of the Mid-term Review of BNSC Applications Demonstration Programme, which is classified 'Commercial in Confidence'.

Those surveys marked with an asterisk have not yet been completed. Copies of the reports on these surveys will be placed in the Library of the House when completed.

I have also placed in the Library a list of all significant public consultation exercises carried out by my Department since 1 May 1997.