HL Deb 03 March 1994 vol 552 cc87-8WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will outline their policy of stimulating innovation in industry, as suggested in their mission statement of a Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology (Cm 2250), with special reference to assisting the British Business and Innovation Centres.

Viscount Goschen

DTI's policy for stimulating innovation in industry can be summarised as strengthening the partnership between government and industry, fostering the climate for innovation, developing access to technical help, facilitating innovation and technology use, and encouraging appropriate technol-ogy development. A major means of developing access to technology help will be through the network of Business Links, which are being set up to act as a single point of access to a wide range of local, national and international technological expertise. DTI has en-couraged British Business Innovation Centres (BICs) to work with Business Links and we have been pleased to note that a number are doing so.