§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage better understanding among senior managers in industry and commerce of the value of good design and, particularly, of his Department's funded consultancy scheme.
729W
§ Mr. ButcherI have been asked to reply.
As part of helping industry and commerce to improve international competitiveness the Department has a strategic interest in promoting the message that good design, together with related factors such as quality and marketing, are important ingredients for success in the market place. We have supported and contributed to a wide range of activities to spread awareness of this message among senior management in industry.
Last year we supported a series of design management seminars in four sectors—textiles, vehicles, information technology and leisure. As one of our many contributions to Industry Year we attracted top industrialists from over 60 major UK companies to design commitment conference, and encouraged them to spread the message further by holding design seminars with their suppliers. We are supporting a major conference on design management to be held on 8 December by the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers. We are supporting the Design Council's efforts to improve management awareness through major advertising campaigns.
The Department also offers practical help through the funded consultancy scheme, re-named support for design. With the longer-term aim of changing attitudes in industry towards design, this is targeted at small and medium-sized firms, giving them the opportunity to use expert design advice at reduced rates. Since its inception in 1982 the scheme has been successful in attracting nearly 7,000 applications for assistance and 3,000 projects have been completed. Successful case histories from the scheme are publicised as part of our management awareness effort.