§ 15. Joyce QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to increase research and development expenditure in the regions. [136691]
§ Ms HewittAll regions stand to benefit from the action taken by the Government to boost public R&D through the last three spending reviews and to
739Wencourage business R&D through the tax credits. However, Government research and development spending is largely organised on a national basis as it the best means of securing value for money and driving up excellence. But the Regional Development Agencies are in an excellent position to advise on knowledge transfer in the regions and are fully engaged in the formal role of the deployment of next round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund.