Written question asked by Ashok Kumar (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 19 May 2000. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Friday, 19 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Ministerial Group to promote technology clusters.

Answer: Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Ministerial Group to promote technology clusters. [122986] Ms Hewitt: Since the Government announced its intention to review clusters policy in November 1999, it has commissioned a mapping study, to be completed by June, of existing cluster activity to inform the work of a new Clusters Policy Steering Group (CPSG) chaired by my noble Friend the Minister for Science. Membership of this group includes other Ministers, RDAs, the private sector, the CBI, TUC, academia, local government and cluster experts. The Group has an open remit to look at all aspects of cluster-related activity and recommended to Cabinet new policy initiatives intended to remove any barriers to the growth and the development of clusters. The Group will look at all cluster activity and will not concern itself exclusively with technology clusters. It will nevertheless take due account of the recommendations made by my noble Friend the Minister for Science's separate group which looked at bio-technology clusters and reported in August 1999.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 122986; 350 c285W;350 c287W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Innovation Policy Technology Trade competitiveness Clusters Policy Steering Group
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk