§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the review of the scheme for providing grants for mineral exploration under the Mineral Exploration and Investment Grants Act 1972.
§ Mr. TrippierWhen I announced the review of the mineral exploration grants scheme on 30 July, I hoped to be able to complete the review by November. However, on 12 November my hon. Friend the Minister of State announced a wider review of the balance of the Department's support for industrial research and development. Completion of the mineral exploration grant scheme review is now expected to be delayed until this wider review of the Department's support for innovation has been completed, in about four months' time.
The suspension of further offers of grants for mineral exploration, announced on 30 July, will continue during this extended review period.