asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his intention to reduce the grants currently available for research projects at the Machine Tool Industry Research Association; and if he will make a statement.

The Machine Tool Industry Research Association has received and continues to receive extensive funding from the Department. The Department will continue to appraise applications from the association for funding of R and D projects on their merits. However, in line with the Department's overall policy towards funding research associations, it is intended gradually to reduce the proportion of public funding and for MTIRA increasingly to turn to industry for the balance. MTIRA has been aware of this shift in policy since 1980.