§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring process will be used by his Department to ensure that merging the business links budget into a single budget will be cost effective; and what checks will be in place to ensure that money is being targeted effectively by business links. [8937]
§ Mr. PageMerging the business links budget into a single budget stream is part of a simplification process which also involves relating funding to achievements. Bids for business links service funding are submitted by training and enterprise councils which are required to assess the business support services required in the local area in a business plan which will also describe how the TEC will monitor achievements and impacts. The TEC will be required to submit regular management information to the Government Office, have regular reviews of the targets and milestones in the business plan with the Government Office contract manager, satisfy financial appraisal and monitoring checks and provide evidence of achievements against plans before each contracting round. In addition, my Department has a programme of independent evaluation to check that Government funding is being targeted in a way that secures optimum value for money.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many business links have not proved financially viable; and what has been the total amount of funding provided by the Government. [8938]
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§ Mr. PageThe Department of Trade and Industry's contribution towards establishing the business links network is approximately £54 million over the period 1993–94 to 1995–96. Over the same period the Department has provided £113 million for business support services. For the current financial year the Department has made available £49 million for establishing the network and £81 million for business support services. No business link has proved not be financially viable.