Technology Strategy Board: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the core budget for the Technology Strategy Board was for each of the last three years; what that budget will be for each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [54945]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 10 May 2011]: The Technology Strategy Board's core budget was £193 million in 2008/09, £253 million in 2009/10, and £263 million in 2010/11, as announced in the 2007 spending review.
The Technology Strategy Board's core budget for 2011/12 is £317 million, which includes funding for Technology and Innovation Centres and to deliver a national Grant for Research and Development (R&D) scheme. I cannot be specific on future year allocations, but it will be of the order £300 million per annum resulting in support worth over £1 billion in business led R&D over the spending review period.
Trade: Developing Countries
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on the Doha round; and if he will make a statement. [55133]
Mr Davey: Concluding the Doha round in 2011 is the UK's top overarching trade priority. Negotiations are currently at an impasse over industrial tariff cuts. We are pushing the key players to show the leadership and flexibility needed to conclude the round this year.
World Intellectual Property Organisation: Visual Impairment
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to support the adoption of the legally binding treaty for the visually impaired and other print-disabled persons at the World Intellectual Property Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [54982]
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Mr Davey:
Of the four proposals currently in front of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), two are for legally-binding treaties, and two are for non-binding recommendations to WIPO member states. No single document has so far gained consensus from
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all WIPO members. The European Union leads negotiations at WIPO on behalf of its member states, including the UK, and supports a non-binding approach. The UK is receptive to any reasonable way forward that will make a real difference to the lives of visually impaired people.