Written question asked by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative) on Tuesday, 27 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2004. It was answered by Nigel Griffiths (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 2004 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, what plans she has (a) to increase the upper limit of SMART award grants and (b) to simplify the SMART application process. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has (a) to increase the upper limit of Smart award grants and (b) to simplify the SMART application process. [152058] Nigel Griffiths: The information is as follows. (a) Following the DTIs review of business support, the Smart scheme has been replaced with a new product from 1 June 2003, Grant for Research and Development, which provides a higher maximum grant for each element than did Smart. The maxima are now £20,000 for a micro project, £75,000 for a research project, £200,000 for a development project and £500,000 for an exceptional development project. (b) In December 2002 the Smart application form and guidance notes for applicants were simplified so that the number of questions on the form was reduced from 35 to nine. Those modifications have been carried over into the Grant for Research and Development application form. The application procedure is the minimum necessary to protect public funds but is kept under review.

Secondary information