HC Deb 19 October 1992 vol 212 cc232-4W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much funding is currently allocated by his Department towards long-term research programmes for research and technology organisations; and if he will list the research and technology organisations currently given funding for such research.

Mr. Leigh

The funding currently committed for research programmes at research and technology organisations is £29 million during the current year and the following two years. The organisations currently receiving support for their research programmes are shown on the attached list.

Research and Technology Organisations currently receiving DTI funding:

  • AMTRI: Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Institute
  • BHRA: British Hydromechanics Research Association
  • BCRA: British Ceramic Research Association
  • BCIRA: British Cast Iron Research Association
  • BGIRA: British Glass Industry Research Association
  • BLC: British Leather Confederation
  • BMT: British Maritime Technology
  • BTTG: British Textile Technology Group
  • BNF Metals Technology Centre
  • CATRA: Cutlery Allied Trades Association
  • Contract Flooring Association
  • ERA Technology Ltd.
  • FCRA: Fabric Care Research Association
  • Fulmer Materials Technology
  • FIRA: Furniture Industry Research Association
  • MIRA: The Motor Industry Research Association
  • NCC: National Computing Centre
  • PERA: Production Engineering Research Association
  • PIRA: Paper., Printing Packaging Research Association
  • PRA: The Paint Research Association
  • Rapra Technology Ltd.
  • Ricardo Consulting Engineers Ltd.
  • SATRA Footwear Technology Centre
  • SCRATA: Steel Castings Research Trade Association
  • SIRA Ltd.
  • SRAMA: Spring Research & Manufacturers Association
  • TWI: The Welding Institute
  • TRADA: Timber Research and Development Association

Mr. Wigley

'To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to establish an Industrial Research and Technology Council.

Mr. Leigh

No plans exist to establish such a council.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make it his policy to require Faraday centres to operate as a network, to include other research and technology organisations and to provide a full service of assistance with innovation;

(2) what steps are being undertaken by his Department to enhance the status, role and capability of intermediate organisations engaged in technology development and transfer.

Mr. Leigh

My Department is currently consulting widely on the needs of industry which could be met by intermediate organisations and on what improvements, if any, are necessary to enhance their present capabilities. The Faraday proposals, presented to Government by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's working group on innovation, and their possible networking are being considered as part of this process.

A pilot programme has already been initiated to test the feasibility of enhancing the training and technology transfer role of five intermediate organisations via the training of postgraduate students. I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my Department's press release of 4 June 1992 (P/92/346).

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the work that his information unit has commissioned for Segal Quince Wickstead on the difficulties technologists have in convincing providers of finance of the merits of their case; and what action he is taking to encourage the development within banks of the expertise needed to recognise the soundness of technological proposals.

Mr. Leigh

Following discussions about support for innovative firms between the then Secretary of State and the clearing banks, the DTI innovation unit commissioned, in April 1992, a market assessment study of smaller firms' needs for better information about lending. The consultants, Segal Quince Wickstead, reported in August 1992 that whilst there is already a considerable amount of helpful information and advice already available in the market, little is directed towards the specific requirements of technology-based firms.

The Segal Quince Wickstead report has been circulated to about 30 key providers of capital and advice to small firms for their comments which are presently being received. When these have been analysed, my Department will discuss the conclusions with a consortium of banks and venture capital sources to determine what further action might be taken, hopefully on a joint basis.

My Department's innovation unit, in common with other parts of the Department such as small firms division and the regional offices, maintains a constant dialogue with providers of capital for small firms. The Department has supplied speakers for training courses organised internally by banks for their own staff and also to a wide range of other seminars and events concerned with improving understanding of this important topic.