§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assistance his Department offers to applicants who have been refused aid for industrial research and development;
(2) how much money remained unspent on 12 November of the 1985–86 allocation for innovation grants;
(3) how many applications for support for industrial research and development remain to be processed by his Department; and what is the total amount of assistance asked for.
§ Mr. PattieSince the start of Support for Innovation in May 1982, about 40 per cent. of all applications for financial assistance have failed to meet the necessary criteria. Currently, about 850 applications remain to be processed representing potential assistance of around £140 million.
On 12 November, the amounts committed for expenditure in 1985–86 on offers made under the various SFI schemes totalled around £235 million. Details of the Department's 1985–86 allocations for its main sub-programmes will be given in the forthcoming Public Expenditure White Paper.
All the Department's many and wide-ranging technical advisory services and consultancy schemes remain available to assist firms, irrespective of whether they have had an SFI application rejected or not.