§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department's challenge programme was introduced; and when it will be completed. [24196]
Mr. John M. TaylorMy Department runs a number of challenge programmes. The regional challenge was launched in February 1995 and the winners were announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy last December. Following the success of that round, we intend to launch a second round, probably early next year. In July 1995, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced details of the export challenge to trade associations and the winners of this challenge were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade in March. The technology foresight challenge was launched in September 1995. The final results of this challenge are expected to be406W announced in May or June. In February 1996, we announced at the launch of our information society initiative—the first of a number of challenges designed to encourage business support organisations to participate in the initiative. The results of this first challenge, which is for trade associations, will be announced in June 1996. Details of the further challenges under the initiative will be given later in the year. Finally, my Department has also jointly funded the skills challenge with the Department for Education and Employment. The results of the second round of this challenge were announced recently. The Department continues to look for new areas that would benefit from the introduction of challenge funding.