§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when the decision was taken that bids for separate parts of the Design Council's services should be invited; on what grounds that decision was taken; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinMy Department wrote to the Design Council on 20 June to say that all the proposals which had previously been submitted for the transfer of the Design Council's services to industry on an integrated basis would involve a significant and unacceptable subsidy from the Government. As a result of the failure of these proposals, the Department encouraged the Council to explore the best terms on which piecemeal disposal might be carried forward.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the support offered to the Design Council and the design museum in cash and real terms since 1989; and what provisions are made in the estimates for 1994–95.
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§ Mr. McLoughlinOffers of grant in aid for the Design Council in the financial years 1989–90 to 1994–95 were as follows:
Year £ million 1989–90 6.271 1990–91 6.435 1991–92 6.775 1992–93 7.100 1993–94 7.500 1994–95 7.200 These amounts do not include free-standing contracts and funding for stand-alone activities and projects negotiated separately for, among other things, the enterprise initiative consultancy scheme, the materials information service and the "Managing in the '90s" programme. Nor do they include separate sums agreed for restructuring costs.
Offers of running cost support for the design museum were as follows:
Year £ million 1989–90 0.300 1990–91 0.200 1991–92 0.150 1992–93 0.150 1993–94 — 1994–95 — These amounts do not include free-standing contracts and funding for specific projects negotiated separately for design exhibitions and seminars at home and overseas.
The above amounts are in cash: figures in real terms since 1989 are not readily available.