§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action has been undertaken by his Department to stimulate the development of pollution control equipment in industry in the United Kingdom following the Centre for Exporation of Science and Technology's report in 1991.
§ Mr. McLoughlinSince the publication of the Centre for the Exploitation of Science and Technology's report in 1991, the DTI has created, in association with the Department of Environment, the joint environmental markets unit. The main aims of the unit are to increase United Kingdom firms' awareness of the huge and growing markets for environmental goods and services and to assist United Kingdom companies to exploit such opportunities. In addition to the creation of this unit, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister launched, in March this year, the technology partnership initiative which aims to encourage appropriate environmental technology co-operation 575W between United Kingdom business and developing countries. These two initiatives mean that the DTI is developing a close working relationship with United Kingdom manufacturers and suppliers in the environmental field.
Under a three-year environmental technology programme—DEMOS, ETIS and Euroenviron—grants amounting to £13.8 million have been made to a total of 77 projects involved with the development of innovative environmental technologies, techniques and processes, including pollution control equipment.