It takes the view, however, that the percentage of the European Union's GNP averaged by the fourth framework programme between 1995 and 1998 must be a minimum for the budget for the fifth framework programme, as expressed as an estimated average percentage of GNP between 1999 and 2002.

(a) under the 1997 budgetary procedure, the nomenclature and allocation of budget heading B5-320 'Business promotion (small and medium-sized enterprises)' should be checked to ensure that they take this situation into account as well as the other budgetary headings and actions which are to be operated in synergy with this programme;

Whereas, where appropriate, a selective approach should be adopted, both towards defining the measures taken pursuant to this action programme and towards the evaluation of the implementation of such measures, as a function of the different segments of SMEs as defined in the Commission recommendation concerning the definition of SMEs (doc. C96/261);

II. RECOGNIZING THAT - the development of small and medium-sized enterprises is of great importance for the competitiveness of the European economy, regional development and economic cohesion in the European Union, - small and medium-sized enterprises, including the various service activities, make an important contribution to growth and the creation of jobs, - the strengths of small and medium-sized enterprises lie in their flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances, - this adaptability and flexibility is hampered by both internal (particularly financial and managerial) and external (particularly legal and administrative) hurdles, - a simple, logical and coherent legal framework would accordingly be essential to such enterpris ...[+++]es, CONSIDERING that local development initiatives offer considerable potential for strengthening the economic and social fabric of the European Union and for creating employment, AWARE that both measures to create a legislative and administrative environment favourable to the development of enterprise and effective, high-profile support measures are essentially the responsibility of the Member States, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity set out in Article 3b of the Treaty establishing the European Community, EMPHASIZES that it is a priority concern of enterprise policy in the Community, as mentioned in the multiannual programme, to improve the legislative and administrative environment for enterprises, to intensify and improve the Community's provision of information to enterprises, to promote cooperation and partnership between small and medium-sized enterprises and to ensure the promotion and coordination of Community instruments, IS ACCORDINGLY CONVINCED that the Community's policy in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises should be put into practice and made more effective through a new and extended partnership between the Member States and the Community, and through efficient and regular consultation of th ...

Also, an array of initiatives has been announced as part of the small and medium size enterprise agenda (1705 ) A pilot program will be launched under the technology partnership program, exploring the feasibility of incentives for universities to enter into partnerships, the small and medium size firms to develop emerging technologies for industrial application.

With respect to the child tax benefit, CTB during this and the last fiscal year for this program: (a) how many cases have there been where the same child was being claimed for the CTB by more than one individual at the same time: (b) what percentage are these cases of the total number of cases in the CTB program over the same period of time: (c) what was the total amount of overpayment for all of these double payment cases: (d) what was the average dollar value per double payment case: (e) what was the average length of time of such double payment: (f) how are such cases handled after they are discovered: (g) how many cases have there be ...[+++]en of CTB payments being paid for an extended period of time after the deth of a child: (h) what percentage are these cases of the total number of cases in the CTB program over the same period of time: (i) what percentage are these cases of the total number of cases of child deaths where the child had been in the CTB program: (j) what was the total amount of overpayment for all of these cases: (k) what was the average dollar value per overpayment case: (l) what was the average length of time of overpayment: (m) how are such cases handled after they are discovered: (n) what were the costs to the department in discovering and correcting the above errors?