§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the impact that the decision to cut the funding available for the Grants for Research and Development Scheme will have on UK businesses; [178754]
(2) how often she intends to hold competitions for funding through the Grants for Research and Development Scheme; [178755]
(3) what discussions she has had with business groups about the decision to cut the funding available for the Grants for Research and Development Scheme; [178756]
(4) how many firms have benefited from the Grants for Research and Development Scheme in each quarter since its introduction. [178761]
§ Nigel GriffithsThe Grant for R and D and its predecessor Smart has helped an estimated 4,800 companies with £368 million in grants.
This is part of a total business support package from the DTI with an estimated £500 million invested, each year.
The method of allocating R and D grants between 1986 and 2000 was the same as the one re-introduced in 2003. This is considered more effective in targeting resources than the one in operation between 2001–03.