HC Deb 19 December 1986 vol 107 cc716-7W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will identify the various programmes promoted by his Department within the United Kingdom and through collaborative ventures within the European Economic Community to promote research, development and production; when these programmes were inaugurated; and what are the financial resources devoted to each of them.

Mr. Pattie

[pursuant to his reply, 18 December 1986, c. 610]: The information requested is given in the table below. Further information on research and development programmes is contained in the annual review of Government funded research and development 1985 and on measures under the Industrial Development Act 1982 in the annual report for the year ended 31 March 1986 (HC 552).

Research, development and production programmes promoted by DTI
Programme Inaugurated1 1986–87 estimates provision (£ million)
United Kingdom activities
Research establishments na 46.2
Support for innovation2 1982 221.6
Aircraft and aeroengine research and development3 na 29.9
Space technology programmes4 na 64.0
Launch aid5 na 100.4
Industrial Development Act:— 1982
Section 7—Regional support 226.8
Section 8—Industry schemes 35.8
Part III—Assistance to the shipbuilding industry 28.0
European Community industrial research and development programmes6
ESPRIT (Information technology) 1984 21.0
RACE (Telecommunications) 1985 1.4
BRITE (Industrial technologies) 1985 4.4
Biotechnology 1985 1.5
Materials 1986 2.0
Technical reference standards 1983 0.7
1 Not applicable if inaugurated prior to 1979–80.
2 Includes support for United Kingdom companies involved in EUREKA projects.
3 Includes contribution to the European Transonic Wind tunnel.
4 Includes contribution to the European Space Agency.
5 Includes support for BAe's part in Airbus Industries A320 civil aircraft.
6 Expenditure is the expected United Kingdom share of the average annual programme budget.