asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how it is proposed to fund the Eureka programme relating to advanced European technology; and what will be the extent of Government support.

The financing of Eureka projects is likely to vary according to their nature and their participants; those projects involving United Kingdom companies may qualify for finance from existing schemes of support for which they are eligible. However, the Government consider that, since Eureka projects are aimed at developing internationally competitive high technology products, they should in the main be able to rely on financing from commercial sources. We have no plans to set up a specific fund for Eureka projects.