§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the Business Link Innovation Credit Scheme was cancelled; and what initiatives have replaced it. [48339]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 2 July 1998]The Innovation Credit scheme was discontinued at the end of March 1998 as part of a series of measures to simplify funding for Business Links, by reducing the number of separate programme budgets. Business Links are400W sufficiently experienced to decide for themselves at local level whether a voucher-based scheme of this sort is a priority use of funds.