§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's contribution to the jointly funded programme promoting research into waste recycling and cleaner technologies to which reference is made at page 33 of his departmental annual report and expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97, Cm 2504.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe Department has committed £11.2 million under grant schemes which closed to new applications during 1993 to support research and demonstration of innovative environmental technology. On 7 December 1993,Official Report, column 149 my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced a successor joint programme with the Department of the Environment which would have the aim of encouraging the adoption by industry of best practice in environmental technology and techniques. The Department will be contributing £11 million to this £16 million programme which is due to run for five years.