To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the take-up of grants and other incentives for research and development by small and medium enterprises.

[holding answer 16 June 1993]: The three schemes of support specifically for small and medium sized enterprises for research and development projects continue to be popular. The small firms merit award for research and technology—SMART—and support for products under research—SPUR—have maintained their levels of activity and I expect all the available funds to be committed. Regional innovation grants—RIN—have experienced a dramatic increase in take up since May 1992