§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many programmes have been approved under the LINK scheme since its establishment; if he will list the organisations involved; what the expenditure was for 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 26 November 1992]: Thirty programmes have been announced so far under the LINK initiative; a further two have been approved by the LINK steering group and await announcement. There are over 400 companies and 200 academic research groups involved in the 315 projects under way or completed; it is not possible to list these organisations individually as the information is commercially confidential. Total Government expenditure on LINK in the financial year 1991–92 was £18 million; industry would have spent at least a similar amount as Government meets 50 per cent. of the costs of LINK projects.