Vol. 459 No. 8
134 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of recommendations in total contained in the STIAC report; the number that have been accepted by the Government; the number that have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the recommendations of the report. [19024/95]
On publication of the report last March, the Government announced the establishment of a task force to examine how the recommendations could best be brought forward for implementation. The work of the task force was overseen by a Cabinet sub-committee chaired by the Minister responsible for commerce, science and technology.
The task force has presented its views on the recommendations which are now under consideration at Government level. The Minister responsible for commerce, science and technology expects to publish the Government's response to the STIAC recommendations in early 1996.
In response to specific STIAC recommendations, the Government has already taken decisions in relation to the following recommendations:
—corporate taxation — a 400 per cent deduction for incremental R&D expenditure
—Business Expansion Scheme extended to contract R&D performers
—basic research expenditure increased from £1 to £1.5 million pounds in 1995
