§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the maximum likely cost levels of the European Economic Community programmes for research on information technology and scientific and technical activities; and how such costs could cause the European Economic Community to breach its 1 per cent. value added tax limit.
§ Mr. ButcherThe ESPRIT programme will cost 1,500mecu over five years, half of which will be provided by the Community. It has been agreed that ESPRIT is of sufficient priority to ensure that the necessary funds will be available for it within the resources available to the Community, and the Research Council approved it on this basis on 28 February.