Written question asked by Ian Stewart (Labour) on Thursday, 4 December 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 1997. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Thursday, 18 December 1997 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, What measures her Department is taking to improve communication between business and research base organisations. (Failed OPQ).

Answer: Mr. Ian Stewart: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures her Department is taking to improve communication between business and research base organisations. [19894] Mr. Battle: One of the key aims of the Government is to maximise the benefits from our research base, whose excellence is widely recognised. We have already made a number of announcements since the election demonstrating our commitment in this area, for example the establishment of four new Faraday Partnerships, the extension of TCS (the Teaching Company Scheme) and the Foresight LINK Awards. The President of the Board of Trade has also instituted the President's Partnership Prize as an accolade to those universities who have achieved high levels of success in applying the results of their research to commercial problems. I am considering, as part of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review, what more can be done to improve interaction between business and the science, engineering and technology base.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 19894; 303 c305-6W
Session: 1997-98
Question not reached: Yes
Subjects: Business Communication Education Industry Technology Research Science LINK programme Teaching company scheme Faraday partnership scheme