§ Mr. PopeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to assist areas with rising un, in particular areas of high concentrations of defence-related industry; what special programmes are available for such areas; and what plans he has to increase such assistance.
§ Mr. SainsburyMy Department provides advice on diversification through the "Changing Tack" regional seminar programme and associated help manual. In addition, areas which are adversely affected by defence changes may be able to benefit from the EC KONVER initiative, which will be worth some £15 million to the United Kingdom as a whole.
It is for firms themselves to build on their skills and technologies to achieve success in new markets. The DTI offers a wide range of schemes to help companies improve product planning, innovation processes and marketing skills.