HC Deb 19 December 2001 vol 377 cc475-6W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is consulted in allocating SMART awards; who oversees their administration; and what measures are in place to ensure that SMART moneys are spent appropriately. [23818]

Nigel Griffiths

In allocating SMART awards for research and development in England the Department of Trade and Industry seeks advice from its own staff with knowledge of particular sectors of industry, from qualified accountants, from the Patent Office, which carries out patent searches, from other Government Departments and from the following external sources of technical expertise:

  • AEA Technology plc
  • BRE
  • Capenhurst.tech Ltd.
  • Chimaeron Ltd.
  • EA Technology
  • Health and Safety Laboratory
  • The Institute of Materials
  • Laboratory of the Government Chemist
  • Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  • Materials Engineering Research Laboratory Ltd.
  • Medical Devices Agency
  • National Computing Centre (NCC Services Ltd.)
  • National Engineering Laboratory
  • National Physical Laboratory
  • Pera Innovation Ltd.
  • PIRA International Ltd.
  • QinetiQ
  • TRL Ltd.

SMART Feasibility Study and Development Project applications are administered and allocated by Government Offices for the Regions. Some SMART Micro Project applications are also administered by Government Offices for the Regions and others by the Small Business Service headquarters in London. By April 2002 all Micro Project applications will be administered by Government Offices for the Regions. SMART Technology Review and Technology Study applications are administered and allocated by the Small Business Service headquarters.

All SMART projects and associated expenditure are carefully monitored by staff from Government Offices for the Regions or the Small Business Service against the project proposals for which the grants are awarded. Grant moneys are paid only in respect of eligible expenditure and only if the project makes satisfactory progress towards its objectives. Additionally, full payment of grant is withheld until the project is completed and an independent accountant has reported the total expenditure on the project and confirmed it was incurred for the purpose intended.