§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the direct effects on the United 648W Kingdom which have been recorded during his Department's chairmanship of the EUREKA programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieDuring the period of United Kingdom chairmanship EUREKA has gathered considerable momentum. At the third ministerial conference held in London on 30 June 1986, 62 new EUREKA projects were announced over and above the 10 announced at the second ministerial conference in November 1985. A project information network is now in place and a small secretariat is to he set up in Brussels to strengthen the machinery and to provide guidance to firms and research institutes. United Kingdom participation in EUREKA projects has grown substantially: out of the 10 projects announced at Hanover, United Kingdom firms and research institutes were involved in three, with a total value of some £70 million. Of the 62 new projects, the United Kingdom is involved in 28, with a total value of over £730 million. EUREKA is a vital collaborative programme which can help British companies compete in world markets for advanced technology.