To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 30 April, Official Report, column 386, on a national quality award, if he will outline his reasons for the reply given.

To encourage firms to improve quality we provide support for consultancy under the enterprise initiative and advice under the "Managing into the '90s" programme. Other activities are undertaken by a variety of outside organisations, including the British Quality Association, which runs its own British quality awards scheme aimed at heightening awareness of the importance of quality. We do not believe that it is necessary for the Government to create an additional award scheme.