§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the levels of costs to(a) firms and (b) universities of making funding proposals under the Partners in Technology Programme in 1996; and what steps he intends to take to reduce costs to applicants for the 1997 programme. [1430]
§ Mr. RaynsfordFrom a small survey of applicants to the Partners in Technology scheme it has been estimated that the average cost to firms and universities of preparing a proposal in the 1996 round was about £5,000. I am conscious of the need to minimise such costs and my Department has been consulting on the appropriate guidance to issue to applicants.