HC Deb 28 January 1999 vol 324 cc384-5W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail by project of over £10,000 and in total, the assistance given to Scottish businesses for research and development in 1997–98; what projects have been earmarked for funding in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000, and how much funding has been allocated to each; what is the proposed budget for research and development assistance for each of the next three financial years; and what percentage of this will be under the control of the Scottish Parliament. [659341

Mr. Dewar

[holding answer 18 January 1999]: My Department provides research and development support for business through the SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR and SPURPplus programmes, during 1997–98 and the current financial year also made payments to projects which are funded under the Regional Enterprise Grant for Innovation Scheme (which closed to applications on 31 December 1995).

The European Commission, other Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies are also actively involved in assisting projects which fall within their spheres of responsibility. Information on these latter categories of grants is not held by my Department.

Total grant expenditure in 1997–98 on projects supported under SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR, SPURPplus and Regional Enterprise Grant for Innovation Scheme amounted to £3.6 million. During the period 1 April 1998 to 31 December 1998 the equivalent expenditure amounted to £2.5 million. As details of how this expenditure is broken down between individual projects of over £10,000 and of the funding allocated is lengthy, I have arranged for this information to be placed in the House Library.

No specific projects have been earmarked for funding in 1999–2000 and in the remainder of the current financial year since grant offers are made in response to project proposals submitted to my Department by businesses which meet the qualifying criteria for support.

The combined provision for SMART: SCOTLAND, SPUR and SPURplus in each of the next three financial years is £4.3 million. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.