HC Deb 01 April 1996 vol 275 cc6-7W
Ms Rachel Squire

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional support has been given to the Society of British Aerospace Companies' competitiveness challenge since the 1995 report from the technology foresight panel. [23691]

Mr. Eggar

My Department has fully supported and the Society of British Aerospace Companies' competitiveness challenge to increase the aerospace industries' competitiveness.

In addition to the £86,000 given to the competitiveness challenge, prior to the publication of the technology foresight panel's report in 1995, DTI has provided further direct financial assistance to the programme of £165,000 as well as a full-time DTI member of staff, seconded to the SBAC.

DTI has also provided £50,000 to the competitiveness challenge-related supply chain relationships in aerospace initiative.

Ms Squire

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional support has been given to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's innovative manufacturing initiative since the 1995 report from the technology foresight panel. [23690]

Mr. Ian Taylor

The EPSRC's allocation for 1996–97 is £375.95 million. None of this has been specifically allocated by Government to the innovative manufacturing initiative and it is for EPSRC to decide how much to spend on it.