§ Mr. Roger KingTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the grants available from his Department, and the criteria by which they are awarded, for manufacturing companies resident in the west midlands.
§ Mr. AtkinsIndependent firms or groups with a payroll of fewer than 500 can benefit from the enterprise initiative, which offers financial support for between five and 15 man-days' specialist consultancy in a number of key management functions such as marketing, design, quality, manufacturing systems, business planning and financial and information systems. In the west midlands assisted area (the travel-to-work-areas of Birmingham, Coventry and Hinckley, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell, Telford and Bridgnorth and Kidderminster) the DTI will pay two-thirds of the cost of the consultancy projects, whereas elsewhere in the west midlands the Department will pay half. In addition, selective assistance is available for investment projects undertaken by firms of all sizes in the assisted area for projects that are commercially viable, create or safeguard employment, demonstrate a need for assistance, and offer a distinct regional and national benefit.
Grants of up to half the agreed costs can be made available to firms for collaborative research programmes conducted jointly by more than one organisation, such as industrial and commercial firms, universities and polytechnics, research and technology organisations and Government research laboratories.
All firms in the west midlands are also eligible for assistance under the various export services, some of which can provide financial assistance.