§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding was allocated for small business support under the Smart scheme from the time of its inception to its closure; and how much of this money was distributed directly to grant recipients. [145513]
§ Nigel GriffithsFollowing a small pilot in 1986, the full Smart scheme was launched in 1988. Initially, there was no separately identifiable funding allocation for the scheme within the larger "Innovation Budget" which provided funds for several other schemes. Smart originally operated as a competition with a fixed number of "Stage 1", or feasibility, awards but a variable number of "Stage 2", or development, awards. The SPUR scheme was introduced in 1991 and merged with Smart in 1997. Since that time there has been a separate provision for the expanded Smart. Expenditure on Smart will occur for several years yet as existing projects progress. Provision, where separately identified, and expenditure were as follows:
85W
£million Financial year Expenditure Plans or Provision where separately identified1 Expenditure1 1988–89 — 3.0 1989–90 — 5.0 1990–91 — 9.0 1991–92 — 12.3 1992–93 — 18.0 1993–94 — 21.5 1994–95 21.6 21.9 1995–96 16.5 20.1 1996–97 — 20.5 1997–98 30.0 25.8 1998–99 30.0 24.9 1999–2000 32.1 26.5 2000–2001 35.9 27.3
£ million Financial year Expenditure Plans or Provision where separately identified1 Expenditure1 2001–02 27 23.7 2002–03 27 32.1 1 Including SPUR from 1991.
§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been allocated to finance the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships scheme; and to what timescale this funding applies. [145514]
§ Nigel GriffithsDTI funding for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in F/Y 2004–05, combined with the pre-existing commitments for the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS), which it succeeds, is planned to continue at about the same level as the expenditure in the current financial year, which is approximately £18 million. About a future £7 million per annum is currently provided by other pubic sector bodies.
§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been allocated for the new Grant for Research and Development scheme; and over what timescale this funding will be available. [145515]
§ Nigel GriffithsAn initial £100 million has been allocated for projects commencing in the financial years 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06. There will be expenditure on those projects until 2010.
§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding her Department is providing in(a) 2003–04 and (b) in future years to support the Promoting Women's Enterprise Support Initiative. [145520]
§ Jacqui SmithDTI is not aware of a programme entitled Promoting Women's Enterprise Support Initiative. It is believed that this is a reference to the measures the Government are taking to support the growth of women's enterprise nationally as they implement the recommendations of the Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise launched last year.
In this regard, the Government will continue, in this and future years, to fund the promotion of women's enterprise through their key partners—in particular, the Business Link network and through their work with Regional Development agencies and a number of women's enterprise organisations.