§ Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received under the software products scheme; how many have been refused and how many are being processed; what is the value of total grants so far approved; how much is under negotiation; how much remains uncommitted; how the ratio of rejected applications compares with that under other section 8 schemes under the Industry Act 1972; and how the administrative cost per application processed under the software scheme compares with the administrative cost of processing each application under other section 8 schemes.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information is as follows.
571 proposals have been received under the software products scheme; 180 have been rejected; 20 are currently being processed. The value of total grants for the 371 cases approved so far is around £41 million. Grants potentially totalling £3 million are currently under negotiation Of the £12 million announced for the SPS last year over one half has so far been committed. The ratio of rejected to approved applications is 1:2. This compares with 1:3 for the sectoral schemes operated under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972. Figures for individual case processing costs in respect of the software products scheme and other sectoral schemes under the Industry Act 1972 are not available.