§ Mr. StringerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will respond to the recommendations of the panel which carried out the 1996 quinquennial review of the teaching company scheme; and if she will make a statement. [12468]
§ Mr. BattleThe report of the 1996 quinquennial review panel of TCS, under the chairmanship of Sir Robin Nicholson, chairman of Pilkington Optronics and former chief scientific adviser to the Government, was submitted in October 1996. Since then, the five Departments of State and four research councils which funded TCS at that time have been actively considering the findings of the review panel and its many recommendations.
This review has shown that with a Government investment of £1 million TCS produces net benefits of 58 jobs, £3.6 million worth of value added, £3 million worth of exports, and £13.3 million of additional turnover, as well as increases in research and development expenditure, in participating companies. These are substantial achievements by any standards.
Following the recommendations of the review panel, the Government have decided to extend the scope of TCS to enable organisations in the science, engineering and technology base as well as universities to participate with effect from 1 September 1997. This will allow our firms to make full use of the technological skills and experience that are available throughout the country.
Copies of Sir Robin's report and the Government response are being placed today in the Libraries of both Houses.